Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-01-12
What Allegheny County Needs.

Our entire youthful population, the rich n
well as thv poor
Oar present School System if system i
can be called, IS there sham. II is dofec
tive and inefficient, in every respect, a scriou
disadvantage to Teachers, and injurious to TN
educational interests of nil classes.
It's defects arc radical. It's not based upol
the principle, that it is the business of thu
State to provide education for its children
hut bestows aims upon certain portion %
tlem to be expended in education COOL, bad
or indifferent, as the whims and prejudiccs o
parents and children may decide
The Teacher with us is no County Officer
AS he should be, but a private individual
acting entirely on his own responsibility and
accountable to nobody Hence there is no
procision 10 secure competent teachers
We baye no doubt many teachers are com
petent, but there is no provision made to as
certain the fact No examiners are appoint
Ell, and no certificates Of approved scholar
ship are required Whoever eau get schol-
ars can teach, and il Is well known fact
HAT fitness and ability to teach nre not al
ways characteristics Of those who are most
'nccssSful in obtaining schools People are
a. gGl!ible in education as they nre in mcdi-
cine aud Religion, and the mere quack is Of
ton moro popular than the best educated
man. The State requires certain qualifica-
tions from the Physician and Lawyer who
attend ~ our bodies aud temporal affairs
merely, but has thrown out unlimited license
to all who wish to practice upon the youth
full MUD, and 10 determine the intellectual
standard and bias Of our population.
Those who dlsbuise the public education
iuud thus have nothing to do with the ap-
pointmcnt Of teachers. 1t is true they have
choice among those already appointed, but
they can exercise no control over their schools
In fact the commissioners have nothing to do
with teachers, but stand in the relation Of
guardians to poor children upon whom they
annually expend a small amount for educa-
hon. We hare said tia. this system is a dis
adedntagc 10 Teachers
Competent and incompetent teachers stand
III. the same level Tho illiterato teacher who
can afford to teach for mere pittance may
he employed, whilst the man really educated
is compelled to remain idle Such things
have happened often and will continue to
happen until true system of education is a.
aop.ed. -1noAer erH fMdy teachers is the
fascination produced in their schools.
During the best seasons FOR teaching if they
receive those on the public funds their school.
are crowded, 30 as to lead other scholars to
abandon them. As soon rs the public mon
sy is expended, their schools suddenly decrease
and having alienatcd from them scholars who
would have been regular attendants, they arc
reduced to II few pupils, Thus the teacher
suffers pecuniary loss
Fis a grea! disadvantage to teachers in
svmpelitry them 10 bear The great burden Of
popular education.
Our system makes no distinction between
shoee who are unable to pay in part, and those
who are unable to pay anything. In many
ssses persons feeling themselves able to pay
in part, thro' honest pride, are unwilling to
receive State funds, and in many cases the
tsacher has to bear the loss.
Scarcely teacher is found in our larger
towns who, if y humane man, does not pay
more to public education than the amount
received from the State.
The reason Of this is that Our school fund
ID dribbled away On small portion Of Com
munity, whilst the masses receive 10 benefit
The rates Of tuition are kept above the reach
have lur3e families, and hence many are conf
PEELED to omit in great measure the educa-
ton OF their children, or to trespass upon the
interests Of tie teacher by asking long credit
for their tuition.
We do not say innt teachers receive toe
much for their services, but too little, yet il
order to be supported they are compelled tl
keep the rates Of tuition beyond the ability
of the masses Of our population This re-
suits from the policy of paying for the edu
cation Of a few poor children for few months
instead Of furnishing teachers for the district
We stated that our present system is inJu
ftous TO the educational interests of all classes
Those who are rich aud educate their chill
lren at private schools, pay great deal NOR
Than would be required of them in difieren
way to support public schools, adequate 70
the education Of all the entire year. This re
suits from the advantage gained by divis
ion of labor To illustrate the idea fou
teachers teaching independently Of each 9th
or can scarcely DO justice to more than l0(
scholars in the various stages ofprogrsss usu
ally fouad in private schools, whereas, tn
same number oi teachers engaged in a vel
GRADED public school might instruct 300
Thus the tuition would be reduced to hal
price at once by the division Of labor, to sa.
nothing Of the reduction produced by tn
hire Of cheaper teachers for the elementar,
branches. Ore man could not make a phi
10 cell for cent. but when number Of per
sons are engaged ut making one pin, its val
he is reduced to the lowest fraction OF cent
The same principle holds good in education
Four teachers in Union School can accom-
plish as much as eight teaching separately
But it may bc said that better teachers col
Ac secured by system of private schools
Experience proves the contrary. In State
and Cities where Public Union Schools ar
established the highest order Of teachers i
employed. The cause of this is found in
rigid examination before being employed anC
better and surer pay.
Our. present system is entirely one sided
making no pretensions to benefit any but tn
L.,