400 500 400 ANSWER: Every resident male taxable of the age of 21 1500 years, whose name is found entered upon the last adjusted 400 valuation, is to pay the one dollar tax. Persons who are un800 able from infirmity and poverty to pay the tax, should be exonerated by the directors. But the fact that a man is 900 infirm, should not be considered a reason for exoneration. 500 Inability to pay, and errors made by the Secretary in making out the duplicate, are the only legal causes for exoneration from tax against a resident taxable. A man of large property may become infirm from age, or disease. I would not be reasonable to exonerate his tax while he is abundantly able to pay it. Somerset, Dushore, Brooklyn, Mansfield, Lewisburg, 600 Franklin, Warren, Bentleysville, Bethany, Pleasant Unity, Tunkhannock, York, 1500 600 800 500 800 500 1000 1. QUESTION: Shall I grant private examinations at all, and if so, under what circumstances? ANSWER: As there may be cases in which irregular examinations need to be held, it is advisable for a Superintendent to devote the three Saturdays succeeding the close of his regular examinations, to irregular applicants bringing the required certificate from the directors, which examinations shall also be open to the public, and advertised.Private examinations, or such as are held for the accommodation of those who do not attend the public inspections, should never be granted, unless the applicant presents a written request, signed by at least three members of the board, stating that they wish to employ said applicant in their district, and giving a satisfactory reason also for nonattendance at the public examination. When a regularly advertised series of examinations has been held in a county, the Superintendent should not postpone the commencement of his school visitations for the purpose of attending to private examinations. 2. QUESTION: Has a Superintendent the authority to renew old certificates, or indorse those given by other Superintendents? ANSWER: There is no authority given to Superintendents by law to renew certificates that have expired by their own limitation, or to indorse certificates issued in other counties. Either practice is perniciuos and should not be indulged in. Much trouble arises from these practices. If teachers are to have their certificates renewed whenever they see fit to stay away from examinations, many will always find excuses for being absent, and they may as well have permanent certificates at once, as to make them virtually so by annual renewals. Indorsing certificates is still more objectionable. The better way is to adhere to the law, and require all who teach in the county to be examined in the presence of the directors by whom they are to be employed. Circumstances may occur where it would be advisable to renew a certificate; but no certificate should be renewed that was dated more than two years, previous to the time of the renewal. The request required for a private examination should be required for a renewal. Superintendents, before indorsing certificates issued by Superintendents of other counties, should require the persons holding such certificates to present evidence from the officers who issued them, that the holder is at the time properly entitled to the certificate. A certificate that has expired by its own 4. QUESTION: Can the School Directors collect the one dollar occupation tax for both school and building purposes, or collect two dollars from any resident male taxable, if in one year a school and building tax are both raised? ANSWER: They cannot. It has been decided repeatedly, that the taxes, although apparently two, are in reality but one tax. They should be voted for separately, and each vote should be entered upon the minutes, and the whole amount put together and apportioned as one, and every resident male taxable shoul pay only one dollar occupation tax. Annual Calendar OF SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY INSTITUTIONS, For Catalogues, &c., apply to the respective Presidents or Principals. PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS: AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, Centre County. Wm. H. Allen, M. D., L. L. D. President. One session yearly, divided into two terms of twenty_weeks each. The first term opens on the last Tuesday in February and closes the third Wednesday of July. The second term opens on the fourth Wednesday of July and closes on the third Wednesday of December. Charge for board, washing, tuition, room rent and fuel $100 in advance for each term. Address, Agricultural College, Centre Co., Pa STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 2nd District, at Millersville, Lancaster county. Prof. J. P. Wickersham, A. M., Princí pal. Commencement Friday, July 21. Winter term from September 11, 1865, till March 7, 1866, 26 weeks; summer term from April 2, 1866, till commencement, 16 weeks.June 27, examination of candidates for State Certificates. Fall vacation seven, and Spring vacation three weeks. Expenses about $200 for the school year. The whole number of students of all grades during the year was 697. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 5th District, Mansfield, Tioga county. Prof. P. A. Allen, A. M., Principal. Three terms ber, and continuing without any recess except one week at of 14 weeks each, commencing 1st Wednesday in Septem Christmas. Expenses during school year about $160. Number of students last year, 285. Though the last recognized of the State Normal Schools, all the rooms in the Normal building are already taken for the next term;-but boarding can still be had in the village. Additional buildings for students will be erected this fall. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 12th District,-the North-westM., Principal. Three terms: 1st. From last Wednesday in ern, at Edinboro' in Erie county. Prof. J. A. Cooper, A. August, till last Thursday in November. 2nd. From first Wednesday in December, till first Thursday in March. 3rd From last Wednesday in March, till last Thursday in June, when commencement takes place. Expenses for the three terms about $180. Total number of students of all grades the past year, 817. COLLEGES: PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, at Gettysburg, Adams county. Rev. H. L. Baugher, D. D., PresideLt. Commeecement 2nd Tuesday in August. First term begins 6 weeks from commencement and continues 13 weeks. 2nd term 3 weeks from end of first, and continues till commencement. In addition to the usual College course there is a Professorship of German Language and Literature. Expenses about $163 the collegiate year. The number of students of all grades last year 114. FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE, at Lancaster, Lancaster county. Rev. E. V. Gerhart, D.D., President. Commencement last Wednesday in July. Three terms: 1st. Begins 7 weeks from commencement and lasts 14 weeks.2nd. Two weeks from end of first, and lasts 14 weeks. 3rd, Three weeks from end of second, and lasts 12 weeks. penses about $218. Number of students last year 61. ACADEMIES: Soldiers' Orphans. SOLDIERS' Ex LANCASTER, Aug., 1865. NUMBER OF ORPHANS ordered to be admitted to the different Schools and Institutions, to July 1, 1865: North Sewickley School, Beaver County, 78 Quakertown Bucks 46 66 Comparatively few Orphans were ordered for admission during the month. The near approach of vacation in the schools for the more advanced pupils, rendered it inexpedient to send others to school, for the short time to intervene before the beginning of the holidays; and the continued want of schools, in several parts of the State, rendered it impossible to dispose of the cases from those portions. The chief business of the month has consisted of attempts to secure more schools, so as to accommodate the whole State; and of arrangements to modify and methodize the schools already in operation. In both, reasonable progress has been made. It is expected, that, during the month of September, several new schools will be opened, so that all cases of application can thenceforth be disposed of as soon as perfected The improvements taking place in the schools already in operation, also, are such as promise, that, by the spring of 1866, they will be in full and satisfactory operation, not only in relation to intellectual instruction, but in their industrial and other departments. The clothing, also, of the pupils occupied much time and attention in July. All the more advanced schools but one -that at Orangeville, which could not be reached in timewere supplied with their uniform or dress suits, so as to enable the pupils to visit their homes in decent garb. And this has been effected on terms which, compared with the prices asked in the larger cities, are much more reasonable than was expected. In the meantime, applications are coming in at the rate of about 100 to 150 a month; and there are now over 200 undisposed of cases on hand. These will be disposed of as above. Very many of the applications are defective in the statement of destitution. The mere assertion, though sworn to, that the orphan is "dependent on the mother for support" will not do; for the mother may be in affluent circumstances and the children entitled to a competency at her death. The mother, if the father be dead, is always liable for the support of the child; and it cannot be said to be destitute if she has means. If the mother, as well as the child, is without means, such fact should be stated; as thus-dependent on the labor of the mother," or "on the mother, who is without means to afford him sufficient maintenance and education," &c. The attention of School Boards and County Committees is invited to this point. This trust must be guarded from imposition; and now, that these schools are becoming desirable places of instruction and attracting attention, there may be attempts to overburthen the benevolence of the State. A DAY WITH THE ORPHANS : Five o'clock in the morning of the 27th of July found us, with a companion who had charge of the boys' uniforms, at the quiet county-town of Mifflin, in Juniata.An hour made the necessary arrangements, and by six we were on the road, with boxes packed, in an open spring wagon, behind an active pair of horses; and at half-past seven pulled up at the school by the rural hamlet of McAllisterville, with Col. McFarland, the yet crutched veteran of Gettysburg and other battles, at the door. The glad faces of seventy boys, too, attested that the visit was as welcome as it was well timed,-for they were just about to start "for mother and home," and only awaited the "new clothes." "" The ride had been delightful. It ran eight miles across one of the finest valleys or series of valleys in the State. Shade mountain on the north, broken in outline by numerous gaps and indentations, with the more regular line of the Tuscarora on the south, bounded the horizon in opposite directions, but within no narrow limits. The interior space, being the whole breadth of the country, was not less than twenty miles, including the blue Juniata along the foot of Tuscarora, and 'he space, to the north, watered by Lost Creek and its branches, and varied by that rolling character of surface which adds to the apparent distance and gives to every turn of the road a new feature. In this beautiful valley and at the early invigorating hour at which it had been rapidly traversed, the scenery of Juniata seemed more attractive than ever. Give us, after all, our own Pennsylvania landscapes,— with their mountains and hills, their rapid rivers, their dashing brooks, their clear glancing springs and here and there a lakelet;-their tree and vine-clustered homesteads, their rich fields, their scattered shade trees and their ever-recurring pieces of wood land,-in preference to all the broad prairies and sea-like lakes and almost inquench our thirst at the clear sparkling brook by the wayWe do like to terminable rivers of the mighty west. side, with enough of motion in it to keep its life from stagnation. We do like now and then to get off the dead level of the tramp, tramp, tramp,-be it walk, or trot, or gallop -over the prairie, and to try other muscles of the body, whether of man or horse, in mounting and other sensations in the enjoyment of the hill top. In a word, we like variety, and though the fertility of the west may be exhaustless and its productions almost spontaneous, we prefer the compelled but kindly response which the mother earth of our own State makes to the stalwart de mands of her sons. There is not only manly exercise, but pleasant variety in them. We may be unlike others in this; still we question whether we could long continue to take pleasure in the absolute ownership even of a dollar-mill, were some money King to present us with one, that should drop into the hand its golden grist, at the fixed rate of one per second-neither more nor less, and all alike-bright, round and yellow; but still all alike and always the same. but all lively and bent on getting to the end of the journey. Passing in the other direction were groups of horsemen or persons in carriages, with led horses. These latter were found to be purchases at a sale in the ne ghborhood that day, of discharged government horses. Here were two results of the war and signs of its close. The dead warrior's orphans returning, in the care of a grateful State, to cheer the widow's heart, and his war horse going back to the plough. Many a saddle is emptymany a hearth desolate. Let us honor ourselves by doing our duty to the living. When rested and again on foot, we found the quiet of Mifflin, disturbed-gone. All the resident children, in their best dresses, were out to see and welcome the Orphans.Aye, and more too. The adult population partook the But, to come back from the "Yellow-boys" to Orphan boys-there they were,-clean washed, boots blacked, hair combed and smiling, like other boys waiting for their new suits. Out of nearly one hundred sets, it was the task, and no light one, of Mr. Royer to rig sixty-eight applicants in four hours. But at last the work was done, with only two or three misfits; and these of that encour-feeling of the young. The iron railing about the Court aging kind which time will surely remedy by growing up the wearer to the size of the garment,-provided only that the garment shall last the process of adaptation. The boys were brought to the dressing room in squadsawkward at entrance but neat, erect and shining at exit; and it was pleasant to listen to the hearty hurrahs with which the newly attired and transformed were receivod upon their first appearance on the play ground. Of course this became less and less loud, as party after party issued forth; till, at last, the noise settled down into a curious hum of congratulation and pleasure. To be sure, there at length began to be heard some criticisms on fits:-collars were too wide, pants too long, sleeves too short; and the poor tailor came in for some complaints, which, if justice were done, dame nature should have borne, for not making all her specimens of boyhood on the fine models which the aesthetic artist had taken as his guide. But, on the whole, the very large majority were pleased and the rest became acquiescent. Then came the dinner, which of course, being for an extra occasion, was a feast,-with its puddings and pies. But, judging by the best test,-the ruddy looks and the satisfied appearance of the children,-the every day fare must be, as it is known to be, abundant, wholesome and sufficient. After dinner occurred the company parade of the boys in their new uniforms-with their Captain, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Corporals, ever so grand; really doing credit to their drill-officer, and adding, as the teachers concur in saying, a most efficient means to the discip line of the school. While all this was in progress amongst the boys, the girls, whose neat and tastefully made muslin de laine dresses and straw hats had all been in readiness the day before, were on the green of the school, enjoying the occasion and awaiting events. On inspection, their costume was found to be plain and neat, though tasteful, and, what is better, satisfactory to the wearers. Next came the brief address, the burthen of which, however moralized and sentimentalized in phrase, necesarily amounted to the old caution:-be good children and take care of your clothes; for such ever has been and such always will be the "course of human events" under similar circumstances. Arrangements had been made, or thought to be made, by the kind neighbors, to convey all the pupils of the school to Mifflin, where they were to take the cars for their homes and also to enjoy a reception by the kind citizens of the place. Before the half were seated, however, in the carriages, wagons, &c., it appeared as if there would be a lack of conveyances for all. So, self and companion threw traveling sacks and cloth coats into one of the carriages and took it afoot. This eight miles walk, relieved by rests in the shade, excursions over the fences after blackberries and an occa sional drink of thick-milk at a farm house, was, at first most pleasant; then it settled down into "fine wholesome exercise;" next the miles in these parts became astonishingly long; and finally it was quite sufficiently fatiguing to render a good wash and a cup of coffee at host Snyder's hotel very refreshing. During this walk, some of the occurrences were suggestively though sadly interesting. Going in the same direction with ourselves and generally passing us, were the carriages loaded with the orphans to an extent that would have been instructive even to a city street car conductor in the art of close packing. Ever and anon a group of boys, getting along by the ol mode of "ride and tie" or turn about, would be waiting in the shade for the next wagon, or another be seen hurrying along to the appointed station; House green was lined with an unbroken row of specta- It would be omitting the pleasantest feature in this most agreeable event, not to add, that these children were all hospitably taken to their homes, for the night and while in town, by the people of the place, and that had their number been five instead of one hundred, there were places and a welcome for all. In fact there was quite a contest to get them, and many were disappointed. So ended the first public reception of the first school of Soldier's Orphans, in the State; and four o'clock the following morning found self and companion at home and ready for a late nap. We should like to give the proceedings of the meeting more at length, but have not space. This will, however, no doubt, be done by the Rev. Mr. Guss, who originated and so well managed the affair, and whose local paper is warmly advocating the cause. Original Communications. WHAT IS THOUGHT OF THE JOURNAL. [Amongst the few bright spots in an Editor's life, none is more cheering than the good opinion of the competent and judicious. We receive not a few encouraging letters, though not in the habit of troubling the readers with them. The following, however, are so much to the point as we think, and so gratifying, that we cannot forbear their publication. Names of good and true men could, were it proper to do so, be appended to all.-ED.] In this district there would be no efficient Directors, if they did not all receive the Journal. It is SECRETARY. the propeller of the system here. CRAWFORD Co., July, 1865. I think the proposed changes in the character of the Journal for the next year are judicious. It seems to me that there is now no educational want more pressing than a combination of all our educational interests, in such form as will better define the proper field of labor of each, and render all more efficient. I am sorry that this topic is not a more prominent one in the approaching meeting of the State Association. It will afford me pleasure to promote it, as far as in my power. PROFESSOR. BRIE Co., July, 1865. Your suggestion of a cooperation and harmonious working together of the different Educational agencies of the State, is worthy your persistent endeavIt has been in a measure attained in other States, and why not in Pennsylvania? ors. way, and Your annual calendar will prepare the may give a new sphere of interest as well as circulation, to the Journal. The facility with which the Legislature grants collegiate rights to all who apply for them, has always appeared to me a serious evil. Diplomas have lost their value, both in the estimation of the possessors and in that of others. Ought County Superintendents, to give Professional Certificates? Would it not be better to delegate this authority only to the Faculties of the State Normal School? The credit of the Institution would then be at stake, should such be bestowed undeservingly. AN OLD SUBSCRIBER. OUMBERLAND Co., July, 1865. 37 if there be soundness in the proposition and praeticability in the project-it must eventually succeed. And, Mr. Editor, if anyone will just sit down and realize to himself, by imagination, the state of of parts, harmony of sphere and mutual cooperation things that will exist, when there shall be symmetry amongst all our scholastic institutions, he cannot but admit the result to be one that will repay any degree of labor and sacrifice requisite to attain it. Nay, sir, he will then perceive, that the time pretions in their separate and apparently diverging viously spent in attempting to regulate these institufulness of result from their various action can only orbits, has been, comparatively, wasted; and that flow from thoroughness of co-operation. When the Common School shall be properly graded, and each,-even the now despised Primary,— High Common School and the Accademy or Semibe in charge of an accomplished teacher; when the nary shall admit no pupils but such as shall have of studies; when these shall thus be employed been well prepared for their Academical course and capable of sending forth students well fitted for the proper course of the College or higher literary or scientific Institution; and when the College or Scientific Institution shall only admit students who are proficient in the branches proper to form the foundation for their own professional or sci I enclose you $1 for the Pennsylvania School Journal. Its cautious advance in new things and uncompromising hostility to backsliding in all true things, pertaining to the workings of our Education-entific course;—when this shall be effected, and not al System, should secure for it an extensive circulation. I do not hereby endorse all its positions; but the liberal permission extended to all to discuss, in its pages, the various topics before the educacational public, will command the respect of all true friends of Education. Co. SUPT. JULY, 1865. EDUCATIONAL CO-OPERATION. MR. EDITOR: I rejoice that the Journal has renewed the attempt, made some years ago, to unite the Academies, Colleges and other literary Institutions of the State, with the common school,-in that which really is their common work,-the elevation of the whole as parts of one inseparable system.Your first effort, owing to the distractions of the war and other supervening causes, fell through. This has a better chance of success; for it does not depend on the result of one or two meetings, and the consent or the want of it, of any concerned. But, opening the columns of the Journal to the few, if peradventure they be at first only a few, who shall favor the project, it gives to them and yourself the opportunity, from month to month, of discussing the matter and of placing the various relations of our institutions, their character, standing and result, before the public,—and thus, by agitation and information, of bringing the matter before the public so as to ultimately command attention. In this way, till then, we shall, indeed, have an educational system, worthy of our common school system upon which it must rest, and equal to all the demands of our noble State. Whether or not, Mr. Editor, this shall be effected in your time or mine, is not the question for us to consider. What we have to do, is to exert ourselves to the utmost in our day and generation for its accomplishment, leaving it to the good God to effect it in his own good time. Our duty, now, is to prepare for and facilitate its advent. to be well considered, but simple and direct. Even Your plan toward this desirable end, seems to me the publication of the monthly Calendar of our scholastic Institutions, small matter as it seems, is an important step and a measure long needed.Heretofore, when a parent or a young person required information as to the location, character, and terms of these institutions, there was no reliable list within reach, to afford the necessary information. Now the Calendar, when full, as I am certain it soon will be, is just the thing for such cases. ferent literary institutions, and their objects and So, the Communications in relation to our diftion to each other, will meet another demand for courses and modes of instruction with their relainformation. It will, also, stir up their slumbering energies and excite them to renewed activity in the laudable effort for excellence. With all my heart, therefore, I approve your project and wish you good speed in this enterprise; and it will afford me pleasure, from time to time, to help along the work, if my help be of any avail. ALUMNUS. WASHINGTON Co., July, 1865. SPELLING MATCHES AND DISTRICT INSTITUTES. MR. EDITOR: My remarks upon these topics have, as I wished and expected, brought replies, which it is but civil to notice at such length as their force deserves. Mr. Barnes, a worthy citizen, and I have no doubt, good schoolman of Susquehanna county, takes exception to my views in relation to Teachers Spelling Matches; but, as he entirely misunderstands the question, and, as nearly all his arguments are sound in favor of the question which he himself has raised, I need not occupy your space with much remark on his article. I did not denounce all spelling matches. I only the nature of the language, may be promoted, and, if this mode be officially adopted and regularly persevered in, ultimately effected. So much for Mr. Barnes, whom I regard as very good authority on sehool boys' and school girls' spelling matches; but who has missed the question of teachers spelling matches altogether. And now for County Superintendent Reed, on District Institutes. I did hope, Mr. Editor, that this respectable gentleman would have found some newer and more convincing argument than the sufferings of the ladies in getting to the Institutes,—soiled skirts, wet been described before in almost as moving terms as feet, long journeys and bad weather. All this has his; and if there is anything convincing in it, it was fully known to be the main argument of the opponents of the Institute, by every one who has examined the question. But, for my part, I cannot yet see, after all the gave some of the reasons against "Teachers" spell-repetion of this cry that has echoed over the State, ing matches. On the contrary I see, for the present that the unsuitableness of a calling to the sex or at least, no valid reason, either in expediency or condition of any class of persons, at all affects the principle, against pupils' spelling matches, except suitableness of that calling to the wants of society, perhaps, in so far as they are competitions for or militates against the proper means of improving prizes. Here perhaps he and I would differ; for I that calling. am opposed to all prizes in school affairs. Mr. Barnes is evidently from that part of the State where a young miss or lad is thought fit to teach school, as soon as either shall have passed through some Academy and encountered the usual course of studies in such institutions. Now, we all know that such persons are generally very deficient in the rudiments of spelling and arithmetic, while they may have some knowledge of what are called the higher branches. Where such persons are accepted as fit Teachers, I have nothing to say; and I do confess that my remarks against Teachers' spelling matches do not, by any means, apply to them. Nay I am willing that any available means shall be resorted to, to supply their deficiencies; so that they may at least spell the words in the copies they set, right, and thus not "write themselves down - -" very poor scholars and no teachers on the records of the school. The spelling matches I objected to and still oppose, are those by "Teachers," in such counties as Chester, where the teachers do claim and actually have very considerable professional standing, and where strong efforts are urged and made to elevate that standing. In my opinion, these matches do not elevate but degrade the profession, as I before intimated. And I now add and would point out, had I the space, not only that this is a wrong mode of effecting the intended object, in relation to the object itself, but that there is a right and effective mode within the reach of County Superintendents and Teachers, by which correct spelling, based on principle and Well conducted District Institutes are admitted, without a dissenting voice, to be amongst the best means of improving the Teachers of the district.— But it is queer logic which condemns the Institute, because they who most need its benefits find it inconvenient to partake thereof, while they are clamorous to enjoy the advantages of the profession which they thus cripple in one of its most important departments. Let us have some more novel and original, if we cannot have any more sound arguments against the Institutes, than this inconvenience of female members. Mr. Reed is full of the old sophisms of the old logic. He not only tries the argument from inconvenience, but the weaker personal one. In the former he is, as has been remarked, not at all origi nal. In the latter he is not happy. He alludes to the success of the Institutes in the larger towns and the facility with which they are established and the profit with which they are kept up there. He never was more mistaken in his life. For, I venture the assertion, that take any 1000 teachers of the large cities and towns, and a similar number in the rural districts, and there will be found more district Institutes, better district Institutes, and more cordial feeling in favor of District Institutes, in the latter than in the former. |