OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. 295 is denominated "teachers' money," and can be risdiction respectively, as often in each year as paid over only to, or on the order of duly quali- may be practicable, with reference to the number fied teachers, on the production of a certificate of the districts under their charge; to inquire from the trustees of the district in which they into all matters relating to the government, have been employed, setting forth the fact of course of instruction, books, studies, discipline such employment, and of their legal qualifica- and conduct of such schools, and the condition of tions, and the amount of public money belong. the school-houses and of the districts generally; ing or apportioned to the district, to which they to advise and counsel with the trustees and othare justly entitled on the contract made with er officers of the district in relation to their duthem. No district is entitled to its distributive ties, particularly in relation to the erection of share of the teachers' fund, unless it has had a school-houses; to recommend to trustees and school taught by a duly qualified teacher for at teachers the proper studies, discipline and conleast four months during the preceding year, duct of the schools, the course of instruction to and unless all the teachers' money received du- be pursued, and the books of elementary instruc ring such year has been applied to the compen- tion to be used; to examine and grant certificates sation of such teacher; nor can any district par- of qualification to teachers, either generally, ticipate in this fund in which a school has been authorizing them to teach any school within the taught under the authority of the trustees for a jurisdiction of such superintendent, while such longer period than one month during the year by certificate remains in force and unrevoked, or any other than a duly qualified teacher. The special, limiting the candidate to a particular proper expenditure of the library money is secu- town, and for one year only; to annul such cerred under similar sanctions; none of which can tificates for sufficient cause, and with his consent be dispensed with except by the authority of the to annul any certificate granted by the town suState Superintendent, who is vested with a dis-perintendent, whenever the teacher holding such cretionary power to relax the strict requisitions certificate shall be found deficient; and "generof the law, whenever in his judgment a proper ally, by all the means in his power to promote case for his interposition is made. sound education, elevate the character and qualThe town superintendent is likewise authori-ification of teachers, improve the means of inzed and empowered to form, regulate and alter struction, and advance the interests of the schools school districts, associating with himself in the committed to their charge." All appeals from discharge of this duty the supervisor and town the proceedings of any district meeting, or from clerk of his town, whenever their co-operation the acts or omissions of any of the different is required by the trustees of any district interest-classes of officers connected with the administra ed in any proposed alteration. It is also his du- tion of the system within their jurisdiction, are ty, quarterly at least, to visit and inspect the seve- required to be brought to, and passed upon, in ral schools in his town, and to examine and li- the first instance, by them-subject to revision cense teachers; and he may revoke such license, by the State Superintendent; and their decision, at pleasure, for sufficient cause, giving due no- unless appealed from within fifteen days, is detice to the teacher and the trustees of the district clared final and conclusive. They are required, in which he or she may be employed. The cer- on or before the first day of October in each tificate of qualification granted by the town su- year, to make a report to the State Superintend. perintendent remains in force for one year only. ent, in such form, and comprising such matters, During the month of July in each year he is re- as he may from time to time require; and they quired to make an annual report relative to the are subject generally to such rules and regulations condition of the schools under his supervision, in as he may, from time to time, prescribe. For the mode prescribed by law; which report is filed their services they receive a per diem compensa in the office of the county clerk, for the inspection tion of two dollars-the whole amount, howevand use of the county superintendent. He re- er, not to exceed five hundred dollars in any one ceives a compensation of $1.25 for each day ne. year; one-half of which is a county charge, and cessarily spent in the discharge of his official the residue payable by the State, out of the annuduties. al surplus appropriated to the capital of the Common School Fund, on the certificate of the State Superintendent that such officer has complied with the instructions of the department, and has made the annual report required by law. It is due to this class of officers, as a body, to say, that so far as the department has had the means of judging, as well from the reports of the county superintendents as from other sources, the duties devolved upon them have been faithfully and judiciously performed; and that through their influence and,exertions, the condition of the schools generally has been sensibly improv. ed. The utility of their services in the cause of education is, however, much enhanced by the co-operation and general supervision of the coun. ty superintendents, biennially chosen by the board of supervisors of the respective counties, and removable by them and by the State Superintendent, for cause shown. Every county is required by law to appoint one superintendent; and wherever the number of districts exceeds one hundred and fifty, two may be appointed, and specific portions of the county assigned to each. These officers are required to visit, either separately, or in conjunction with the town superintendent, all the schools within their ju Since the first day of June, 1843, when jurisdiction on appeal was conferred upon the county superintendents, the number of appeals brought from their decision to this department has been but fifty-four and of the decisions on these it has been found necessary to reverse five only. During the year and a half immediately preceding the period mentioned, the number of appeals from the proceedings of officers and inhabitants of the several school districts, was two hundred and seventy-five. It thus appears that by far the greater portion of the controversies arising under the school laws, are satisfactorily adjusted by the local superintendents, without the necessity of bringing them before this departmentthereby saving the state a heavy expense in the single item of postage-materially lightening the labors of the Superintendent in this portion 296 DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL, of his duties and securing more prompt and speedy, as well as efficacious justice to the parties interested. The facilities also which the county superintendents possess, from their knowledge of the localities involved in these controver. sies, for an equitable adjustment of the points in dispute, and their ability personally to exam. ine the parties and their witnesses, obviate all those doubts and ambiguities which are almost inevitably the result of statements drawn up by the parties themselves, and submitted to a tribunal wholly unacquainted with those local,cir cumstances. ing knowledge and promoting the advancement of sound learning. It can scarcely be expected that a system com. prehending so great a variety of interests, and covering so vast an extent of surface-operat ing, as it does, constantly and necessarily, upon the property, no less than upon the time and services of nearly every individual of the community, and dependent for its efficacy almost entirely upon the cordial and intelligent support of the great body of the people should not press occasionally with an unequal force upon those for whose benefit it was designed. Errors and The influence exerted by this class of officers, defects in its administration, as in all human af on the promotion of the interests of elementary fairs, are unavoidable; and the most indefatiinstruction throughout the state, has been in most gable attention on the part of those who are counties very favorable. By a periodical and charged with its supervision, can not always secareful supervision of the several schools by And as perfection is unattainable, it cannot rea cure entire accuracy in its subordinate details. occasional lectures, frequent visitations, judicious counsel, and the communication to the inhabi. sonably be supposed that the system itself is tants, officers and teachers of each district and free from defects. Bearing in mind, however, each town, of the various improvements in the that human wisdom is inadequate to the estab art of instruction which may, from time to time, lishment of a system wholly exempt from faults; have been discovered, and by composing local that the one in question has been the slow growth dissentions growing out of the school organiza. of upwards of a quarter of a century, under the tion, they are enabled to combine the system in immediate auspices of all the wisdom of succes to one harmonious and efficient whole; to consive Legislatures; and that during this period centrate public opinion in its favor, and widely the blessings of education have been annually to diffuse its benefits and blessings. The redispensed to hundreds of thousands of the youth sults of their labors during the past year are of our state; and remembering also that mateherewith transmitted; from which it will appear rial alterations in such a system, must necessarithat a gradual, but very perceptible improve.ly be attended with great derangement in its ment in the general condition of the schools, is practical administration, from an inability on the in progress; that the standard of qualification part of those interested, at once to adapt themfor teachers has been advanced; that an increas-selves to the new state of things; it may, pered interest on the subject of education has been haps, safely be assumed that the existing system manifested on the part of the public generally, is as well adapted to the accomplishment of the and especially by parents; that more enlighened great objects which it was designed to subserve and efficient modes of mental discipline are be as any that could be devised. coming prevalent-antiquated prejudices disappearing-and the paramount importance of an early and general diffusion of knowledge, more widely appreciated. These are encouraging symptoms; and it is believed they may fairly be attributed to the practical operation of the exist ing system of public instruction, the prominent details of which have here been given. There can, indeed, be little doubt that the sys. tematic exertions of the several county and town superintendents, in conjunction with the trustees and other officers of the several districts, under the more simple organization resulting from the act of 1843, have mainly contributed to give that impulse to the public sentiment in this respect which has resulted so auspiciously. Seventy county officers, possessing the confidence of their fellow-citizens generally, distinguished for their devotion to the cause of educa.ion, for their scientific attainments and moral worth, acting under the immediate direction and supervision of the State Superintendent, and each within the jurisdiction assigned to him, carrying into efficient operation a system of supervision, instruction and discipline sanctioned by the most enlightened experience of the age; aided and sustained by nine hundred town officers, imbued with the same spirit, and participating in the same gen. erous emulation, and operating directly or indirectly through the agency of the trustees upon the teachers of eleven thousand school districts. necessarily exert a powerful influence in carry. ing forward the spirit of improvement, in diffus The number of districts from which reports have been received in accordance with law, for the year ending on the first day of January, 1844, is 10,857. In these districts schools have been maintained for an average period of eight months during the year reported. In the city and county of New-York, and in the county of Kings, the schools were kept open during the entire year; in the county of Richmond, eleven months; in each of the counties of Queens, Rockland and Weschester, for an average period of ten months; in the county of Columbia, for an average period of nine and a half months; in each of the counties of Dutchess, Livingston, Monroe, Montgomery, Ontario, Orange, Schenectady and Ulster for an average period of nine months; and in each of the counties of Chautauque and Seneca, for an average period of eight and a half months. : The whole number of children between the ages of five and sixteen years, residing in the state, exclusive of the city and county of New York, from which no returns on this head have been received, is 611,548 and the whole number of children of all ages who have attended the schools, exclusive of the city of New York, during portions of the year reported, is 650,199. The number of children so reported as having attended the schools in that city, during portions of the past year. is 58,957, which, added to the number stated above, gives an aggregate of 709,156 children who have been under instruction in the common schools of the state for a great teachers, places the average compensation of the former considerably higher, while it operates a corresponding reduction in that of the latter.The average monthly compensation of male teachers, both in the summer and winter schools, does not vary far from $14.00, and that of females from $7.00, exclusive of board. In many the districts are in the habit of furnishing board, The aggregate amount of public money received and apportioned by the town superintendents among the several districts from which reports have been received during the past year,is $732,559.51, of which $539,069.32 has been approThe aggregate number of pupils in the sever-priated to the payment of teachers' wages, and al common schools of the state, engaged in the $94,647.10 to the purchase of district libraries. study and practice of vocal music, has increas. In the city of New-York $90,596.05, and in the ed during the past year, from 10,220 in the win-county of Kings nearly $3,000 have been approter term, to 37,618; and in the summer term, priated under special legislative enactments for from 17,632 to 43,243. This result is the more the purchase of sites, building of school-houses, gratifying, as experience has abundantly demon- &c. strated that the introduction into our schools of this pleasing exercise has been attended with the happiest effects upon the minds and morals of the children. er or less period during the year reported, being an increase of upwards of fifty thousand over the preceding year. Of this number nearly twenty thousand have attended during the whole year ; thirty thousand, ten months or upwards; sixty-five thousand, eight months or upwards; one hundred and fifty thousand for six months or upwards; two hundred and eighty-four thou-parts of the state, however, the inhabitants of sand for four months and upwards; and four hundred and seventy-four thousand for two months and upwards; leaving only about two hundred and thirty-five thousand as the number who have attended for a less period than two months. The number of volumes in the several district libraries is 1,038,396. Sensible of the vast im portance of this branch of our extended system of public instruction, in its influences upon the There has been during the past year a gradu- development and formation of the intellectual al, but obvious improvement in the condition of and moral character of the rising generation, I school-houses and their play grounds, appurte deemed it proper to endeavor to procure,through nances, &c. Of the nine thousand and thirty-the agency of the several county and town sueight schools which have been visited, 8,340 were of framed wood, 566 of brick, 523 of stone, and 562 of logs: showing an increase in the number of brick buildings of one hundred and twenty, and of framed wood buildings of six hundred and fifty, since the last report, and a diminution or disuse of those built of logs of one hundred and forty-five during the same period. More than four hundred of the buildings last year reported as in a state of dilapidation, have been either repaired or rebuilt; about the same number of districts have procured suitable play-grounds, and caused suitable privies to be erected, during the year; and in one hundred and eighty-five districts double privies have been substituted for single. There still, howev. ( er, remain about three thousand districts, the school-houses of which are in a condition unfit for the purposes for which they are designed; nearly seven thousand destitute of any other play ground than the street; more than half of the whole number in the state wholly destitute of privies; and of the residue but about twelve hundred are furnished with double privies. perintendents, catalogues of the various works of which these institutions are composed, and of the number of each separate work or series of works in each town of the state. To a great extent, this object has been accomplished; and the results will be laid before the legislature as soon as they can be condensed and arranged in suitable tables. An opportunity will thus be afforded for ascertaining the extent and general nature of the means so liberally provided for the intellectual and moral improvement of the youth of the state-for the diffusion of useful knowledge among the people generally-and for the eleva tion and advancement of every class of society. It has been found impracticable to ascertain from the returns received, the comparative circulation of the different works, from which a better indication of the tendency of the public mind might be deduced, than from a mere knowledge of the materials at its disposal. This defect will be supplied in future returns ; and it will be the constant endeavor of the department to impress upon the inhabitants and officers of the several districts the importance of a more systematic seThe whole amount of public money reported lection of books for their libraries, and of a juncas having been received and expended during tion of the funds of contiguous districts, whenthe year, in the payment of the wages of the tea ever practicable, for the purpose of a wider chers duly qualified and approved according to range of selection and a more economical investlaw, is $514,657.06; and in the purchase of sui-ment of the amount at their disposal. table books for the several district libraries,$94,- Under a concurrent resolution of the Senate 950.54. The amount reported as having been and Assembly, of the 7th May last, authorizing raised on rate-bill for the payment of teachers' the Superintendent "to procure and forward to wages during the year, is $447,565.67, which the clerk of each of the school districts of this added to the amount of public money applied to state to be deposited in the district libraries,and that purpose, gives $992,222.03 as the aggregate | to the several town and county superintendents amount of the compensation of the several tea- of common schools, a copy of the "Digest of chers employed during the year, or an average the Common School System of the State of New of $90 to each of the eleven thousand districts. Taking eight months as the average length of time during which the schools were kept open, the average compensation per month of male and female teachers would fall between eleven and twelve dollars. The great disproportion, however, between the wages of male and female York" recently prepared and published under the sanction of the department, by the deputy superintendent, and to defray the expenses of such work, not exceeding thirty cents for each copy, from the fund appropriated to the purchase of district libraries," a number of copies of the work referred to, sufficient for the purpose spe eified, was printed at the price designated, and have been forwarded by a special agent employ. ed for the purpose, to the county superintendents of the several counties, for distribution among the towns and districts within their respective jurisdictions. No specific appropriation having been made by law to defray the expense incurred under the joint resolution, no legal authority exists for a diversion of any por. tion of the fand specified in the resolution; and as this consideration was not adverted to at the time of its passage, nor until after a contract had been entered into with the publishers of the work under its authority, the requisite appropriation to defray the expense of the subscription and distribution of the work is respectfully requested, in season, if practicable, to enable the neces sary deduction to be made from the library money to be apportioned and distributed on the first day of February next. As the work is directed to be deposited in the library of each district, the expense (thirty cents) may be regarded as an application to that extent of the library money belonging to each, and should be retained accordingly. The ring periods varying from two to six or eight Under the existing system of county and town supervision, an important improvement has, it is believed, been made in a great majority of the districts, not only in the quality of the instruction communicated, but in the mode of its com. munication. Several causes have combined in the production of this state of things. Teachers have been subjected to a more rigid and practical examination by the several officers charged by law with the performance of this duty. The gradation of certificates authorized to be granted, | from that embracing a single town, and limited in duration to one year, to that emanating from A more just appreciation on the part of the this department, and qualifying the person hold-public not only of the importance of adequate ing it to teach any district school in the state intellectual and moral culture in our common while it remains unrevoked, has powerfully sti- schools, but of the responsibilities of teachers, mulated the ambition of teachers, and induced is beginning to prevail. There is much in the strenuous exertions on their part to obtain a prospect thus opened to us, cheering and encourhigh standing in their profession. The provi-aging to the friends of free institutions, to the sion of the act of 1843, directing the public mo- friends of education, and of civil, social and money to be withheld from any district in which a ral progress. The great idea of education, in teacher not legally qualified may have been en- its most comprehensive acceptation, consists in ployed for a period exceeding one month during that development, culture and discipline of all the year, effectually closes the schools against the faculties of our nature which shall fit us for all who have not been subjected to the searching the highest sphere of usefulness, and the highest ordeal of this preliminary test. The general dif- degree of enjoyment of which that nature,in the fusion of useful knowledge by means of the va- circumstances by which we are surrounded, is rious educational publications of the day, lec- susceptible. This conception of that preliminary tures of county superintendents, associations of training, which is to give us the complete and teachers and friends of education generally, and efficient control of all the energies, physical and a variety of other similar movements, has ex- moral, of our common humanity, has at length, erted a strong influence in the same direction.- it is to be hoped, assumed its appropriate place New and improved modes of communicating in- as the foundation of the science of elementary struction have been very generally introduced; instruction. Institutions for the preparation of and the frequent opportunities afforded to teach teachers upon the most approved models, are ers for comparing their respective attainments already diffusing far and wide, a more enlightand methods with those of others of superior ened and practical system of mental culture, by qualifications or greater experience, together furnishing to the schools instructors of a high with the facilities which exist for becoming ac-grade of qualifications, intellectual and moral; quainted with the best systems of Europe and America, have exerted a perceptible influence upon the improvement and advancement of education as a science. In no less than seventeen of the largest counties, "teachers' institutes" have been established during the past two years, in which upwards of one thousand teachers have been instructed du and these instructors, in their turn, communicate the elements of knowledge and the means of self-improvement, to the pupils committed to their charge. The general substitution of usefui and attractive knowledge for the parrot-like rote, by which a vigorous and retentive memory was made the principal test of mental capacity, may be regarded as one of the strongest indica tions of the prevalence of sounder principles, and of a progressive reformation in the theory and practice of education. a spirit, in sufficient strength to maintain harmony, cannot exist. It may be safely affirmed, that there is now no people of equal numbers on the These are the principal agencies through face of the earth, who, if placed under such inwhose united influence our common schools have stitutions as ours, would maintain the govern. imbibed that spirit of improvement which is per- ment for a single year. And unless moral and inceptible in nearly every section of the state, and tellectual culture, shall at least keep pace with which must ultimately renovate our entire sys- the increase of numbers, this republic will assurtem of public instruction and exert a beneficial 'edly fall. On the careful cultivation in our schools, influence upon all our institutions, civil, social of the minds of the young, the entire success or and political. In the late strongly contested absolute failure of the great experiment of selfelection for a Chief Magistrate of the United government, is wholly dependent; and unless States, the result was determined, for good or for that cultivation is increased, and made more ef evil, by 237,600 votes cast in this State and fective than it has yet been, the conviction is solthis result will, doubtless, eventuate in a course emnly impressed by the signs of the times, that of measures which will affect, beneficially or the American Union, now the asylum of the opotherwise, the interests of some twenty millions pressed, and "the home of the free," will, ere of human beings, for a series of years to come. long, share the melancholy fate of every former The whole number of children now under in- attempt at self-government. That Union is and struction in the common schools of this state ex- must be sustained, by the moral and intellectual ceed 700,000. Estimating one-half of this num- power of the community, and every other pow. ber as females, and making a still farther deduc- er is wholly ineffectual. Physical force may tion of 100,000, or one-seventh of the whole, for generate hatred, fear and repulsion; but can neremoval from the state, death, or inability from ver produce union. The only salvation for the any other cause to discharge the duties apper-republic is to be sought for in our schools. It is taining to the citizen-and we have remaining 250,000, who, upon a reasonable estimate, will, within a less period than fifteen years, emerge from our common schools, invested with all the functions of popular sovereignty: a number exceeding by upwards of twelve thousand, that which has recently given to the Union a Chief Magistrate. here, that the seeds of liberty and of good government must be sown and made to germinate, and grow, and produce rich fruit in abundance. Every improvement that can be given to these primary institutions, affords an additional guaranty for the permanent maintenance of rational freedom. The duration of the life of man should be esOn the flourishing condition of our schools re- timated, not by the years of his physical existpose the hopes of the present, and the destinies ence, which would be to degrade him to the level of the future. Without a sound moral and in- of the brute-but by the period of the expansion tellectual education, the function of self-govern- and enjoyment of his moral and intellectual faculment can neither be duly appreciated nor success- ties. Hence it has been affirmed with philofully maintained. The constitutions of several sophic truth, that "he who shortens the road to of the South American republics appeared, the knowledge, lengthens life." The cradle and oretically, to be well calculated to secure human the grave are in such close proximity, even liberty. But paper provisions are powerless, when the interval is most extended, that human unless they are also impressed on the hearts, existence may be regarded as nearly a blank, unand combined with the intelligence of the people. less the early portion of the brief space by which Without an accurate knowledge of their rights they are separated is sedulously devoted to the and duties, and a determination to maintain development of the mind. The undying part them, no community can long be free; and the of our nature has been impressed by its Creator melancholy truth that the South American re- with an unconquerable desire for knowledgepublics have fallen into revolutionary decrepi- not that limited acquaintance with the external tudes and degenerated into military despotisms, forms of things which is bestowed upon the aniaffords to us an impressive admonition. Indeed, mals by instinct-but a knowledge vastly more without going beyond our own borders, premo- minute and excursive, and which embraces withnitions of an anti-social spirit-of insubordina- in its scope, all the properties and laws, both of tion to law, of combinations to perpetrate vio- mind and matter. The earth itself, with all its lence, riot, incendiarism and murder-are suffi- appendages, is much too small a theatre to saciently alarming in their rapid increase during tiate the inquisitiveness, even of children; and the last few years. If the same spirit pervaded if human powers were commensurate with hua majority of the community, the existing gov- man aspirations, the daring ken of man would ernment would be at an end; and as human so- be thrown through the abyss of heaven, to the ciety cannot exist without a superintending pow- ultima thule of the works of God-to the farther of protection, the aid of some more energetest verge in fathomless space, in which the enic and despotic form of government would necessarily be invoked to administer justice, to maintain order, and to shield the poor from the exactions of the rich,-the weak from the aggressions of the strong. ergies of creative power have not yet been consummated-to regions where the embryon nebula of unformed worlds are in the transition or the quiescent state, obedient to the primeval fiat of the Almighty. The great extent of the American republic- It is in the period of youth, while the mind its rapidly increasing population-the diversity is unencumbered with secular cares, that these of habits, pursuits, productions, and interests, aspirations, which have been bestowed for wise some of which are regarded as hostile to others and holy purposes, are the most insatiate; and -render necessary, at all times, the cultivation it is then, when the curiosity is intense, the memof a liberal spirit of forbearance and concilia-ory retentive, and the habits plastic, that a broad tion. Without the diffusion of education, such *Colton. |