The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-12-05

One Column 80. -. 1s 90 80 90 so 90
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type counts one square. All fractions Of square
under five lines will be measured as half squaret
and all over Eve lines as full square. All legal
advertisements will be charged to the person hand
Dg them in.
Transient advertisements should be paid for in
advance.
element OF society, to overcome it. 1t is now
evidently undergoing that process.
The Gazette gives figures that may mislead as
to the number of females employed in the conn
ties named. Those of males and females ad-
ded together in the counties instanced, make an
aggregate greater than the whole number Of
their schools. This is accounted for by the fact
that in most Of them there are two terms of
school-the summer and the winter; the sum-
mer schools being almost entirely taught by fe-
males, and the winter mainly, but not entirely,
by males. Still, the fact generally is as stated,
viz:-that these counties have very large per
centage of female teachers. So is the other fact,
or rather result-that Encouragement haswork
ed to the satisfaction of all concerned.
The general conclusion of The articlc-that
directors can now avail themselves Of the high
est grade of female qualification, for the same
compensation payable for the lowest grade of
male teachers-is both sound and expedient.
We are not amongst those who think that a
competent teacher is to be paid less because
female than if a male. But we must, for the
present, take things as they are The question
is, whether some of the schools shall be opened
at the usual time, or even at all. And if we
| can have them opened, by giving the low salary
| Of incompetent males to competent fewales, we
| lire willing to see them opened on these termsj
satisfied that the success of these ssubstitutes'
will soon win round hesitating directors to the
policy of their more general employment, and
| that common honesty win ultimately lead to
| their equal compensation, on the ground of e.
quail services rendered. Hsga-
On looking over this article, we rather sus-
pect that, in some points, a construction has
been given to the article from the Gazette, not
intended by the writer. But then we wanted
text for these remarks; and now conclude by
recommending the views of our editorial BROTH
er to the reader, in the sense in which, no doubt,
he intended they should be understood. 1t is
by such well timed suggestions that the cunduc-
tors Of the local educational press can do the
most good. They hit points Of local questions
and give the clue out of local difficulties, which
more distant and more general observers cannot
possibly reach"
These comments seem to us to be sim
gular mixture of acidity and sweetness.--
Mr.. Burrowes spanks us with one hand and
throws us sugar pIums with the other in q
ted TO make any fsvofaDly disposed juvenilo
whimper and simper by turns, as he suffers
the one or swallows the other. He likes
the article very much "with the exception
of one or two passages )" but he neverthe-'
less feels it his duty to scold us for urging
the employment Of teachers not properly
qualified. Who, except Mr.. Bunowes, ev-
er suspected us of holding such views; and
who, except him, would draw such con-
clusion from the passage he quotesS We
took it for granted, in our remarks, that an
examination would show whether candidates
were properly qualified or not, and hence we
said ''let all who are willing and at all quail
flied to teach be examined" 1t is true that
our private opinion has long been that ex-
aminations do not always show this; and
that the county Superintendency, as fea-
lure of our school law, has not been SO ef
fectual in excluding unqualified teachers as
could be wished. But then we do not al
ways express that opinion--partly because
its expression would do no good; and part
ly, perhaps, out Of respect for Mr. Burrowes
who is the originator and champion of the
County Superintendency. rs
But, after belabering us soundly, Mr..
Burrowes faces about andsays: Probably
such was not the meaning of the writer"
Ah, indeed very probablyit was not. We
do not like 10 interfere with Mr.. Burrowes'
excellent English, but we submit that he
would lave improved the sentence justquo-
ted if he had made ii stand thus: "Prob-
ably such was not the meaning of the wri-
ter, especaally as lie says nothing at all Of
The kiua.o We may hold many erroneous
opinions with respect to education, and shall
always be happy to have them corrected by
authority so eminent as Mr.. BSrrowes. But
we deny that we have written what can fair
ly be so grossly misunderstood. We are
unwilling to be placed in the position of hav-
ing printed such foggy English.
Again, Mr.. Burrowesis is afraid our figures
may mislead. So they may, and so may
others taken from the same source. But
as they are taken verbatim from the school