The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-03-11
CONVENTION OF COUNTY SUPER
IETENDEuTS.

The Convention of County Suporintendents
met in Harrisburg, January Il, 1864, and con-
tinued in session three days. The proceedings
wero interesting and some Of them profitable,
but for q full account of them we must refer
our readers to the Pennsylvania School Journal.
We have word to say about one Of the many
interesting subjects upon which the convention
acted.
Mr.. Waters, of Butler, introduced rcsolu-
ton, that the convention memorialize the Legis-
ature TO increase the school term, now establish
cd by law, to more than four months. MIR. Bur-
rowes commenting in the Journal on this reso-
luton Gays: 'sThe discussion on this question
was perhaps the aost exciting that took place
1t was carried, however, by majority; show
ing that the time has come when the. matter
is to be aaitated and that, too, with sue
cess before long. Several speakers rose above
tie trammels of local feeling on this subject,
but we are much deceived if, in so doing, they
are very far in advance of public sentiment" =
We have great respect for Mr.. Burrowes and
for his opinion as an educator; but ws respect
fully suggest that in this matter he is greatly
mistaken. He seems not to know how numcr-
ous and powerful are the enemies of our school
system, nor to appreciate fully the difficulties it
still! has to contend with in many parts of the
State. lie has doubtless studied and under
stands the theory of our system thoroughly.
He has had greater opportunity to do this
than any other man living. But he has not
mingled with the people to learn whether LIS
theories are acceptable to them or not. His
whole course of life has been such as to bring
him into contact with the friends OF the system,
and not with its enemies and we strongly sus-
pect that this has led him to think it has few
enemies or none at all. Those who have better
opportunity to learn ''publc sentiment on this
subject, than he has, know too we'll that many
Of his tavorite educational theories are bitterly
denounced by thousands of men of respectable
ity and influence in their several communities.
IIe should remember to "let good enough alone"
There 10 q limit beyond which neither he nor
any Sther educator can go with impunity.
But he says 'the resolution passed by ma
jority." So i. did. But he forgets to say hat
resolution similar to this was laid on the table
the day previous by an almost unanimous vote.
Why is the public not favored with she aciols
:. j, lion of the convention on shis subject.
et ,as 's,, neglect his duty, Oh has the
Journal, as usual, kep, nut o s's"' ~ ,h lar rs
possible anything hat conhicss vim 'lS ~
views Of its editor7 Why did not Mr. bu.-- .-o"es
tell lis readers that tho resolution was votea !
down tho day before when the convention ek-
pressed its real opinion of it; but that when IT.
was again thrust before the convention and he
advocated it strongly, it was passed more In def
crence to his opinion than as an actual express
sion of the opinion of those who voted for it.
During this discussion the Superintendent OF
this county made the following remarks, which
we eubrait to our readers: SIS
Mr.. Dickeraon, of Bedford, regretted that he
could not ut this tine support such measure.
Oar cyst sn of school tagd:ion had long seemed
to him to be species Of injustice. We ccan-
pei every district, regardless Of its wealth, 70
keep oren its schools four months in order 10
60. its State appropriation In oome Of tn rich
er parts of the State, the schools can Be Kept
open four months with a tax Of one, two Or