Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-01-15
Animal Message of
GOV. JOHN W. GEARY
Delivered January 7, 1868.
fContinued .t,om our Issue Of last ,ceek.

fContinued # ON our Issue Of last aceek.
EDUCATION.
The report of the Superintendent OF the
Common Schools exhibits full view OF our
excellent system of public instruction, which
Is widely dIffusing its blessings by securing Il
sound and substantial education to ali the
children of the State. A brief summary will
give an idea Of the immense proportions 1t
has affirmed and the vast amount OF useful
ness of which it is capable.
At the close of the year the number of
school. districts in the State ,SS9; the num-
Der of schools, l3,435; graded schools, D.
I47; school directors, II, 534 county, city
and borough superintendents, 6S; teachers,
l6, 523 pupils. 7S9, 3S9; the cost of tuition,
s3,02S. .O65:70; building, $l,262,T ,T9S 6S +;
contingencies, S790,675 49, tuition, build
ing and contingencies, $5,0Sl ,539 II and
the amount expended for all purposes rela-
ting to schools, $5, loo, $50 II.
Your attefition is particularly invited to
the want of uniformity and constant change
Of books in the public schools. These are
matters of serious inconvenience and need
less expense to the poor, and might easily
be rernedied by judicious legislation.
The chief aim of our system of common
schools is 10 place the advantages of an ed
ucation within the reach of all the children Of
the Commonwealth and when it is con-
sidered that Intelligence and virtue are the
principal safeguards OF our free institutions,
this system earnestly claims the fostering
care and wise guidance of the Legislature.
The graded schools have largely increased
during the past year. The system cstab-
iished by the State was designed, not only
TO furnish instruction to our youth in the ell
sn}l Io1c ~ 80,
cable, TO impart to them an education in the
higher branches of learning. The multipli-
cation of grammar and high schools should,
therefore, receive every encouragement, for
they are necessary to perfect the system and
-uable. the State to avail itself Of that talent
which is born In the cottages ofthe poor quite
as frequently as in the palaces of the rich.
Good schools c,nnot exist without good
teachers, ard good teachers can OILY be OBJ
tanned by using the proper means to prepare
them. Recognizing these facts, the Legis-
latue of 1867 passed general Normal school
law, dividing the State into twelve districts,
and looking forward to the establishment,
in each ct them, of Normal school. Ac-
cording to the provisions of this law four of
these schoo are now organized the pros
porous condition Of which is exemplified by
the fact that two thousand one hundred and
eighty-tive students attended them during
the past year, of whom forty-six graduated.
Fourteen colleges and thirty-two acade-
mics have made reports to the School De-
partment during the past year. Such insti-
tutions supply great public want, as the
common school system is not Competent to
perform the whole work of popular educa-
ton. A State requires men OF generous cul-
ture in all the walks of life, as well as in the
81 ha nf
the system of public school instruction is
one of the wlsest and noblest objects of
legislation. All of the different institutions of
learning would strengthened and their use
fulness increased by bringing them together
in closer union, which possibly can be best
by the creation OF general
Department of Education.
Serious complaints have been made con-
cerning the neglect OF the education of the
children in the aims and poor houses Of
some OF the counties of the State. They are
permitted to grow up in idleness AMI igno
rance, and when sent upon the world to earn
a living are better prepared to receive les
Sons OF vice than those of usefulness. The
directors Of these institutions should be
compelled, by law, to send such children to
the common schools or provide proper
schools for them. and it should be made the
duty of common school superintendent to
supervise and enforce the execution of the
law
SOLDIERS ORPHANS SCHOOLS.
The last annual report of the Superlnten-
dent of the Soldiers OrphHns Schools was
made up to include the Both OF November,
1866 The appropriation for that year, ex-
tending from January |, 1866. to January
/, 1861, was insufficient to cover the ezpcn-
ees Of the whole year. and consequently
those Of December, 1866, were unpaid. The
next appropriation, under the present law,
extends from January /, 1867, to June |,
1868. 1t was, therefore, determined that
there was no legal authority to apply any
part oft to the payment of expenses prior
TO January, 1857; hence those incurred IN
December, 1866, amounting to S3l ,O49 II,
remain unpaid
Hon. Thomas II. Burrowes, who was APP
POINTED Superintendent by my predecessor,
continued in Office until May /, 1867, when,
under the act OF April 9, 1867, L appointed
Col George F. M'Farland, Superintendent,
Rev &. Cornforth, Inspector and Examin-
sr, and Mrs Il. w. Hutter, Assistant, who
= once entered upon the discharge OF their
duties by visiting and re-organlzing the
schools, correcting abuses which had crept
into the local management of some OF them,
and IN settling arrearages, which was done
with zeal, fidelity, and commendable prom
titude.
The present Superintendent reports the
Expenditures for the eleven months ending
November 80, 1867, as follows: Education
and maintenance $34l, ,Ss9 S5; Partial re-
Iset,S2I0O 90; Clothing furnished l 1898 chill
aareh,i advanced schools, $37, 1877 SO; Ma
Ting and repairing clothing, freight, &c,
$3.50 IA; General expenses, S6,7Sl so;
Total amount, from January !, to December
J. 1867, 1894, ,420 OF.
the expenses for the six months, from De