The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-01-20

L
on which to estimate the growth of
our educational interests. In 1857,
thcre were 1876, 1886 children within
the school ages--a little less than one
half the present number, while the
population of our State was little
moro than half that of to-day; yet the
number ofscholars then enrolled was
less than one-third, that of school
houses about one-fourth, that of
teachers and ofschool days less than
one-fourth, thosa, of 1869. The amt
paid teachers in 1857 was less than
one-seventh, that of the value of the
school, ol-houses was about one-ninth,
and the amount provided in the dis
tricts for the support of teachers less
than one-ftteenth, those Of the past
year.
These fguresare not only pleasing,
but they demonstrate the gratifying
success of the present plan Of organ
ization, which, with sundry modifica.
tions, has now been in operation
over eleven years. Yet satisfactory
as these statistics may be, we should
sadly err, if we were to imagine that
nothing more can be done BY US
What we now behold are only the
beginnings of q temple acknowledge,
whose magnitude and granduer will
be commensurate with the wisdom
and munifcience of its builders. l
recommend, therefore, such legisla-
ton as may be found necessary to-
wards supplying defects in our exist
ing educational system and for ex-
panding it, SO as to make it more
thorough and comprehensive. The
recommendations of the Superinten-
dent, whose long experience as an
educator, in our sown and other
States, entities them to your atten-
tive consideration, will be before you
in his report. / would suggest, in
view Of the vast extent of our State,
the Importance Of the work, and it's
increasing demands on the time of
the State Superintendent, whether it
would not be advisable to provide for
the selection of one assistant superin.
tendent in each congressional dis
trict, whose duties would be indica-
ted by their Official designation, and
who should be required to hold teach
ers' institutes in the several counties
within their districts. l believe this
would provide for better and more
effectual supervision of our schools,
both general and local, than we have
yet known, and be means of ad-
vancing the standard of both officers
and teachers of the schools. Much
time and expense, think, might be
economical if our schools could on
joy the benefit of actual, frequent,
personal supervision by county and
State superintendents. These super
intendents shonld ha practical educa-
tors, chosen because of especial quail
ifcations for these responsible posi-
tions. Your experience and knowl-
edge of these matters, however, will
enable you, with other means of in
formation, to decide and act on all
these subjects to the satisfaction of
the people.
I would call the attention OF the
General Assembly to the salary of
the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton. Iappointed the present incum-
bent one year ago, to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the death of the lamen-
ted Wells, without his solicitation
and against his protest, because be-
lieved him possessed ola degree of
enthusiasm and love for common
schools rarely excelled. Ho accept
ed this position with salary of |
$500, resigning one worth more
than double the amount.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
The proper education Of the youth |
of our State is duty paramount to |
every other. To do this we must
have well qualified teachers. The
graduate fron the normal school |
having been educated with special |
reference to the courses of study and
methods in the public schools, will, of |
necessity, other things being equal,
take the precedence over one educa-
ted without this previous prepara-
tion.
At the present time, so far as can
learn, the demand tor well-qualifed
teachers is far greater than the sup
ply; and the rapid increase of the
population of the State multiplies
this deficiency. The Normal De
partment of the State University,
which is tho only professional school
in the State for educating teachers,
specially, is altogether insufficient to
meet this growing demand. In JUS
tice to our best interests we ought
at once to widen our normal school
facilities.
In most of the leading States, nor
NAL schools, to the number of two or
more in each, have been established
and receive annual appropriations
from their legislatures. The bene-
fetal influence of such schools is no
longer questioned, and we may with
profit follow their example. feel
confident that the hope Of our COM
mon schools lies largely in this
special preparation of teachers, and
l would therefore urge upon the Gen.
eral Assembly, to do something in
this direction, It has occurred to
me, that, it my recommendations
hereinafter made relative to vacating
the "Soldiers' Orphans Homo" at
Glenwood and Cedar Rapids meet
your appreciation, those new build
ings could be fittedup for tho purpose
of normal instruction.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
During the last session of tho Gen
eral Assembly, the long vacant presi-
dcncy of the University was filled
by the appointment of James Black,
D. D., of Washington College, Penn
sylvania, a ripe scholar, and gentle
man of acknowledged ability. The
wisdom Of the selection has been jus,
tilted by the history of the Univorsi-
ty since he became connected with
it.
Two departments, devoted especi-
ally to instruction in the learned pro-
LESSONS, have been established with
in the last two years. The Iowa
Law School, private institution, sit
uated at Des Moines, was in Septem-
ber, 1868, removed to Iowa City,
onJ hnin1 marred in the JJnivarsitv