Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-01-17

4 1898; pupils, Is9, 3So; }he cost of tuition,
! 3,52S, ,065. 70; building, 81, 1862, 79S 68 :
| contingencies, $3.50, ,675 50; tuition, building
and contingencies, $5, $50 IL; and the
amount expended for all purposes relating
to schools, S., 100, $50 IL
Your attention 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 Temedied by judicious eglslation.
The chief aim of our system of common
schools is to place the advantages OF an edu-
cation within the roach of all the children Of
the Commonwealth, and when it is consid-
cred that intelligence and virtue are the
| principal Safeguards OF our free institutions,
this system earnestly claims the fostering
care and wise guidance 0f the legislature.
The graded schools have largely increased
during the past year. The system estab-
llshed by the State was deHgned, not only
to furnish instruction to or youth IN the
elements of knowledge, butwhereYer prac-
ticable to impart to them IN education IN
the higher branches of leaning. The mul-
! tiplieation of grammar and high schools
should, therefore, receive eery encourage.
meRt, for they are necessar7 to perfect the
| system aud enable the Stateto avail itself Of
that talent which is born in the cottages of
the poor quite as frequently as in the pala-
ces Of the rich
/ Good schools cannot exist without good
| teachers, and good teacherscan only be OBJ
tanned by using the proper means to prepare
! them. Recognizing these hcts, the Legis-
lature of 1857 passed a general Normal
school law, dividing the Shte into twelve
districts, and looking forward to the estab--
hshment, in each Of then, of Normal
school. According to the PROVISIONS OF this
law four of these schools are now organized,
the prosperous condition Of which is exem-
pliied by the fact that two thousand one
hundred and eighty-fve 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 pastyear 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
profession Of teaching, and the perfection OF
the system of public school instruction Is
one of the wisest and nobest objects OF leg
islation. All of the different institutions of
learning would be strengthened and their
usefulness increased by bringing them to-
gether in closer union, which possibly can
be best accomplished by the creation of a
general Department of Education
Serious complaints have been made con-
cerning the neglect of the education of the
children in the aims ond poor houses of some
Of the counties of the State. They are per
mitted to grow up in idleness and ignorance,
and when sent upon the world to earn a liv
ing are better prepared to receive lessons 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
sohool superintendents to supervise and en-
force the execution of the law
SOLDIERS ORPHANS SCHOOLS.
The last annual report of the Superinten-
dent of the Soldiers Orphans Schools was
made up to include the 3Oth of November,
1866. The appropriation for that year, ex
tending from January /, 1866, to January l,
1867, was insufficient to cover the expenses
of the whole year, and consequently those Of
December, 1866, were unpaid. The next
appropriation, under the present law, ex-
tends from January ], 1861, 10 June l,
1868. 1t was, therefore, determined that
there was no legal authority to apply any
part of it to the payment of expenses prior
to January, 1867; hence those incurred in
December, 1866, amounting to S3l, ,049 II,
remain unpaid.
Hon. Thomas H. Burrowes, who was ap-
pointed Superintendent by my predecessor,
continued in Office until May /, 1867, when,
under the act Of April 9, 1867, appointed
Colonel George +. NJ Farland, Superinten-
4 i
Examiner, and Mrs. e. w. Hutter, Assis-
taut, who at once entered upon the dis
charge of their duties by visiting and re.or-
ganizing 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 com
mendable promptitude.
The present Superintendent reports the
expenditures for the eleven months ending
November 80, 1867, as follows
Education and maintenance. $3I, $50 IS
Partial relief,.... ......... 9I0 90
Clothing furnished l,9Ss children, in
advanced schools ..................... 7,lS7 So
Making and repairing clothing,
freight, &c, &c,................,.........- $3.50 "a
General expenses, 6,TSl 60
Total amount from Jan. l, to Dec. /,
1867 394420 %
The expense for the six months, from
Dec. !, 1867, to June l, 1868, are estimated
by the Superintendent, as follows:
Education and maintenance Of 1850
children, in advanced schools at
Sl4o per s129, 500 90
Education and maintenance for 500
children in primary schools, at
si25 per annuni. -. sI,25o 90
EdurafiOn and maintenance OF l.O50
children in "HOmes," at S1o5 per
annuIu..... 5l25 90
Clothing 1850 children, at s25 per
annuIn........... 5l25 90
Transferring pupils, salaries &c-.-... 3,975 90
Estimate for months, ending June
], 1865 .................-.,-..-.-,. 242915 90
Total actual and estimated expenses
for seventeen months, from jan /
J. 1857, to June l. 1865 $637, 1895 90
Or, at the rate of S449, ,925 so pr an.
From which deduct total amount
appropriated for II months, at
$259,0O0 per annum...., ............,. 495,SS3 35
And deficit for seventeen months
is shown, of i4i,56I 90
Or, at the rate Of sos, 1926 so pr.
Add the amount due for Dec, 1866, 81, ,049 N I
And it exhibits the total deficit from
Dec l, 1865, to June l, 1868, to be
provided for by special appropria-
1881 40
l do not deem it inappropriate here to
state that if the bill which passed the House I
at the last session had become law making