Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-01-24
{ Our Common Schools.

I The report made by State Supcrin-
tendent Wiclsersham, showing as it
does the magnitude and growing
prosperity of Common Schools, is
an able aud well arranged public doc.
ument. During the past year IS, $50.
91S.3l'have been expended in support
of the Common Schools and S520,000
for the Orphan Schools, making the
grand total of so, l00,9lS,33. During
the year the following increase has been
made; In number of school districts
81; schools 1,4SS graded schools | ).
a742; directors 220 supcrintondcnts
2; teachers 400 pupils 5,723; aver.
age of pupils attending ll,247 in
cost Of tuition slsl, ,ll407; cost of
contingencies 81 ,S0S.s9 cost of build,
ing, purchasing and renting of school
houses s620,6l9,l II, being total in.
crease in expenditures for the pur.
poses named Of $500, 1923.
The State outside ofPhiladelphia has
14,l61 schools, l6,402 teachers, an at.
tendance of 100000 pupils, and an
average school term OF 5 months and
Fl days. OF teachers employed T..
$40 are males and S,402 females.
Male teachers were paid during the
past year s40.03 per month and
female teachers s31.12. OF 1901
school houses reported as in use
during the year 7,774 are Of frame,
1888 of brick, 1900 of stone and 320
,oflog. During the year 6l0 new school
houses were built. The total value
of school property is set down at Sl6,.
SS9,62 being an increase during the
year of s1,052,44l. OF the HOS
schools, 3,434 are graded and 10,597
well classified These figures show
an advance in our Common School
System which is great and encourag.
ing.
In making up statement of the
work which has to be perfocmed by
the school department Superintendent
Wickersham shows very clearly that
there is need for competent second
deputy 10 whom n portion Of tho la.
Dor might be entrusted. He recon.
mends the establishment of School
Department to be composed of Super.
tendcnt and two deputions, said de.
partment to be divided into bureaus
MS follows
l. A Bureau Of Elementary EdUca
ton, to take charge of the work con,
nected with the Common Elementary
Schools. This would require one chiei
clerk and two assistants.
2. A Bureau Of Higher Education
requiring one person to take charge ol
whatever relates to high schools, acad
mics and colleges
3. A Bureau Of Professional Educa.
tion, which, with one competent officer
could attend to the Normal Schools
and Teachers Institutes.
4. 4 Bureau Of Orphans Schools,
which would be temporary, 80 lar
us relates to Soldiers Orphans, and
would require only single desk tc
take charge of the work relating tc
Houses of Refuge, Reform School.
and Schools for Friendless Children.
This seems to be very proper elias
siication of the duties devolving upor
the school department, and we do no,
hesitate TO recommend the Legislation
necessary TO carry out the suggestion,
of the Superintendent 1t would not
add to the force now employed in the
department, and would give order anc
system to the work.
Mr.. Wickersham suggests that the
State Superintendent should be ap
pointed by board composed of the
Governor, the Chief Justice of the Su
preme Court, the Speaker OF the Sen
ute, one person selected by the State
Teachers Association, one by Con
vention Of County Superntendents
one by the Principals of State Norma
Schools and one by meeting of Col
lege Presidents, This would relieve
the State Superintendent from the
liability TO removal Whenever q Gov
ornor is elected, and would remove
the school department so much further
from the influence Of politics.
Mr.. Wickersham takes occasion Il
commend the principle of the bill pro
yiding for the election of School Di
rectors by the "free vote" system
which wasprcpared by Mr.. Buekalew
and passed through the Senate. Tho
passage of Mr.. Buckalew's bill woulC
give to each political party represen
ta,ion in the various School Boards
proportionate to its numbers, anC
would be an improvement upon th'
present system. Taken as a whole
we can conscientiously say, that th,
report made by Mr.. Wickcrsham il
one which does credit to its author
and TO the State.-LancaStr Inteili