PENNSYLVANIA

JOURNAL.

LANCASTER, PA., MAY, 1856.

THE SCHOOL JOURNAL. MONTHLY SUMMARY: This record is continued, and

TOPICS suggested for discussion in this Journal, aid themselves, if they send on, at once, brief abthough not intended to exclude any others which correspon-stracts of such educational events as they desire to dents may prefer:

ment, now in such beneficent action, called into the wants of the people. To meet the first class of these ranks of teachers :-young men filled with the de- cases, the school supplement of 8 May, 1855, (sec. termination to devote their lives to the profession, and to spare no effort to qualify themselves for its momentous duties. Some have fainted by the way; -some found that the true elements of the teacher were not in them; but the majority, like the author of this address, have nobly succeeded, and now form a band of men of whom even Lancaster county may be justly proud. The Earl Lyceum has been a most useful and efficient agent in this great work.

DIEFFENBACH ON THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENCY: The able, spirited and characteristic article on the County Superintendency, in another part of this No. would tell its author, even without the initials, "H. L. D." The voice which so often cheered the friends of the schools in past days, will be again heard with pleasure and profit by all.-While writing these lines a letter from Albany informs us that "the bill for Assembly District Commissioners is a law." This, we take it, means the restoration of that Superintendency in New York, to abolish which some Pennsylvania Solons were last winter so active,

BUCKS COUNTY: Such a plain statement of the re-sult of official visitation, as that under the head of "Bucks Co. Commor Schools," in another part of this No., must do good.

INDEPENDENT DISTRICTS.

tions 1, 2, 3 & 4,) authorises the continuance of existing Independent Districts, when deemed necessary by the Court of Common Pleas of the proper county; and sections 5, 6 and 7 of the same act, provide for the second class, by authorizing the proper Court of Quarter Sessions to create new Independent Districts, in the same manner in which new townships are created. The reason for dividing the duties between the two Courts is not very plain; but, as the same Judges hold both, it produces no real difficulty. The main object has, however, been completely effected: that of withdrawing the whole subject from the ex parte, one sided action of the Legislature, and of bringing it within the jurisdiction of the local Courts, with power to cause a full investigation of the merits of each case. It is now to be hoped that these tribunals will act cautiously in the premises,constantly bearing in mind the true nature and object of our common school district system, as well as the local objects of each case of application.

One of the chief defects in the territorial organization of the Districts in the old common school States, consists in the fact that every separate school with its proper bounds or "vicinage," forms a District, as it is called, with its independent organization and officers. This is injurious and embarrassing in almost every respect. It complicates machinery and increases the expenditure of time and money in the administration. It prevents wholesome emulaPrevious to the passage of the school supplement tion amongst the several schools of one large Disof May 8, 1855, the Courts had no power to estab-trict. It mars the general system of township, bolish new School Districts, except incidentally in the rough and city operations, which prevails in all the formation of new Townships. This caused the ne- other public affairs; and, chiefly and most injuriouscessity of numerous applications to the Legislature ly, it stands in the way of the gradation of the schools for special legislation, in cases really requiring and that next indispensable step in their improvejustifying the creation of new and Independent Dis-ment. Precisely for these reasons, the other old tricts. But, unfortunately, undue advantage was common school States are now seeking to abolish taken of the facility with which legislative action on the small district system, and to come up to our arthis subject was obtained; and very many Indepen-rangement of large districts; this being one of the dent Districts were formed that should not have numerous points in which the frame work of the been formed. To correct this evil, the 52d section Pennsylvania common school system is admitted to of the act of 1854 repealed all laws creating "Inde- be a model. Under these circumstances it does pendent Districts," (meaning thereby, all Districts seem as if the most extreme caution ought to be excreated by special legislation and not composed of ercised in this matter. a "township, borough or city"); but to prevent inconvenience from the sudden effects of the repeal, at the same session (1854) a supplement was passed, declaring that it should not take effect" till the first day of June, 1855.”

There are two classes of cases, and probably only two, admitting or requiring the continuance or creation of Independent Districts, without injury to the system. 1. Outlying portions of a township, or of two or more townships, cut off by natural barriers from their proper township or townships. 2. Towns and villages, now connected with townships as districts, but having a sufficient number of pupils to fill a series of schools of their own.

This last supplement, however, did not meet all the difficulties of the case. There were not only some Independent Districts actually in existence, whose permanent continuance was proper and necessary, but it was foreseen that cases of similar ne- 1. However beautiful our school system may be cessity would hereafter arise for the formation of in theory, it must be borne in mind that it is for the others, to accommodate the growing and changing common good; and that when any of its provisions

fails to promote that end, it should be adapted to its true purpose. Hence if the township line of a district includes population which cannot be reasonably accommodated in the schools of the proper town ship district, and can be accommodated by being separated or by being joined to another township or part of a township, the change should be made as soon as the necessity is made fully to appear.

A fourth class of cases once existed in most parts of our State, but are now happily annihilated by one of the provisions of the act of 1854 :-those of Sub-districts. It should never be overlooked that they were merely a temporary expedient, adopted, in the early days of the school law, to supply, to a certain extent, the deficiencies in our local supervision; and that, with the establishment of the 2. In all instances of towns or villages with pupils county superintendency and the greater efficiency enough for two primary schools and one secondary, of directorial supervision, their temporary necessity (say one hundred and fifty or more) included in a has nearly departed, and will soon wholly cease.— township district, or even in the similar case of a grow-It is very true that some more efficient local supering village with 100 pupils, there exists-so to speak vision and superintendence than has yet been in ope—a prima facie case for the separation. In the majority of such districts there is an incompatibility which will sooner or later dissolve the union; and if so, the earlier it is effected the better for all parties, and the sooner will the permanent and best arrangement of the schools of each be effected. As a general rule, the children of a town go to school earlier and the term of teaching is longer in the year, than in the rural districts; while in the latter, the commencement and termination of the term are different from those in the former, and are regulated by the industrial pursuits of the parents. The good of neither therefore can be promoted, while injury to both may be inflicted, by the connection.

ration, is still requisite; but the object will not be effected by retrograde measures. The true policy is to invigorate district superintendence, by some efficient agency for the whole district, and not to fritter and enervate it by separation.

The Court which shall indirectly attempt to restore the old sub-districts by cutting up township districts into single-school districts, will not only attempt, thereby, to thwart the expressed will of the legislature, and depart from the true spirit and object of the common school system, but will inflict an injury which will require years of confusion and delay and effort to remedy.

Journal.

LIBRARIES.

in every school in the State, at the public expense, have strongly attracted our attention to the proposion to supply books for the people by the State, at the public expense, and at length have settled our own mind, clearly and firmly, in opposition as well to the practice as the principle on which it is based.

For the sound view taken of this subject by the There is a third class of Independent Districts, Common School Department, the reader is referred heretofore too frequent, viz: single school districts, to Decision 4, (page 295) in the April number of this carved out of the interior of their proper township. These should receive no favor. Only two real motives exist for their formation, though one of them In this number of the Journal will be found the is not always avowed. That one is, that by the car- Report of Dr. DE WITT, the present learned and acving out of a snug little district of rich land and complished State Librarian. The thoughts suggestdense population, the tax of the residents may be ed by the perusal of this document, together with lessened and their term of teaching increased. This the significant experience of New York, and the reapproximation towards a dissolution of society into cent attempt in our Legislature to place a dictionary its original elements, and the leaving of each to bear just so much of its burthens as seems good in his own eyes, might, for a while, be very pleasant to the few and very burthensome to the many; but probably, if made general, would be found to bear bitter fruit ultimately. The other reason and one applicable to a very different state of things, is at least clear of selfishness. It applies to portions of township districts anxious to improve their school and extend the term of teaching, but held back in their efforts, by the unwillingness of the other parts. For this apparently praiseworthy purpose, a separation is often demanded. But in such cases it ought never to be forgotten that though a small present good may be effected by conceding to this demand, a permanent injury is done to the plan and working of the system; and that a few years patience and some pains taken with the slower portions of the district, will assuredly bring all up to the proper standard, and at the same time preserve the symmetry and the efficient administration of the system.

Before the art of printing was discovered, and even for many years afterwards, till it had so multiplied and cheapened books as to bring them within the reach of all, the purpose of a library was twofold: that of preserving books and handing them down from generation to generation; and that of present use by those who were unable to procure books of their own.

The first of these objects is still as urgent and needful as ever-or rather more so. In the early days of science and literature, books were so few, that not only could States but wealthy communities and institutions and even opulent individuals, obtain and collect into a library all the good works extant. It is to the labor and care of such that we owe the

master-pieces of ancient times we now possess; and on a given subject, as that of the history of the if far distant posterity is to read all the books of our State,-the presence of which will be in vain sought time, it must be to similar labor and care that it will for, in any other than a library collected and preowe the boon. It is a mistake to suppose that to served by public authority.

it

the art of printing, alone, will be due the preserva- Beyond these and similar objects, the use of pubtion of written books-those greatest monuments lic libraries to the existing generation has nearly of man's intellect. That art diffuses-cheapens-departed. In the old world, where books are yet renders general, but of itself does not long preserve, comparatively costly, and the mass of the people unaa book. It is singular to observe-what with new ble to buy them, Libraries are still considerably reeditions of the same book, new works on the same sorted to for daily reading; but these causes not existsubject, and new subjects constantly demanding our ing in this country, this effect is not to any great extent attention-how soon almost every book goes, as is expressively phrased, "out of print." Were it not for the preservative agency of large libraries, some of the best works of the last four centuries would now be actually as rare, as some of the manu. scripts of the Augustan age. In this view, printing may be more justly termed "the art diffusive," than "preservative," "of all arts."

here experienced. Apart from visitors from mere curiosity and from scholars desirous of consulting

rare works, the number of common readers of common books in public Libraries, if they could be accurately ascertained, would probably be found to be

exceedingly limited. A few years ago all our large towns had circulating Libraries. If one of these be now examined, where one happens still to remain, With the increase of books and editions, by means it will be found that the works composing it are of of the press, the ability of private collectors to store two kinds :-1. Old books of history, travels, bioup for the use of future generations has decreased, graphy, and a few on science; 2. Novels, poetry and and the duty of doing so, has thus become more in-plays. The experience of the aged proprietor will cumbent than formerly on public authorities. Hence, also tell us, that the first class were those first it is eminently proper for nations and States to ap- placed on its shelves, and that they were in the ear ply a portion of their means to this purpose. It is ly days of the institution considerably read; but that a debt the present owes to the future, and it should the second class speedily came into demand and not be neglected. Not only every book published forced their way into the collection; and that, finalin a State, but every edition of it, should be thus ly, even these ceased to be called for, and so the collected. To these should be added, as many works collection failed to circulate. published in other States and countries as possible; always preferring, in selecting such, those of the the rejection of graver works in favor of those of ficgreatest interest and utility. But this latter depart-tion, which marks one of its epochs, so disgraceful ment in a national public library, is one of secondary moment; for, if each State have a full collection of the productions of its own mind, the aggregate of those of all States and nations will contain the entire labor of the human intellect in this department of effort; and posterity will be thus secured in the possession of the whole.

The solution of this change is not difficult; nor is

to the public taste or morals, as is generally supposed. When, owing to the cheapening of books and the more general spread of knowledge, individuals and families began to form small collections, naturally the first purchased were the works of standard authors on some topic of grave literature, or on some useful science or art. Thus these purThe other purpose—that of general use-of pub-chases came first in conflict with the local circulatlic libraries, large and small, has nearly ceased and ing library, and deprived it of many of its best subwill probably be soon wholly terminated; though scribers. New editions and new works on the same they will still continue to be resorted to for special subject, also, threw out of use those on its shelves, purposes, and for such will always be indispensa- the decreased demand for their use, in the mean ble. Among these special objects of a public, and time, disabling the proprietor from renewing them. especially of a State Library, is that of reference by And though works of fiction about the same time members of the Legislature and others, to works on came largely into demand, and were taken out by statistics, political economy, agriculture, manufac- persons, who either had not the desire or the means tures, commerce and history; and these departments to own them, it is no more probable that graver of its contents should be full and complete. Anoth-books were then less read than before, than it is that er is that of reference by authors and literary and novels have now ceased to be read at all, because scientific investigators, to rare and costly works not to be found in private collections, and not ordinarily for sale in the book stores. The last that need now be named, is that of reference to all the various editions of a leading work and the whole series of books

they are no longer procured from their former circulating depositories. The truth is, that both classes of books are still read, the difference being that works of fiction, as well as more valuable productions, are now bought and not hired. But it would

to leave the public district library without readers; and, it would seem, according to the complaints of both, also with a sad decrease in the number of vol

be unsafe to argue from this that there is more no- library without customers, has left and will continue vel reading now, in proportion to the number of general readers, than formerly; for it must always be borne in mind, that where one purchased cheap modern novel is read, perhaps, by half a dozen of per-umes. sons, the old-fashioned library romance was perused We are amongst those who do not deplore this by hundreds; and further, as an item in the moral as a great evil, or perhaps as an evil at all. The estimate, it is not to be forgotten that, both in style time may have existed, when the early settlement and matter, most modern novels are vast improve- had but one plough, whose share was in constant ments on by-gone romances. brightness with the small tillage of the few spots reBut, coming more closely to the subject in view, deemed from the wilderness. The time did exist, the fate of disuse is not by any means confined to when the one Bible of the parish was chained to the the private circulating Library. Associated efforts town-cross, to be read by the few who could read for the formation and support of collections of books and get near it, and to be retailed, at second hand, equally fail. After the first year or two of novelty, to those who could not. Some may call these "the the Mechanics' Library is not used. Most other good old times." We do not. Every hand that societies have little better success;-the college so- can use it now holds the material plough of its own; ciety library, owing to the peculiar position and pur- every heart open to it—aye, and every hand toosuits of the members, forming the chief exception, possesses the moral plough of God's word, and the But the most startling proof of the soundness of the world feels the benefit of the culture of both. So foregoing speculations and conclusions, lately met of books generally. In use they have ceased to be with, is found in the following extract from the last borrowed, or hired, or doled out. They are not now to annual report of the Superintendent of Public In- be travelled after, a pledge given for them, read hastily struction of the State of New York, [Hon. V. M. and returned under forfeit. They are everywhere Rice,] which is but a reiteration of the sentiments at home, in the heart of the family, and a part of its of his report for the preceding year : best garniture. Though less seen in rows on the "The number of volumes reported in the district libraries was 1,505,370, being 66,000 less than the library shelf, the booksellers' sales, (there being now preceding year, and 98.840 less than in the year ten bookstores where there was one fifty years ago,) 1852. In the intermediate two years $98,873 37 show that they are more bought and more read, in was received by the trustees of districts for the in-the same proportion. As a question of expediency, crease of their libraries. It would appear, there

fore, that for every dollar expended one volume was then, and of fact as to the amount of reading in a lost or destroyed. It is impossible to believe that community, there would seem to be no just cause to this is a true exhibition of the facts. Very many of deplore the existing and increasing disregard for the districts are delinquent in reporting upon the the daily use of public libraries. condition of their libraries. It is probable that the number is not small in which the library money is As a question of economy in common school afexpended illegally in the payment of teacher's wages. fairs, the establishment of district libraries by State No explanation however, can be given which invalidates the inference that there is a great want of in- means is very objectionable. The same amount of terest in the preservation and use of the libraries. money expended in the training of teachers, the erecThe glaring defects of the statistics are irreconcila- tion and improvement of school houses, or in the effible with any theory which admits that hearty appre- cient supervision of the schools, would effect an incalciation of the benefits of the library system, which is essential to a degree of usefulness commensurate culably greater amount of good; and of good too, that to its expense. It is very certain that the annual could neither be mislaid nor stolen-of good that expenditure of $55,000 ought to enrich the district would not exhibit an annual decrease in the favoralibraries with books which would be estimated at a ble school statistics of the system, but would grow higher rate than to be omitted in the annual reports. The undersigned deems it equally certain that such a result is not at present actually attained."

In connexion with this remarkable experience, it is to be borne in mind that New York is the great Library State. That this forms, perhaps, the prominent feature in her system of public schools, as distinguished from the other Common School States; and that she has expended for District Libraries, probably as much money as the aggregate of all the other States for the same purpose.

and grow, till the State would be one of readers

and thinkers, with their books in their hands and

their heads, and not on the shelves of the District library.

Finally, the right and duty of the State to dictate what shall and what shall not be read by the people generally-and this is a right assumed, in fact if not in word, by the public establishment and control of District libraries,—is more than questioned. That the State should afford the opportunity of learning The law of mind and the law of books, are the to read to all who desire it, is both a constitutional same in all cases, and the same causes which leave and a republican duty. That the State must train the good old lady who kept the village circulating those who are to impart this instruction, arises from