Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-11-28
For the Standard.

For the Standard.
Mr. EpIroR:-As my report of the operations of
the Common School System for the year ending in
1862, has been delayed by causes which all will I'M
derstand and as it is important for the public to
know at this time, the condition of the system,
send you for publication some general statistics suf
6cent for this purpose The state of things during
the past year has been more dlscouraging to the
schools than at any time since their adoption and
it is to be hoped and we have to expect that
they will never again encounter such serious diff
culties.
1T was thought by many that the war suddenly
forted on US by cruel enemy would be of brief du-
ratlol. and on this account and as our people were
unused u such revolutions it supposed by some
that most q the agencies of society and many indus
trla enterFises, could be suspended until our trou
bleS were settled
As it is known, dividend and half ofthe pro-
ceeds OF the school fund had to be temporarily with
held from the Counties; and this, and the general
confusion and excitement: incident to the first stages
OF the war OF independence caused much uncertain
ty and apprehension in the public mind as to the
continuance of the schools. large number Of
male teachers were among the first to volunteer in
the army of the Confederacy and their places could
not be Immediately supplied by females and by
males not liable to military duty and, in addition
to all this it was feared by many that the schools
could not be supplied VITA the necessary books
Notwithstanding these serious embarrassments
the Common School System has been kept in work.
ing order,-false ideas mbybed in the first confu-
sion of things have given place to more correct
opinions; new teachers taking the places of
those serving in the army; all the books suited to
wants nO'o an course of pIJLicdtion in our
Own State, and the public mind, becoming accus-
toned to the new state of things, and more Justly
comprehending the true wants of the country. is
taking a more decided, hopeful and active interest
in system which it regards essential to our in.
dependence and freedom. During the past year
there were taught, in counties not overrun by the
public enemy, over fifteen hundred schools; more
than twelve hundred teachers were regularly exam
ined and licensed and some siEty thousand cIiLLren
attended school,
Owing to the smallness Of the Fund on hand, the
average length of the schools was shorter than
usual and this fact alone will accoAnt for the non-
attendance Of larger number of pupils.
Many parents do not care to send to short
school, when there is hope Of longer one; and it
is reasonable to infer, and information in my pos
session confirms me in the impression that if no
unlocked for accident occurs, at least eighty thou
sand children will attend school during the present
year.
As it is and during the worst year of the war,
we had more than twice many pupils at the Coa-
mon Schools as attended all English schools be-
fore the public system established and in times
of great prosperity; and this one fact is sufficient
commentary on the character OF the system.
This is not the place TO 60 into details as to the
manner in which the difficulties of the past wear
have been overcome but it is proper to give very
short and general sketch Of progress in regard
to books.
Soon after the war commenced large and i'm.
porant meeting Of teachers, from ali classes of our
schools, was convened at my instance, to take into
consideration the wants of the country in regard to
Text Books, and, If possible, to devise a remedy
and then and since the whole subject was discussed
and the difficulties in our way brought distinctly
before US.
AS it often happens, the greatest impeachment was
in the minds Of many Of those concerned and in the
management of this an inventory of our disabilities
was made out and presented Some believed we
did not have types enough to print half the books
we needed and no way to get or make them; we
were not making paper enough to publish such
works. and even the paSte6oard to bind them was
not to be had in the Confederacy. Then it was
asked, who was to write the books? and if written
who would assume the cost of publishing, when u
speedy close Of the war might open the country to
inundation Of cheaper and better printed works?
To which it was replied that types could be found
sufficient for our purposes-that if we did not man.
ufacture paper and pasteboard sufficient for our
wants, we ought at once to begin the enterprise; ;
that we could write our own school books and that
if We expected to become independent in fact
well theory, there was no better tine to begin
the work. But, it was argued, the schools may
stop, and there might be no sale for books; to
"ulCu u Was IooHeu, ITlenuS Oh lnQepenu-
ence, trusting in God and laboring in their proper
places mus: never contemplate contingencies equiv
alent to our-destruction as people. ~
The latter views prevailed; the books, of supe-
rior order, written and in the course of pubca-
ton; the paper and pasteboard made at home,
and the very difficulties once in way, have only
drawn out our energies, and as it was at first con-
tended thereby added to our means OF sefdefence
and development, and increased our confidence in
ourselves and in our resources.
Permit me to add single reflection. It is good
for US at such crisis to have to engage in moral
and industrial enterprises; for without recurring
to the obvious and transferable arguments in favor
of their importance now, well in the future,
the efforts which put forth in this direction are
of infinite service in keeping up mental energies
The continued and absorbing contemplation of a
long war; tends to depress the mind of the country
while the occasional diversion OF attention 20 the
progress Of society," and to the growth of our vari-
Gus industrial and moral interests, expands our
views, gives new spring and elasticity TO our
thoughts, enables US the better to understand the
vast interests at stake and thereby to struggle with
the more unfagging vigor, while we are encouraged
and animated with view of the immense and varied
forces which are silently but powerfully aiding in
the cause of independence. zfs--. .-z.s.-.
For instance, let any one wearied with watching
the changing fortunes Of arms, and in looking for
foreign aid look to the springs of life at home and
behold two thousand loyal teachers giving instruc-
I ton to hundred thousand children all using books
made at home, and breathing spirit of ardent ut
tachment to the Confederate cause and he will and
must feel that even in single State, the great