Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-09
the seheoI sy:tspe, s 9 !, I PROPOSED !, soF the
new state. 20

LETTERS FROM PRACTICAL EpUcXTIoSAL MEN
LITTER PROM 8. &. STEVENS, sUPERINTEN'
DENT OF THE FOURTH WARD PUBLIC SCHOOL
II IN THIS CITY.
Rev. S. R. DAWSON, Of the House Commit
tee on EdueGtiOH- -.--''''
SIR;-It ia with no ordinary gratif1ca-
ton that have examined the ..BIll provid-
ing for the establishment of system Oi
Free Schools" of which you were SO kind
as to furnish me a copy, and on which you
have done me the honor to ask my opin.
ion. It may not meet the design of your
re quest it certainly does not do justice
to the bill, but must submit few basty
observations suggested upon reading it. }
Tho well-being of a State and of its cit
liens, from the highest the lowest, is 80
vitality affected by its system of public ed
7.cation that too great importance cannot
be attached to the perfectiug of such a
system. Aud, as in the education of an
Individual human being, Impressions for
good or evil may be made in early child
hood which shall give character TO the
man, SO in the first instituting of a sys-
Item of education it is comparatively
easy to give it any desirable shape or
character, which having been established,
whether it be good or bad, efficient or
inefficient, can be reformed or improved
only with the greatest difficulty, This is
seen in the efforts necessary to improve the
school laws of some of the older States
The teuacity with which the conservative
spirit of the people ciings to every feature
of an imperfect system, to whose workings
they are accustouledI and whose benefits
they have experienced, prevents them from
| reaping the greater benefits which they
might enjoy BIZ ayailing themselves Of the
experience and sagacity OF men OF sound
Judgment who have devoted. their. best en-
ergies TO tie work of education, and their
best talants'to the perfecIDg Of its theory.
1t was incumbentthen on the COMMITTEES.
on whom, especially 5devolyed the duty of
forming plan for providing the means OF
instruction-for the youth OF the State, to
avail themselves of the experience OF older
States; adopt those provisions which ac-
tual trial has proved to be valuable and
reject those which have proved to be iuef-
fective and worthless aud Injurious. This
believe has been done, and the result is
bill which 10 my humble Judgment is
superior to any school laws with which
am acquainted.
Seine of the States have laws establish
ing schools, but no system Of schools. Such
is not the bill. All of its provisions de-
pend tor their successful operation upon
the efficient working of all the others, and
the harmonious carrying out of tho whole
must produce those results which are con
templated in the constitution and laws, as
they could not be attained in any
other way. Let us look for example at
the organization provided for. The 10
cal Board of Education can best Hscer.
tain and supply thel material EAhtsi of
the schools. but they are too numerous
to determine the qualifications of teachers,
SO as to secure any unit9rnity or ahotd
much guaIautyi ofs.thetrrc rcomPetenoys-
They could not be always depended upon
to secnre2sfiiciepeyC inz.Re etpipistrsttona
| of the schools, without the counsel and
advice; such as County Superintendent,
lin whose knowledge and wisdom they
placed confidence, should give. They can.
not collect, and digest, and present to the
lpublis those valuable school statistics
which are necessary TO give all concerned
an idea of the workings of the system, and
to stimulate every section to new efforts
! for the attainments of excellence.
The County Superintendent may reason
ably be supposed competent to determine
temporarily the competency of teachers,
aud he is paid tor devoting his time to that
among other duties. But this grade OF
officials is still too numerous TO determine
/
profession, SO far as to secure for it, as
such, any dignity or any uniform standard
of merit. Z Theldecisi0n Iof the State So
periuteudent is necessary to obViale the
difficulty. as5 ,.s ~ Hi4
T. So too, the State Superintendent depends
for the performance of most of his functions
on the co.. operation of all the other grades
lot officials, and the bill provides for his
receiving that cooperation. None but the
highest authority can determine on the
admission of permanent members to the
profession, but were the privilege of appli-
cstion for membership freely open to all
the crowd OF applicants would be 90 nu-
merous that they could not possibly be
properly attended to, did not the bill pro
vide that they shall be frst thrice nOmt-
mated by the County Superintendent, thus
lmaterialty thinning their ranks and Fegu.
IIatipGIthe tifits uf their application. q - =
Il Again, there areA6meEystems5OEsch schemes
/ of education, which do not seem to ,bepPer-
d yaded by any. discoverable philosophy, OF
else are founded on a philosophy which il
mot sound. My study of this bill has tot
been as thorough as 1t deserves, but il
seems to me tbat one of the most important
. kpFinefples tanAi6g Through II, and one
II which may be regarded as the backbone Of
the system, Is that which ceutralizess and
liocates the responsibility Of its execution
> Side.by side,With this aud giving IL vitality
Ids that which, having provided for the es'
ItablishmePt apd legal recognition OF tht
teachers profession, regards tue members
Z of that profession ~, the proper persons u
iearry on the business of education anJ
bear the responsibility Of carrying the sys
tenn Into effect. - 81, Is ez5a.I "a,
9 Ror example, all the most importan
: ] 0Anaral dutiea which can be performed bJ