The Portland daily press., 1863-02-12

"
which has answered so well the needs of
sparse population, mostly engaged In laborious
occupations, is gradually giving way to the
demands of ripper civilization - demands
growing louder from year to year in the ex-
preston of widespread and increasing dis
satisfaction. This important subject, doubly
important during this process of change, is
discussed in the Ninth Annual Report of the
Superintendent Of Common Schools, under
six heads: l. The Schools and the Rebellion
2. Our Glory and Shame, under which the
merits and defects of the present system are
handled. B. Proper Studies of the Common
Schools. 4. The District System. s. Normal
Schools. 6. Special Topics.
Under each of these heads, except the first,
will be found a methodical and instructive alb
stract of the school returns of town officers.
The number of reports of supervisors and
school committees forwarded to the Superin-
tendent has been much larger than ever before,
though the existence Of law making this re-
quirement seems not universally known. A
single question in the blanks issued last year,
"What are the great hindrances in your town,
to the progress and prosperity of your
schools9" has drawn out very full express
sion of the prevalent dissatisfaction already
alluded to. The general complaint is of poor
school houses and incompetent teachers. A
suggestion of the Superintendent on the first
point should by all means be adopted. The
present law provides, that "a plan for the cree
"tion or reconstruction of school house, vot-
''ed by the district, shall first be approved by
'the experimenting school committee. The
Superintendent recommends the addition of
the words, "and by board of three well edu-
"cated physicians" as an amendment. To
correct the evils arising from incompetence of
teachers, the establishment of at least two
normal schools is necessary. Massachusetts
has four, and the four are unable to supply
the demand for professionally educated teach
ers. 1t is superfuous to resort to argument
in support of the selfevident proposition, that
some special training is needed for teacher
as much, to say the least as for horse A
teacher lassoed and brought wild into a
school-room, is very dangerous animal
Some general modification of the district
system must be made in time, as has been
done already in our cities aud larger towns.
This movement however is but just beginning
The independent districts and rare academies
must still serve the more thinly populated Sec
tions OF the State. 1t would be well IL the
State would take in hand the endowment of
academies, in accordance with a settled policy
of maintaining them where. and only where,
they are needed as supplement to the district
schools, and there maintain institutions deserv-
ing their honorable name. What is called To-
cal enterprise has given us an abundant crop of
mushroom academies, often under the instruc-
ton of college undergraduates, and all indis-
criminately chartered and starved by the State.
But who shall decide upon the location of
academies worthy OF liberal support?
This question brings us to the last and by
far the most important suggestion in the Su-
perintendent's Report. He recommends the
organization of an articulate State system of
education, under the general supervision, sub
ject to wise regulations, of Superintendent
of Public Instruction. His office at the capt.
tolls TO be the center of educational operations
special Commissioner of Public Instruc-
ton in each county or Congressional district,
is to report to the Superintendent; and in
each town School Committee, performing all
the duties now shared with agents and select
men, is to report tn the Commissioner of the
district. Such is the plan recommended by
the present Superintendent, AFTER three years
service in this department "a plan already
adopted in its essential features, and in sue
cessful operation, in Pennsylvania and New
York. This is the plan, which must in time
bring order out of the chaos OF the present
disointed system, if system it can be called
For single illustration OF the disadvantages
under which our schools now labor, consider
the mischief and confusion which spring from
the selection of text books by each separate
committee throughout the State. 1t would be
something to have uniformity, even II the
books were no better; but they would be bet
ter IL the selection were left TO a capable State
officer, raised above the influence of publish
ers and their agents. The embodiment Of this
plan in judicious law will be work of great
delicacy, needing time. patience, and wise pru-
dence. 1t will be an unwise prudence which
shall induce the present Legislature to neglect
ii altogether.