Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-13

I portion as they I'm shoFt Of what pro.
pose.
By a general tax, Imposed and collected rs
Iare The ordinary expeuses Of the Common
wealth 2. Agene4l aud permanent lit
l.erary fund. raised rom such sources as tli'f
i Legislature 10 its NJ dota may devise ksuei'
as the Deposit Act of Qongress, sales Of
Il public laads, forfeitht vises, &c. j. tht.
Iuggregate proceeds 6oth o be distribu
ted in proportion 70 The sun volpptaFily
q contributed by the seEefg lcnunues. 3. n
4 Ilocal tax upon the property. imposed By
the Court or Oommis iopers so that EACH
county shall raise in this as much as Il
4 draws from the Stat Treasury or General
Fund
Something of this dad is essential to
1.-THE farmer. The monieh expended would
be the best and most productive lntest-
ment which the STATE could make, and all
Things considered, The cheapest That Is
Epoor economy which . ayeln few dollars
would take an indeduit length Of time.or
4 never TO brigg the gra eanse of education
4 mn "a, II fidI n = r5lcfI st1e i1dtn lfh =
6tiliiy j lie enfsot 1tIlt s1t attaii IN SOM
4 par4 4titelg few years. opposed % The
lheofy which would pteride the highsss
I possible education for Tie few at the ex
pense of the many, also to that which
would mix up partial tsxatiOn, rate-bilis,
4 free tuition, &C., aud iu1liiis way aaud just
| 10 the extent of this mixturep destroy all
unity, spirit and efficiency.
This is the fatal rock on which many
totherwise excellent srhbOi laws have been
crippled or wrecked. Much might be sail
Iin favor of the proposition Recommended f,
aud the proposition indicated.
| III. A Department of Public Instruction,
composed L. Ofa General Superintendent,
appointed by the Governor with such du-
ties, legal powers, aud jaaicial Jurisdiction
conferred upon himas may be necessary fol-
the general oversigh vigorous enforce
msnt OF the laws apPertGining tn education
reporting annually tosthe Legislature
| He might be memberpf the Governors
council and should in his department have
appellate and as far as possible final juris-
diciiou and power in csse of notorious in
lcompetency, or dereliction to remove from
office, withhold monies, &c. A convenient
office and clerical asstSthnce should also
be assigned him. One thing more and at
tho risk of no small personal reproach
but having in view tho Highest interests OF
education, maintain tSls should as far
Hs possible be non-politicah and perma-
nent office.
2. A Superintendent OF Common Schools,
elected by the people OF each county, who
shall examine and license teachers; visit
and inspect schools; otgauIze aud conduct
Teachers Institutes. Associations and
school celeb cations; COUNSEL and decide ia
all local questions arisipg under the school
laws (aPpeal lying totBs General SuPerins
tendentl; introduce tosthe notice of teach
ers aud parents the hsst methods Of in
struction; keeping I'M view the morals,
health and manners ofsthe young, as well
as their mental develci meutl awaken and
krrp attVr BsIretlS tesSyss%--
IN education; report to tbc General SnPer-i
intendentat least Ouceh year the condition
aud prospects of the schools, and in gem
eral give all his time and energies TO the
performance of such duties as may be re-
quired by law, the regulations of the De-
partment or the general interests OF etu-
cation g. The Principals and Presidents
of all High Schools Academies, Colleges,
Institutes for the blind, mutes, 3D., char.
tered by the Legislature pursuant TO the
Recommendation of the Board of Instruc-
tion. These, together with the County SUI
perintendents, shall meet the General Sn-
perintendent at least once u year at the
seat of government, constituting in their
joint capacity the Board of Public Instruc-
lion, Of which the General Superintendent
shall be President. Their duty shall be L"
of education Throughout the Splte-suclI
as school laws, school books, schOnl libra
ries, grades Of study, tho charter and reeog-
milton of academies, collegesaud other non
sectnrian schools, &C., &c. They shall
have authority to employ a Secretary hnd
keep regular records of their prOCeeding1
This, il not the most important part OF
the whole plan. is at least that without
which all the rest will be Of comparatively
small Importance. You must place at the
head Of the system On officer of judgement
experience and.energyi familiar with school
antl school laws aud above local lexcitSmeni
and party prejudices; and then clOthe him
with such authority as will give his acts and
lcounsels weight Associate with him some
of the best men iu the several counties, or
ii that is thought too much Mt present, let
tWo OF three counties be united in District
SuperinteudenCy. Let these, in addition
to other duties, stand ns farRs possible be-
tween parties who are or think themselves
aggrieved in school matters, and prevent
the schools from being thrown hy quarrel
some persons into the bitter eontentions
and prOtraCted liigatip of ordinary courts.
Let them in this respect resemble not 50
much Judges aud jnries or courts of law
and equity ms courts of conciliatiOp-.
rather should say az the firm and sensi-
BILE friends of all parties. Then to make
the whole system regular and efficient
unit, let these, with the heads of all the
higher institutions Of the State, OF at least
a fair representation OF them form an An
nual Court of which the General suPeriu-
teadent shall be President and to whom
shall be entrusted the main direction of the
machinery as well as the minor legislation
connected with the details Of the system
This, repeat, is the sheet anchor of tue
best school systems in.existenee, end would
oe especially necessary 70 prompt oFganiF
Eation and thorough work in new Staic.
The only objection to tits the, in many re-
spects, yery proper opposition of the peO
Pile to Capitalization, butwe should beware
lest our excessive democracy leads Ms TO