The object of the Association is to compare views of teachers respecting the best means to develop, in due proportions, the intellectual and moral faculties, that man may be able to grapple successfully with the stern realities of life, and maintain an unyielding integrity of purpose in all its varied scenes. tendent of Public Schools in this county. This is a good selection, as Dr. G. has long taken an interest in all that relates to the proper training of the young mind; and to his exertions, in a great measure, may be attributed the efforts now being made in our city in behalf of education, We understand that Dr. G. will visit all the schools in the county, previous to the assembling of the School Convention in September next. CLUB SUBSCRIBERS-BACK NUMBERS-BOUND VOL The progress of our educational movement during the last two years has exceeded our most sanguine expectations; still, the SCIENCE AND ART OF TEACHING are yet in their INFANCY; hence it is important that we discuss educational topics, with a view to infuse into our system of instruction a vitality and a practiUMES.-Since the recognition of the Journal as the cal and moral efficiency, that will commend it to pub organ of the State Department of Common Schools, lic regard. by sending one copy to each Board of Directors, inquiries have been made, as to the terms on which Boards of Directors can be supplied with a sufficient number of copies to give each member one; and as to the cost of back numbers and bound volumes.The answer is: To become skilled in the business of teaching require more time and study than is requisite for success in other professions. llence the importance of our assembling together, for mutual consultation as a professional body. In other professions and in the mechanic and fine arts, all substantial improvements originate with and are perfected by the active members in these professions. This is equally true with the business of teaching. Men of other professions have heretofore given us theory upon theory and system after system, regarding the best modes of instruction; yet when applied to practice these systems utterly fail, and the teacher is again thrown upon his own unaided resources, to devise methods of instruction that will produce desirable results. With a view to assist in carrying forward the ob jects of the Association, and thereby still farther to serve the interests of the noble cause in which we are engaged, and in which all classes of society are deeply interested, you are most respectfully invited to join our association at its next meeting, to be held at Pittsburg, on Tuesday, August 7th, 1855. Arranginents will be made with the various rail. road companies of the State, to allow members of the Association to pass over their roads in going to and from the meeting, free of expense, or at rates much reduced. J. F. STODDARD, Committee. Millersville, Lancaster Co., June 12, 1855. 1. Any Board sending $4 can have five copies of the current 4th volume, which, with the one copy already subcribed for by the State, will make six copies for $5; but, if the copy sent on State account is designed for preservation, as the property of the district, and the Board also desire to have one copy for each member, exclusive of this, then six additional copies will cost the regular club price of $5. 2. Back numbers will be charged for at the same rate as those of the current volume, that is, one dollar for 12 numbers, unbound. 3. Bound volumes will be sent, for $1.25 each; or if a club of six persons unite they shall have six volumes of any one year, for $6.25; that is, club price for the numbers and 25 cents per volume for binding. Postage or freight, in all cases to be paid by the person receiving the work. THE NEW VOLUME. This is No. 1 of Vol. IV. of the Journal, and for weeks we have been thinking of what should be said CHESTER COUNTY.-Page 359 of the Pamphlet to its patrons on the occasion. A glance at the Laws of 1855, contains "An Act to authorize and past, a full survey of the present, and a programme establish a Teachers' Institute in Chester county," for the future were all intended. But now, when the passed April 27, 1855. It requires the County Su-time comes, there is little space for remarks, and perintendent to hold one Institute of one week, and appropriates $200, out of the county funds, to this purpose, annually. The only objection to the law is its local nature. It should be general; but it is reditable to Chester to have effected so much. Dr. A. H. GRIMSHAW, OF DELAWARE: It will be seen by the following item from the Delaware Republican, published in Wilmington, that the gentleman whose name heads this article-a son of Pennsylvania has been appointed County Superintendent of Newcastle county. We shall soon hear of a change in Newcastle : great difficulty in selecting the most fit, out of the crowd of thoughts that present themselves. On looking back we see much-very much-to be thankful for and proud of. This year has been, though somewhat an anxious and laborious, yet still a pleasant and eventful one. Within its limits the County Superintendency went into actual operation, held its two first state conventions, and has been sustained by the representatives of the people, and by its own inherent fitness and usefulness. Aided and strengthened by this office and by the growing confidence of the mass of our citizens, the common school system has been holding on its even but SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. -Gov. Causey has ap- steadily progressive course, uninterrupted and unpointed Dr. A. H. Grimshaw, of this city, Superin-I embarrassed even by the fierce conflict of politics, which seemed to affect almost all other interests; thus are given. The Journal is now on a basis which receiving the noblest homage which the people of nothing but error or unfaithfulness on the part of the State could bestow. So long as they set apart, the Editor, can shake. We hope to escape the one and keep apart, from all sectional interests and feel- and resist the other; and to greet our friends, at ings, this great republican institution, there will be the beginning of yet another volume, with increased little dinger to the safety of any of their other so-pleasure in the retrospect over greater events cial or public interests. chronicled, with still stronger confidence in the PITTSBURG COMMON SCHOOL LAW. In the retrospect of the year just closed, two re-present, and still brighter hope in the approaching markable educational facts are so prominent as to future. challenge remark. One is, that, at the numerous County and other meetings of Teachers with which the pages of the Journal were crowded, scarcely a word is met on "the inadequacey of the Teacher's compensation." This absence of complaint is not, of course, caused by the removal of the evil, but by a conviction, on the part of Teachers, that the remedy is in their own hands: in a word. that they must render themselves worthy of more just compensation, by improvement in their professional attainments. The other fact of the year grows naturally, and, for the Teachers, honorably, out of the one just named it is the existence of so many protracted Institutes and County Normal Schools for self and mutual improvement. The one fact was the evil and the other is the remedy; and it is difficult to decide whether the discovery of the former or the prompt application of the latter, reflects the most credit on the body of the Teachers of the State. In relation to progress and improvement, the future is but yet the untrodden continuance of the past. If this be so, then the leading facts of last year, become the indices of the next; and STATE NORMAL SCHOOLS should as naturally grow out of the selfefforts after higher professional qualifications by our Teachers, as those efforts sprang from their discovery of their own deficiences. Accepting, therefore, this plain call to duty, and preferring a simple to a complicated plan of campaign, the chief object of the Journal, during the coming year and till it shall be effected, will be the establishment of NORMAL SCHOOLS. Other interests and improvements will not be neglected; but this will be the Delenda est Carthago ! On the 9th of February, 1855, an act of assembly received the Governor's signature which will have a most important, and, if rightly administered, saluof Pittsburg. It is long, full and explicit, consisttary effect on the educational condition of the city being to incorporate, in one act, all the provisions ing of fifty-nine sections-the intention evidently necessary to the wants of the case and the place. The main feature of the law is that providing for the election of a Central Board of Education, of nine members-each ward of the city electing one, through its proper Board of Directors. Central Board is thus set forth: "SEC. 14. That the Central Board shall, as soon as To enable the Central Board to effect these objects, they are authorized to levy tax and borrow money; the quota of the State appropriation, annually payable to Pittsburg, being also put at the cisposal of the Central Board for the same purpose; and all the other powers--such as that of appointing teachers, visiting the schools, arranging the studies, selecting the text-books, &c. necessary to the establishment and government of the schools mentioned in the 14th sec. are conferred upon them. The same Board also makes report, to the Department of Common Schools, of the condition of all the ward schools in the city, as well as of those particularly in their own charge, from information furuished by the ward Boards of Directors. The sections forming the latter part of this The State has recently distinguished this Journal important act, relate entirely to the duties of the with its approbation. The Journal can render no Ward Directors, and differ little from the existing greater or better service to the State, than the ad-State law, except that "night schools" are to be vocacy, till established, of Schools for the training of her Teachers. kept open in each ward, at least three months annually, for all, over the age of 12 years, who shall be unable to attend the day schools. To the contributors to the Journal we gratefully return thanks. We feel proud in saying that how- We never have been the admirer of special legis. ever others, both in former and latter years, may lation in school matters, but, in this case, the cirhave failed of this best support, we have never felt cumstances of the case seem to justify and demand the want of it. Its continuance is respectfully re-it; and we rejoice to see that, while every thing has quested been granted that was needed by the educational To our reading patrons thanks are also due and wants of Pittsburg, no unnecessary departure from the great features of the system is intended or authorized. The adoption of the principle of isolation from the operation and machinery of the State common school system, which withdraws Philadelphia from the rest of the commonwealth, would have been such a departure: an isolation which, if the schools of that city are better than those of the rest of the State, deprives the other parts, to a great extent, of the benefit of their superiority; and if worse, throws them somewhat out of the reach of improvement by contrast and cooperation. After writing the above, we received the advertisement of the Central Board of Pittsburg for a Principal of their proposed High School, which is hailed with unfeigned delight. $2000 a year to a common school Teacher! What a change! What a step onward! But it is a step in the true direction.If the right man be obtained, five years' experience will show that this is the best expenditure ever made, for educational purposes, in the county of Allegheny. We cannot bring ourselves to put this amongst ordinary advertisements, at the end of the Journal, or to take payment for the single insertion which the time allows to be given to it. We honor the Journal and the cause by freely placing it in the front rank, at the head of our editorial columns, where every one who opens this number must see, read and rejoice. Official. DEPARTMENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS, HARRISBURG, July, 1855. Appointments of County Superintendents. GEORGE COPE, Beaver, Beaver county, in place of Thomas Nicholson, resigned. JAMES J. MCCORMICK, Greensburg, Westmoreland county, in place of Rev. Matthew McKinstry, resigned. The Superintendents of Clinton, Juniatta and Union counties have also resigned, but their successors are not yet appointed. As a general rule, vacancies will be filled hereafter from the ranks of experienced practical teachers exclusively. Monthly Decisions. 1. Separation of Boroughs & Townships: The 10th section of the Supplement, separating certain boroughs and townships, does not go into effect, until the election for directors in the spring of 1856. liable to the district, in an action on the case at common law, for the amount of any loss that may result from their negligence. 4. Pupils not compelled to cut wood, &c. Directors and Teachers have no legal power to compel scholars to cut wood, sweep the school house, bring coal, or perform any similar service at school. It is as much the duty of Directors to make independent and fuel. It has been a custom in some sections to provision for these things, as it is to furnish a house exact such services of pupils, but it cannot be sustained against the wishes of parents and guardians. 5. Form of Bond of District Treasurer: The official bond of a District Treasurer is valid, if drawn in favor of the district by its corporate name, (see sec. 8. Paragraph I. act of May, 1854); but would be more properly drawn, if in the name of the President of the Board of Directors, for the use of the District. (See sec. 16 same act.) tions of the school law of 1849, relating to "erdow6. Endowed &c. Schools: The 20th and 21st seced schools, and schools under the care of religious societies;" were repealed by the law of 1854, and are no longer in force. School Directors have no longer legal authority to pay school monies, or any portion thereof, to schools of that description, or to any other schools that are not under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of Directors, and the supervision of the County Superintendents. To Superintendents. Actual visitation of the Schools indispensable:-The personal visitation of each school in the county, while in session, is an indispensable duty that cannot be omitted, without nullifying, pro tanto, the requirements of the law, and incurring the disapproval of the Department. Gathering the pupils of neighboring schools, with the teachers, directors, parents, &c., into one meeting, and by lectures and other exercises, kindling an educational spirit among the people, is useful and highly commendable. But these proceedings, while valuable as auxiliary influ ences, will not answer as substitutes for school visitations in detail. Without the latter, how are the skill and qualifications of teachers to be fully tested, defects discovered and corrected, and definite improvements in instruction, school government and school houses suggested; and how is the specific supervision of the schools, which is one great object of the law, to be accomplished? County Superintendents are not only local executive agents to awaken the public mind to the importance of education, and the benefits and peculiarities of the common school system, but they are also deputies of the Department, upon the accuracy of whose judgment it must rely for information that can be obtained in no other way. should not only be made, but they should be so It is, therefore, desirable that these visitations 2. County Commissioners refusing to furnish adjust the Department readily to ascertain, from the note thorough and precise in their results, as to enable ed valuation: When County Commissioners refuse to books of Superintendents, the location and descripfurnish the copy of the last adjusted valuation of tion of every school house in the State, with its furtaxable subjects and things, provided for in the 49th niture and school apparatus; the nature of the section of the law of 1854, the proper legal remedy country in which it is located, whether rich or poor, is for Directors to apply to the Court of Common level or mountainous, agricultural, mining, or lumberPleas of the proper county, for a writ of Mandamusing; the grade and character of the school; the to compel performance of their duty in the premises. 3. Consequence of failing to take security: If Di rectors deliver the duplicate to the Treasurer, or collector, without requiring legal security, they are average attendance of pupils of both sexes; the qualifications, age and length of service in the profession, of the teacher; together with the prevalent public sentiment in the neighborhood with regard to the subject of education, whether favorable or otherwise, and if the latter, from what general cause: -In short, every item of information that the Department could gather if on the spot, tending to exhibit the existing condition of things, and calculated to aid in the work of improving the system and its administration. Special memorandum books will hereafter be furnished to Superintendents for this purpose. If it be thought this is, in some respects, too exacting, it must be borne in mind that the office was was not intended to be a sinecure, or to possess other than the utmost possible efficiency; and as fast as circumstances will admit, the capabilities of the system must be demonstrated, and the expectations of an awakened and healthful public sentiment be satisfied. This gathering of authentic materials from year to year, will not only secure to the Department a bird's eye view of the system and its machinery and operations, throughout all its ramifications, which is essential to the proper discharge of the momentous trust committed to it, but is indispensable to enable it present the legislature, annually, with a reliable statement of the true condition and further wants of the schools. Certificates issued in other counties: The decision confining the authority of Teachers' Certificates to the county in which they are issued, was rendered Districts yet unsupplied with the School Journal: necessary by the migration of incompetent teachers, No reports having been forwarded to this depart- with certificates obtained from negligent or unment from a number of Districts, the School Journal trustworthy Superintendents, into counties where a has not been sent to them, in compliance with the higher standard of educational skill was to be found; school law of 1855, for want of a knowledge of the and is indispensable for the protection of directors name and the Post office of their respective Secre-who necessarily judge of the candidate from the face taries. As it is very desirable that the official mat- of his certificate. When the reason for the rule ter contained in the Journal should regularly reach shall have ceased, it will be time enough to think every Board of Directors in the State, the County of relaxing the rigor of the rule itself. SuperintenSuperintendents are requested and expected to dents, however, can, in such cases, if they choose, cause the name and Post Office address of the Sec-endorse the foreign certificate, instead of issuing a retary of each district in the annexed list, to be new one, if, upon examination of the applicant, they transmitted to the Editor of the Journal, at Lan- find it to be accurate, and worthy of approval. caster, with as little delay as may be: No. of Certificates to be reported: In making the annual Report, Superintendents are requested to specify how many Temporary and how many Permanent Teachers' Certificates were issued up to the 1st Monday of June, 1855, and how many of each kind since that date. Tabular Statements: In preparing the Tabular Statement, Superintendents are requested to place the Districts in alphabetical order; and when districts have a double name to put the principal name first, and the prefix of "East," "West," "Upper," Lower," &c., last. To Directors. New Edition of the School Law and Decisions: The new edition of the Law and Decisions cannot be out before the 15th or 20th of July. As soon as it can be got out, one copy will be immediately mailed to the Secretary of each Board of Directors in the State; and a full supply for the members of each Board, in separate packages, will be sent to the Co. Superintendents, per express, for delivery. Assessment of School Tax: In the mean time, in answer to multitudinous letters on the subject, the following instructions are given, in reference to the assessment of school tax : Under the 11th section of the supplement, Directors are confined to the copy of the assessment certified by the County Commissioners, and cannot modify or enlarge it, to make up for either real or supposed omissions on the part of Assessors. There are three distinct and independent subjects of taxation for school purposes, having no conrec tion whatevever with, or dependence upon, each | binations have been made by rejected Teachers, in other, viz: 1. Single Freemen. 2. Trades, occupations and professions. 3. Property. First. The tax on "single freemen," applies only to such single freemen, as do not follow "any occupation or calling," and not to unmarried men generally; and its amount cannot be more or less than 50 cents. some portions of the State, to mislead inexperienced Directors, and induce the latter to examine and employ them at their own responsibility, and in defiance of the present school laws. Such a course can only result in disaster to the parties who attempt the experiment. Teachers employed under such circumstances could not legally draw their pay from the district treasury: and Directors would forfeit their district's share of the State appropriation, and be individually liable to the district for the amount thus lost, as well as for the Teachers' wages, if paid out of the school money; and be liable, beside, to removal from office by the Court of Quarter Sessions. Second. If the assessed value of any person's trade, occupation or profession, be less than $200, it is not taxable at all. If it be valued at from $200 to $250, the tax should be 50 cents. If it be valued at more than $250, the tax should be 50 cents, and then, in addition to the 50 cents, one per cent. on The Department is willing to extend reasonable every dollar of the valuation above $250; and this sympathy and encouragement to Teachers who comis the highest limit authorized by law in this par-ply with the terms of the law, and evince a willingticular. ness to educate themselves up to the level of its reThird. The tax on property, real, personal and quirements, as rapidly as leisure, and opportunities mixed, must be regulated by the necessities of the for study, will permit. But in such cases as the District, but cannot exceed 13 mills on the dollar. above, recusants will find the heavy hand of the law, The proper course is to go over the list, and ascer- and the authority of the Department, come down tain what amount can be realized from single free- upon them with unsparing rigor. If they are not men, and trades, occupations and professions, and willing to qualify themselves for their profession, then assess the balance that may be needed to keep they had better quit the business at once, and give the schools open for four months (or whatever long-place to better men. If Teachers feel themselves er period may be contemplated,) upon the taxable aggrieved by the examinations to which they may property of the district, within the above stated lim- be subjected, they should level their anathemas at itation. the Department, and not at the County SuperintenAs much tax for building purposes can also, ifdents; for the latter, when in the faithful and imparneeded, be levied, as is assessed for school purposes. tial discharge of their duty, are only fulfilling the Contracts with Teachers to be on paper: Many dis- law, and obeying the express instructions of the Deputes between Directors and Teachers are referred partment. "It is a delicate and difficult task-a to the Department for settlement; most of which momentous responsibility-to undertake the educahave originated in the absence of a written contract tion of youth, even with mature years, ripe judgment, between the parties. To prevent such difficulties a thorough education, and with all the advantages hereafter, Directors should employ no Teacher derived from long experience and extended obserwithout putting the terms of agreement on paper. vation. The best interests of our children call for As it is always difficult, and sometimes impossible, the employment of gifted, skilful, carefully trained, for the Secretary to prepare as many manuscript efficient and devoted teachers." And those who agreements as are necessary, where a number of are charged with the administration of the system Teachers are engaged at one time, Directors should would be recreant to the high trust devolved upon procure printed blanks for the purpose, and pay for them, if they countenanced the intrusion of unworthem out of the district treasury. The following is thy and discarded applicants. When manifest inthe form prescribed by the Department, and no justice has been done, through favoritism or prejudoubt printers, in almost every county, would keep dice, the only proper course would be to bring the them on hand for sale, if Directors were in the hab-case, with the proof, before the Department for examination and redress. it of buying them: Form of Agreement between Board of Directors of Common Certificates under 36th section-School Warrants :— School warrants for the year 1855, have been isIt is agreed by and between A. B., teacher, and sued to over twelve hundred districts, and the reschool district, in county, that said A. B. shall, un-mainder-about 350-will be issued as fast as the der the supervision and exclusive direction of the Board of Directors of said disttict, and their successors, teach in the proper certificates are received, although, in this school house or building at (or near) for the term of instance, they fail to reach the Department within -, at and for the compensation of, to be paid the school year, as required by the letter of the ;reserving the right to the Board of Directors for the law. This indulgence will be extended the more time being, to dismiss said A. B at the end of any month freely to such Districts as come under the provisions [or quarter] of said term, without assigning any cause, and of the last section of the Supplement of 1855.the further right to dismiss at any time whatever, for any Great reluctance is manifested, in many cases, to of the causes specified in the 23d section of the Act of the comply with the requirements of the 36th section, 8th May, 1854, entitled "An act for the regulation and continuance of a system of Education by Common Schools." in this particular. This is doubtless owing, in a The actual possession of the said school house and building, great measure, to misaprehension of its design. Unand premises before mentioned, to remain and be consider-der the law of 1849, the districts were entitled to ed by all parties as remaining and being, at all times, in the said Board of Directors and their successors. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, on the day of , A. D. 18 a warrant for their pro rata share of the State Appropriation, whenever they made report of their operations for the previous year, and certified that they had levied tax sufficient to put and keep the schools in operation for the usual period, in the year to which the appropriation applied. Under this provision, gross frauds were committed, by Rejected and dissatisfied Teachers: Organized com-making false reports when no schools had been in Attest: Secretary of Board. President. [L. 8.] |