Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-23
THE REPORT OF THE STATE sUPERIN.
PENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

PENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTiON
The First Report of the State Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction. Rev. l.. Van
Bokkelen, is monument of zeal and indus
Try IN the exercise of his important functions,
which, to contemplate, should gladden. the
heart of every true friend of popular educa-
ton in the State. 1t demonstrates at the first
gance,-and of course more so on a careful
examination, he has not only been in
defatigable in his endeavors to serve the State
III the establishment of an efficient system Of
public instruction, but that without fear or
favor, he has exposed whatever was faulty in
old systems such as have hitherto weighed
upon the commonwealth. Taking up the
State, county by county, he has carefully
looked into everything, weighed everything;
and now he comes forward after these personal
visits to every nook and corner of the com
monweath to lay before the General Assem-
bly, through the Governor, the result of his
observations and experience, and TO urge CO.
operation where this is needed to do Justice TO
all concerned.
Of cOnrse we have not room for re-publish-
ing document of eighty odd pages; but must
refer all specially interested in it, to the Re
port itself; and so multilarious are the points
treated upon, and so full of interest, at the
same time, that there are few but might 90
over it with profit to themselves, in seeking to
become acquainted with the noble advance
popular education is making at the present day.
But there is one subject to which attention
is called by the State Superintendent, which
we cannot let pass without special notice and
that is-his earnest and Christian like sugges-
tions-which 90 to the root of the matter--in
specifying what popular education in our day
should comprise; we mean that portion of the
Report which deals with the pressing needs Of
the colored population of the State por-
ton of this, at least, we intend to spread be
fore our readers, and every press in the State
we beg leave to suggest-should do the same
thing, that recognizes the necessity which
exists for preventing idleness, vice. and the
terrible brood of evils that always follow in
the train of popular ignorance. We quote:
''By the friends of universal education, our
''system of public instruction will not be re-
''cognized as such, unless it nroyidcs for all
1.-THE children in the State. knowledge is bel
''ter than ignorance and virtue is better than
''vice, and therefore it is wise that the oppor-
''tunity of instruction shall be profered to all
''who have minds to he cultivated or moral
sentiments to be developed. If ignorance
''leads to idleness, and crowds our aims
''houses with paupers If vice tends crime,
''and fills our jals and pcnitentames with
''wretched convicts, then it is good policy to
'Open the school house 10 every child whom
Ignorance may degrade or vice corrupt. IT
''matters not what may be the color of the
''skin or the land of nativity, the shape of the
''cranium or the height of the check bones.
whether the child be of Indian or African.
European or Asatic descent; his ignorance
twill be blight and his vice a curse to the
community in which he lives
Abiding to the fact that in 'devising uni
form system of what is termed public iustruc-
ton Maryland ''closed the school door
against one fourth Of her people, he continues:
'What then must be the result if, through
''prejudice or because of a short sighted
''pohcy, we cramp the minds and thus pervert
''the morals of one half of our laborcrs ?
What II, instead of encrgizng this mass of
muscle by an active brain, we withhold the
influences of education? What if, instead
''of developing those moral sentiments which
"counsel temperance and frugality, we give
1.-THE low vices chance to grow in the rank
''sol Of ignorance? Will the State become
''any richer by such q course? viii it be
m Al,
tax and jail tax be leSsened? Will property
'be more valuable, or shall we be more
''honored because we have kept a portion of
-FOUR people dorm? These are questions for
''citizens of Maryland to ponder. They have
"a very significant claim upon our thoughts.
''They involve our interests. and even Our
dignity as civilized and progressive commu-
nifty of intelligent and liberal minded men.
''lhey are directly, intimately connected with
1.-THE education of the colored persons who
''are among us, who intend 10 remain with us
land whose services we need the services
''Of every one of them and even of more: for
'the cry from all sections of the State is that
Labor is scarce, and industrious workmen
'can find prompt and abundant work.
These are the foremost views of enlightened
men everywhere, in dealing with the evils in
question; and although it is only what should
be expected from one in the eminent position
and with the antecedents of the accomplished
State superintendent, We are glad to see them
fearlessly stated for sure we are that a de-
Lucrative body of the high character of the
present General Assembly will cordially re-
spond to them. Imbued with sentiments like
these, determined to do justice to all within
the borders of the State, who shall pretend to
measure our future advance; who does not see
and feel, that Maryland is at last doing justice
to herself, in the noble determination to do
justice to the humblest of her people,