Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-01-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE

There are many matters of interest
to the people of this State referred to in
Gov. Hoyt's Messagest ito the Leg'sla-
ture, some of which we may notice
hereafter. The following as to our
public schools and educational affairs
will be found of much interest:
EDUCATION.
The State is carrying on its system
of public instruction in three directions
Public Schools, Normal Schools, and
the Soldiers Orphans Schools. The
report of the Superintendent of Public
instruction. DR., j. p Wickersham, will
receive YOUR careful attention. His
views and recommendations are en-
titled to your consideration, by virtue
of his long, intelligent, and effective
service and his very extensive expe-
rience with public schools in our own
State, in other States, and in the Old
World. 1t is most gratifying that he
reports the organization of the common
schools more complete than ever be-
fore, and Gin all departments charac
terized by vigorous life and pro-
gressive spirit" The whole number
of graded schools is 7 7,037-the number
of schools not graded, ll,6lS. The
total number of pupils on the rolls is
937, ,3lO, with an average attendance of
II per cent. The expenditures of all
kinds for the year ending June, 1880,
not including orphan or normal schools,
were S7,4S2,5 ,577 IS. The value of
the school property of the State is
S25, ,467, ,097 The total Indebtedness
of all the school districts in the State,
including those in cities and boroughs,
is only S2,64S, 495 "a, while there re-
main in the various treasures of the
districts, balances amounting to ST.
425,2l3 l6. These are satisfactory
figures, and indicate the permanent
value which this agency of progress
holds in tho minds of the people.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
The condition of the normal schools
and of their property will require your
notice. There have been twenty-nine
hundred students in attendance during
the past year. The value Of their
property is estimated at 81. 1866, ,395 IT.
These schools are ten in number. In
their establishment, there may be set
down as contributed by private sub
scriptions S4O0, 900 The State has
contributed for grounds, buildings and
apparatus, up to year 1878, S645, 900.
The debts of the schools may be put at
$250,O0O The appropri tions by the
State to these schools has, for some
years, been 100000 annually. By a
mere arbitrary mode of distribution,
and no other seemed feasible, this sum
has been parcelled out equally-SlO,- :
| coo TO each For these sums, liens
have been taken in favor OF the State.
They have been compelled to use their
appropriations in paying old floating
debts, or in keeping down interest on
the mortgages and other liens against
them. Resources which should be ex-
pended in the active conduct of the
schools are thus absorbed in the reduc-
tion of debts which cripple them and
this reduction is not being accomplish
ed in the best and most economical
manner for the State or the schools.
Besides, the annual appropriation has
a tendency to induce the belief that il
is to be permanent relief and weak
ems the administration and efficiency OF
the system.
The correst policy for the State now
to adopt will be to pay off the entire
Indebtedness of the normal schools;
and, so far as a surrender of the rights
of shareholders and contributors can
be secured, place the ownership of the
several properties and all liens, in the
State After such provision in their
behalf, the schools ought to be sell
supporting, and doubtless will become
SO. No further aid from the State
should thereafter be expected by them.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS SCHOOLS.
The conduct of these schools calls
for no abatement in the pride with
which all have watched their organiza-
tion and growth. The supervision
over them has been intelligent and rig.
i'd The inspections have been thor
ough AZ to the physical surroundings
and material well.being Of the inmates
of the several schools, Children ad.
mitted under existing laws must be,
long to one Of three classes:
/. Those whose fathers were either
killed or died Of disease while in the
army. Only one hundred Of this class
remain.
g. Those whose fathers have died
since the close of the war of wounds or
disease contracted while in the ser.
vice.
3 Those whose fathers are living,
but are 80 disabled by wounds or dis
ease contracted while in the army, that
they are unable to support their fami-
lies and in all the cases, the children
must be under sixteen years of ag5,
and in destitute circumstances. 1t
must be aald that the Superintendent
of Public Instruction, while under the
pressure Of those who say he is too
strict and is admitting too few, and the
criticism of those who say he is too lax
and is admitting too many, has, at all
times, justly and firmly construed the
statutes governing these schools-al-
ways aiming to provide for tbs really
meritorious, and to guard the State
against fraud.
There are two thousand FIVE hun.
dred and eighty children under the
care of the State in these schools, and
the cost of the system the past year
was 1851, 42l SO. For the years 1881
and 1882, about 500, 900 will be need
ed.
The Superintendent, 10 bis animal
report, says: "In making the usual
appropriations for the orphan schools,
the Legislature of 1873 provided that
no more children should be admitted