, 1862-01-16

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their use in our common schools.
We publish the following letter from Prof
Wilson on the subject, which will he found i'm.
portant to our educational interests:
LETTER FROM PROFESSOR WILSON
HARPER & BRoTnER, N. Y, Sept 10, 1861.
Mr.. b. Z. LIPPINcOTT, Pr. Of Puget Sound In
stitute, and Supt. Of Schools Of Washington
Territory:
DEAR SiR-I observe a letter of yours to
Harper & Brother, relative to my Reader, and
observe that they offered you the Reader at half
price for introduction.
This is right, for first supplies furnished di.
rectly to schools. To Agents, however, who
will canvass definite territory Tor the books, we
offer additional inducements. We let them have
the books at a discount Of twoIhirds from retail
prices, for cash, for first int oduction into
schools, they to furnish US the statements D {
teacher that they have obtained the books for
that purpose. Our regular wholesale price Of
the reader we have put at q discount Of one
third from retail, instead Of one-lonrth, as for
merly.
We should be glad to hear from you on the
subject Of securing the introduction Of "Wil-
sons School and Family Readers" into your
schools. We have initiated arrangements by
which they will probably 60 into the schools in
Oregon, here, in the "old country" they are
carrying all before them. send you a pam
phlet Of the Educational Bulletins" giving
rices Of the Reader, recommendations, &c. We
shall be glad TO hear from you further
should have mentioned that we are getting
out series Of "School and Family Chart" &C.,
to accompany the Raiders, and to initiate and
carry on the s/ stem Of "Object Lesson" teach
ing, now so much talked Of
Can you give Inc list Of schools and teach
ers in Washington Territoryf
MARCUS WILSON,
| FoR HARPER 4 BRoTHER.
| NUMBER OF CHILDREN.
From the most reliable information at our
command, we find that the number Of children
over the age Of four and under twenty-one
years is 2, 14l.
| NUMBER OF scHooL-HoUsEs
| We have about fty-three school-houses in
| the Territory, and some Of them are not worth
so much as the name Of q school-house. The
probable cost Of these buildings will not amount
to the sum Of twenty-six thousand i've hundred
dollars
As the country is yet new, and we have just
begun to build our school-houses, we would sugs
gest to the directors Of school districts; that
when you build schoolhouses, 10 It well-malSe
them large and comfortable. You may not have
to stop in them, but your little ones do. "The
thing that is worth doing at all is worth doing
we'll" Let US prove this in every schOol-hOuse
we build-let each one be an ornament to the
district and to the Territory
| COST OF INSTRUCTION.
From the very best information I have at
hand, there is paid out annually about $0,63S
% for instruction out Of the public school fund.
| SCHOOL REGISTERS.
The law requires me to furnish county super
intendents with forms for the district trustees
and teachers, for keeping their accounts and re-
gisters. These forms are to be delivered by the
several county snperintendents to all the districts
throughout their respective counties. This Is
an important provision, and in fact the only way
We can arrive at all the important items Of our
cummon school system.
This duty was unable to perform from want
Of means to purchase such forms. hope your
honorable body will relieve this Office from that
embarrassment in the future.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1st l recommend that you so amend Section
8, Chapter II, Of school law, that the county su-
perintendents be required to report TO this Office
on or before the LIST Of December Of each year.
I'd. That every chartered institution Of learn
ing be required to report annually TO this office,
on or before the LIST Of December, the number Of
children, expenses, &c. in fact, every particular
Of public interest
3D.. That you so assist this Office that your Su-
perintendent may devote his time to the interest
Of Public Instruction, and that you authorize him
to give certificates Of qualification to teachers Of
ability which will endorse them in any county in
the Territory.
4th. As there Is some doubt about the legality
Of the sale Of the University land, would re-
commend that you discontinue the further sale
Of Il for the present.
9th. That the county commissioners take into
consideration the sale Of some Of our common
school lands in order that we may the better
sustain our common schools. See act relative
to the sale Of school lands
9Th. VIM. II. Wood, superintendent Of CON-
mon schools Of Pierce county, has made to me
the following recommendations. to which call
| your attention:
"Iwould also recommend that section 0 of the
school law, page 307, statutes Of lS59-60, b.
amended by inserting the words, all moneys
which may be then due and to he paid into.' after
the word of in the second line, so as to read
that all moneys which may be then due and to
be paid into the school fund in the county trea.
sury shall DO apportioned. would also inquire
whether the repeating clause in said act will in
clude section 38 Of the Revenue Act, page 339,
statutes Of 1884. II so, would earnestly re-
commend that il be revived by act Of the Lsgis.
lature this session."
Respectfully submitted,
B. c. LIPPINC0TT,
Snnarinfandank of puhiic Vncfrurtion w n