Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-01-05
A STATEMENT.

OLEARFlELD, Pa, December 25th, 1850.
! EDlfoR REPuRLioAS-Dear Sir There seems
| TO be q great many persons who do not fully un-
derstsnd the law relating to the management Of
County Institutes, and for the benefit Of all such
| ask space for the following explanation. The
law makes II binding dpOn the Superintendent to
hold these Conventions annually and empowers
him with the entire management therefore, he !,
personally responsible for ts success or failure,
/ financially and otherwise. In order that these
meetings may be made profitable to teachers, ii
Is necessary to employ lecturers and instructors
Of ability; and this can only be dono at an enor
nous expense. In view Of this fact the Legisla-
ture, In making the law, made due provision for
meeting the expenses incurred In conducting these
Conventions. Al the adjournment Of the County
Institute, the County Superintendent is required
by law to make a certified statement Of all re-
ceipts and expenditures to the County Treasurer,
who is required to pay Immediately 81 for every
teacher who attended the Institute three days,
the appropriation in no instance to exceed $500,
nor less than 500. That Is IL Eve hundred
| teachers we're 10 attendance three days, the ap
preparation could not exceed $500, and IL but ten
teachers attended II could not be less than 500.
The County Superintendent, however. can re.
ceive none Of this until he presents to the County
Treasurer an itemized statement Of all receipts
and expenditures with legal vouchers for all the
moneys expended. Then he can draw such o
part Of the appropriation as shall bo necessary to
meet the expenses Of the Institute. His ac-
counts are passed upon "by the Auditors of the
County in like manner as other county expendi-
lures" In 1873 held my hrst County Institute,
at which secured an attendance Of two hundred
teachers, At lis close found its financial man
agcment had been 80 satisfactory as TO enable US
to publish the proceedings in pamphlet form,
Therefore lOOOeopies were printed and distributed
being the first time II wasever done in the county
This alone cost over slOO, and to do this II he
came necessary to draw IS per cent of the appro-
puation.
ln 1879 we were ngain successful 10 the dnau.
cial management Of the Institute. We met all
expenses, published and distributed 1900 copies
OF the pamphlet proceedings a, a oOs Of $40,
and left in the County Treasury 500 Of the APP
propriation to which the Institute was entitled.
The Institute held last month, for tho year
1850, Gust $500 Owing to the fact that the pro-
ceedings are 10 such a fragmentary shape that II
will be impossible to publish them in pamphlet
form that amount is saved to the county, aud but
sac Of the $500 due the Institute has been drawn.
The County Institutes have been. as every per
son is aware, gradually increasing in efficiency
and usefulness. We have endeavorei to improve
them IN every department, and as they increase
in expense and power, their cost to the County
diminishes, which We venture 10 say does not oc-
cur in any other county in the State. .
In conclusion let me say that the Institute OF
1873, 1879 and 1850 cost over 81 800. Under the
laws Of the State, they were entitled to $500 aid
from the County. OF that sun only $3.50 have
been drawn, and s2is given to the County as
giit The County Institute is the only organiza.
ton that does not draw from the County all that
II Is entitled to- Agricultural Fairs get their full
appropriation, the Judges Of our Courts draw
their enormous salaries In full and yet the hber.
alty ofthe County Institute is scarcely recognized
We have given the above Information for the
benefit Of all who do not understand the require
ments Of the school law, and to recognize In some
measure the generous help that has been accorded
US by the people, which, in conjunction with the
earnest work Of a noble class Of teachers and di-
rectors, has placoi our County Institute on the
highest plane Of excellence.
NJ. l.. MoQUows,
County Superintendent