The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-07
The A1Ieghan1an..
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY :, 1867.
cur Public schools.

various public schools of the Sta'e-a
number nearly twice as great as the
population of California, six times that
of Delaware or Kansas, twice tina: OF
Vermont or New Hampshire, and about
equal to that OF either Wisconsin, Texas,
South Carolina, New Jersey, Mississippi,
Michigan, Maine, Mary land, or Iowa.
The total numoer of teachers employed
for the instruction of these children Is
16,144, or one teacher for every forty five
pupils. Exclusive of the city and county
Of philadelphia, the percentage of atten-
dance is six hundred aud twenty-eighi
tLousaudths. That Is, out of every hun-
dred pupils, something less than sixty
three were in daily attendance. Supposing
each school in the State to be composed
of fOrty-Eve pupils, only twenty-eight
we're to be found daily within the school
room. The absence of the remaining
seventeen may WILL cause us to pondeK@
Though the school system of the State
should present no other problem, THIS one
would be sufficient to occupy the attention
f educators as we'll as others for at least
Eve years to come. The question, indeed,
Of all questions concerning our schools, is
the one OF increasing the percentage Of
attendance so that it will range from
eigbty-fve or ninety per cent. to ORG
hundred
It is scarcely possible to make palmer
than do these figures, the alarming nature
os this evil OF the thirty-seven absent
ees out of each hundred, scarcely more
than fifteen are detained from school by
sickness or osher sufficient cause. The
other twenty-five are taking lessons
(receiving their education) on the street.
TbeSe tUenty-tr0o dbsentees are o1sr future
criminals. In few years, the laws Of the
State, as also the customs of society, will
recognize their criminality as determined,
and they will be looked upon as class of
the great community-as a low, depraved
class, but nevertheless as a class whose
status is fixed beyond change. Even SUCH
of them as do not become stceped in crime
will pever rival in thrift, In intelligence,
10 influence for good, those who daily
attend the sessions of the school
As to the causes of this absenteeism, We
think they may be divided into-lst,
laxity cf parental government; 2nd. lack
Of interest In school affairs; Sd, scarcity
of we'll qualified, successful teachers ; 4th,
natural aversion of some children &c any
ching like study.
IN naming the first three causes of the
evil, we imply the remedies tor all. We
30 not So much need legislation, as a
higher standard OF public opinion in
regard to the common schools Of the State,
and very great Increase In the number
of well qualified teachers-quali6ed in
scholarship, In aptness to teach, IN patience,
aud ali the virtues necessary to being
successful teacher. Legislation which
:ends 20 secure either of these results, or
both Of them, should be hailed With
delight, but no act of Legislation, nor any
amount Of it, can supersede the necessity
OF waking up the people TO a lively interest
IN school affairs, nor of increasing the
fitness OF those engaged in the teachers
calling. Give us humane, patient, we'll
active teachers, who fairl y COM
prehend what it Is to teach, and We have
no fear that the improvement IL attend
ance will be so great as to make glad the
heart of every friend the sohOoi system
has. But 10 get these teachers-that's
the question snd to this end. two sug-
gestions, one from State SuperiG Gtendent
alone, and the other from
the convention of County Superin.epdeDts
and the State Superintendent together,
are now before the Legislature, which to
our paind will tend greatly TO hasten the
desired result Is made part Of the school,
law Of the State. The first suggestion is
hat the bxuber of SuperinteDdents be
50 that instead Of one State
there be trI, the duties
IF TIE additional one being the visitation
,f the schools and the teachers institutes,
md that In each county the dissTict
for whom the law now
makes provision be selected by the direc- !
ors from among the successful teachers. |
I-Lo o,ho- .I,o,,,o :; H.. H. obooJ tov