Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-03-23


her Legislature, seeing the inequalities Of
her system, would fail to profit by the ex-
perience of Others and reap the advantage
they now enjoy.
As the subject of reform has engaged my
attention for some time, / would here re-
mark, that during the past year have en-
deavored to obtain all the information posi-
BILE concerning the various systems in opera
ton in many of the States most noted for
the efficient and successful management Of
their common schools Through my cores
pendence with several of the distinguished
educators of New England, New York and
Ohio, | have been able to obtain their school
reports, and in several instances their digest
of laws and other valuable papers, detailing
the internal working Of their several sys-
TENS
In addition to that, / have had the the
extreme pleasure of personal interview
with the very able and efficient Superinten-
dent of Common Schools for the State of
Ohio, the Hon. Il. i. White, at his office
last summer, when passing through The cap
ital of Ohio. The information | received
on that occasion was Of the most satisfactory
character, and which convinced me that the
laws regulating the financial condition of
the common school system in that State
were far superior to those of Pennsylvania.
| also had frequent interviews with gentle
men Of large experience from various sec
the Teacher National Convention, which
met in this city last August The knowl-
edge | obtained, on these several occasions,
from gentlemen who have devoted their
whole time and attention to the improve
i 43l,
systems, IconceiVe to be most valuable.
Were it not extending my remarks en-
tirely too long, Mr. Speaker, / would detail
to some extent at least, the internal opera
tions of the school systems of several of those
States. Suffice to say that, whilst admire
the proficiency to which the common schools
Of New England generally have attined, and
would hail with delight the day when Penn
sylvania shall have arrived at that advanced
state of literary ami scientific attainment in
her common schools, | cannot think at this
time we could safely adopt their systems; and
whilst in most instances there seems to be
great uniformity In the collection and distri-
button of their school funds, they are never
theless, so complex, and at the same time
so expensive, owing, probably, to the eu-
purabundancc of their irreducible school
funds, that Pennsylvania, without provi-
sion Of that character which, to the discred-
it of our national representation, years gone
by, be it said, failed to secure for us) could
not at this time safely adopt.
confess, sir, that / am better pleased
with the financial workings of the common
school system in the States of New York
and Ohio. And although there is consider
able differance IN the laws regulating the
school funds in these two States, they never
theless seem to have the same grand object
in view, viz: The alienation of the burden
Of taxation from those who are least able to
bear it-and at the same time dispense the
blessings of free and liberal education up
on all classes and conditions of their people
by system of uniform and equitable taxa
tion. The laws regulating the collection
and distribution of taxes in the State of
New York provide that there shall be levi
ed upon the assessed valuation of the real
and personal property of the State tax of
three-fourths ofone mill TO the dollar of
said valuation, which, in conjunction with
the United States fund, Ia small annuity
derived from the sale of the public lands,
under the distributing act of Congress, a
few years ago, she is enabled to keep open
her schools minimum number of months,
by uniform system of distribution, wherein
one-third of said school revenue shall be di-
vided equally among the whole number of
schools in the State; and the remaining two
thirds, after deducting and defraying the ex-
penses of the system for the year, shall also
be divided equally ameng the schools, accor-
ding to the whole number of children in the
State between the recognized school ages
The laws creating revenue for school pur-
poses in the State of Ohio, are three fold in
their character and, to me, it would seem
for wise reasons.
When Ohio was yet territory, their dele
gates to Congress, forseeing the advantages
that must accrue to her offspring by provid-
ing basis upon which liberal system of
education might be founded, secured to the
State of Ohio reservation of one section
of land in each township in the State for
educational purposes. The proceeds aris-
ing from the sale of this land is called irredu-
cible school fund, and applied exclusively to
the support of common schools.
Secondly, by the act Of 1854, they provid-
ed State tax for school purposes similar to
that of the State of New York, which, a.
mended by the act of 1862, only requires
tax of one and three tenths mills upon the
dollar, of the assessed valuation of the State,
which, in conjunction with the interest aris-
ing out of the ilreducible school fund, Gre
ate a revenue generally sufficient to keep
open the schools in the State minimum
term of six months year.
And thirdand lastly, the law also provides
for a school or district system of revenue
by which tax is created for building pur-
poses, and all incidental expenses relating to
the schools in each district and its manage
ment, and for such additional cost of instruc-
tion as may either be necessary to keep open
the schoolsthe minimum term of months re-
quired by law, OF such additional length of
time, under the maximum, as the majority
of the directors shall decide.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, you viii readily per-
ceive the many safeguards that are thrown
around the Ohio school system, by which
poverty, wherever found, is made to feel the
benefits of common school education,
without greVious and oppressive taxation,
whilst at the same time due provision is
made that each school must be kept open,
at least, minimum number of months,
under forfeiture of all money accrueing to it
according to the division of said funds a.
mong the whole number of scholars residing
within the State, and within the school
age.
a system so uniform in its character as
either of the two haveju sketched can
not fail to become popular in any community
and if applied to our present excellent sys-
TEN ofinstruetion, as practised in many por-
tions of this State, and especially in the city
and county OF Philadelphia, would at once
SO popularize our common schools, especia-
" among the masses, that our State would
at once take rank as the most popular sys-
ram in the land