The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-04-24
VOL, 6 NO IS.


did not, we're reported, and marked accordingly
In the theory Of teaching. But chiefly, they crea-
ted necessity and ambition for Improvement a.
mong the teachers, who now began to see that
something more Was required Of them thanthe mere
daily routine OF the school, and that to retain their
position they must he constantly improving them
selves. They knew also, that by united effort more
could bs accomplished thas siDsle-handed: hence
the establishment OF these valuable auxares,
which can Justly be claimed one Of the legitimate
results OF this Office"
The County Institute L. more inmt distely under
the personal control OF the Superintendent. TO
conduct IL has made one Of the duties OF tho Office,
and IL 10 certain that else could so appropfi
atey perform IT, Through the examination and
visit alton be becomes ed with all the teach
ers Of the county, they look to him for counsel and
encouragement, and through the relation be sus-
tains " them, he becomes the most appropriate
pefsos 10 assemble theiu together in council He
il the head Of the system 10 the County; and as
sucs 10 the leading educational moves, in the
agitation of oil refoTms-tho srouAer OF the public
misd to comprehend the improvement Of univers-
al education sNo obstacle to the progress of free
schools il half 20 fermidsbls as the profound apa-
thy and indifference Of the people. Generally Ii
they rouse ct Ill il 10 but to fnd fault with the
whols supctstructure of the 8, stem and still more
fault wh oh those tha; are striving to their utmost
TO make our common schools what they sboul Id be,
and what our school laws intended TO have them -
Logic the convincing, lssrnirg the most pro-
found, eloQuence the most captivating, will all be
lost upon those who from indifference do not see
the necessity and real value OF the measures propo
posed for the advancement of education. But let
the vsstness Of the subject be clearly seen, and the
importance 20 the community felt and men viii act.
Let the truth be presented in its true coor lot the
relation of intelligence and virtue TO the welfare OF
the country bs discussed in council and pointed out;
LIT the TescksrA' Institute be maintained, for 1t
hash h..an q inn ted ha draA az
bands of the County Superintendent, to lift the
School system from the dead level of apathy and
Indifference, the most efectual and powerful agen-
cy at his commsnd, to reach and assure public opin-
ion, vivify the profession, and energze the admin
istrsiion OF the system.
But besides these three leading duties and the re-
suits Of their performance, the county Superinten
dent eccomplshes Others of scarce less importance.
!. He distributes all the necessary blsnks, so
that teachers and directors may conveniently and
accurately report the workings Of the schools 10
each district. HH 1taa fsttL VB4 9Gl
T. He gathers all the statistics thst are essential
to healthy sYstern, and to an effective sdministra-
tion thereof Il
3 3. He signs aud veuches for all reports Of dis
trict secretaries and thus secures the Department
against IMPOSITION. The Insufficient accountability
OF the financial officers of the districts, vas one OF
the most serious defeats in The system prior TO 1854
The former Superintendent, Mr.. II. @. Hickok,
being without local agents, the School Department
could not detect and prevent impositions, in conse
auence Of which the State appropriation has some-
times been obtained upon fraudulent vouchers by
persons havngno oftcialconnection withthe schools
In other instances, the money when received by the
rghtful parties, has been applied to the township
roads, aud the tax duplicates withdrawn no tax coli
lected, and no schools opened, or teachers em
ployed. District School moneys were used by
collectors aud treasurers to shave paper or specs-
late in cattle lumber, squindered by drectore
III imprudent contracts with themselves, or in colu-
sion with others to buili or repair school houses,
at exhorbsntprices while the uafortunate teachers
the s.dishonored school oritrs" were hawked about
the district, in rutiess search of payment. There
humiliatng instances exceptions tothe proverb-
isl honesty of our people; but their statement is
necessary to explain aud justify the measures OF
reform which the legislature has sanctioned.-
The necessity of this Office or some similar agen-
cy is evident. The State IS divided into counties,
and these again into districts, for the sole purpose
of insurng the efficient working 6 the laws by baving
each link of officers completely from those OF the
township to the chief executive. But 1t would
be as reasonable ssto expect the successful opera
tions of the State Government without county, as
we'll as State and township officers as to bu Id up
and sustain our noble school system without every
link in the chain of executive and supervisory Of
ffcers complete and properly adjusted" NO Oh
jectons urged against county oincers, LOT tnis
necessity has long been felt and knows; but this SIS
not Interior in character and Importance to any o'
ers and the labor, care, anxiety, personal
and official expenses, are much greater.
..This Office, although now here, had been tried
elsewhers with tho most striking and benifcsi re-
Suits in New York. especially, an institution quite
similar in design and the nature OF hs duties, nad
done NOR to advance the cause OF education, du-
ring the period 1t was permitted 10 exist, 'nen al
other causes combined Aud when through an un-
clean alliance With politics. and other interests the
office was abolished, it WAS regarded as the first
retrograde step in the history OF her common
schools So severely was this blow felt, however,
that in 1855 the New York Legislature restored the
office under the title of Assembly Drtrict Schooi
Commissioner - with equalzed but reduced terrific
ry. that if adopted in PennsYlvaDia, would give us
one hundred Superiutendents instead OF sixty.
This single historical fact is worth volumes oil alb
stract arguments.
II is impossible to notice all the advantages in
report of this kind. What has already been shown
is however suc lent Justification for ITS establish
mept "a we'll as for the amount of salary appropri-
ted TO IL. Nevertheless, many who consider 1t IN
mere dollor and cent point Of view, oppose IT on
the ground that tho salary ~ 100 large. but u
should be borne in mind that talents ana acquire
ments OF the highest order, and the most un'hihg
zeal and labor, are required to discharge tie mpor-
FAINT and orerous duties of this office; and men Of
such qualifications can not be indicted To take Inc
RESPONSIBILITIES upon themselves for smaller saia-
~ than they can secure in other POSITIONS requir
ring less labor anxiety and personal exposure on
their past In connection with thls, IL may DC
proper to notice, as to how aud where the County
Superin epdeut's salary os obtained II Is gene r
ally supposed tina: it is deducted from the state
oppropriatiou for his own county. such, howev-
err is not the fact as will be from the statemedt
of the State Superintendent following; .iF.
The salary OF each county eupennendent is not
deducted from the amount OF Stale appropria-
lion, payable 10 his own county. In iact the
counties as such are not known IN the Depart
men, in the distribution of State appropriation
which is paid directly TO the DISTRICTS, and not
10 the counties From ibe very first year oi the
office, the aggregate amount OF me salaries Oh
ali county SuperIn,endenls IN the State, has been
deducted from the whole amount
of the appropriation payable to all the districts,
and the balance divided AMONGST the districts IN
proportion to their taxsoes. For instance, II the
aggregate Of the salaries ID SSO.0O0, and the appro
pration $3.50 O0O The balance for distribution would
be $3.50 OO0. gn ascb
+ 20 hat IA nd SQI.