The New York Herald Newspaper, January 20, 1852, Page 6

EDUCATION IN NEW YORK. ANNUAL REP OF THE ORT SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS. Secretary’s Orric: DEPARTMENT oF Common Scuoois, AuBany, Deo. 31, 185. be at TO THE LEGISLATURE: The Superintendent of Common Schools, in con- formity to law, respectfully submits the following annual report. 1. CONDITION oF THE COMMON SCHOOLS. ‘Lhe returns contained in the annexed table show the condition of the common gohools for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1350, covering nearly the entire period during which the free school act of 1849 remained in operation; a period characterized beyond any other in the history of our common school system, for the agitation and ex- citement of the public mind consequent upon this measure; @ period of transition between a system, nearly unanimously adopted by the people, but which, in its practical operation, had proved in mapy respects eminently disastrous, and a system more jn accordance with the popular will; a poriod, consequently, peculiarly calculated to test not only the etrength of the public sentiment in faver of eur elementary institutions for poet education, but the stability and value of those institutions them- selves. The unequal pressure of local taxation for the support of the echools, arising from an injadi- cious prevision inthe act referred to—a provision, the operation of which, inthis respeot, was almost er- tirely unforesees—had originated a strong feeling of hostility against a system which, a few months pro- viourly, had received the deliberate sanction ant approval of an imwense majority of the people of the State. This h stility was manifested not only by a very general demand for the entire and uncon- ditional repeal of the act itself, but by a virtua! refusal, on the part of the inhabitants of a largo Proportion of the schoo! districts, to carry its pro Visions into effect, beyond the point absolutely ra- quired a8 a condition for the receipt of their dis tributive share of the public money. The schools which had, for a period of more than thirty years, uniformly been kept openfor an average term of eight months during each year, were reduced in Property of cach portioned tox ran oor age ead be found accompanying : 4th section of the same act, the Suporia- nt of Common Schools was directed, on or be- fore tho first Say January in each year, to ap- portion and di: one-t! of the aforesaid sum of Sah Nene thousand dollars, togoshor with one-t of all other moneys appropriated to tho sapport ef common schools, equally among the s9 veral school districts; and to apportion the rem: ing two-thirds of both these funds, efter making a specified provision for separate neighborhoods con- powgd of tortitery adjoining other States, among the several counties, towns and cities of the State, according to the existing standard of apportion- ment of the school money, on the basis of popula- tion as ascertained by the last preceding census. No returns having been made from separate neigh: borhoods, the whole amount of the State tax, aad of the revenue arising from the Common School Fund, amounting in the aggregate to $1,100,000, has been appropriated in the mode prescribed by the act; the sum of $366,666 66 having been eqa ly divided among the 11,479 districts, (givin, ‘4 to each), and the remaining sum of $73: apportiongd among the several counties, cities and towns in the ratio of the population of each as as- certained by the United States census of 1550, just completed. A table containing a full abstract of the sums apportioned and divided under each of these heads, is also appended to the prosent report. Some further legislative action will, it is cen- ceived, be necessary te enable the department to carry into full eflect the existing provisions of law in reference to the application ot these funds. The several amounts directed to be raised by tax in the | respective counties are required, whon collected, te | be paid over to the County Treasurer, and to bo held by him, ‘‘ subject to the order of the State Superintendent.” If these amounts corresponded substantially with those apportioned to the county as its share of the State tax and School Fund oom- bined, tho transfer could be easily made; but as there is no definite relation betwoen the sum raised upon, and the sum apportioned to, the several coun- ties, it becomes necessary that the avails of the former shail be concentrated in order to bo re dis- tributed with tho latter. Tho revenue of the Com- men School Fund is also required by law to be paid over to the State Treasurer, on the warrant of the Comptroller, on and after the frst day of February annually, to the several county treasurers; but as no separate apportionment of this fund is required many instances to four, and the provision for their | support limited to the avails of the public funds. | do streng and general was the current of opposition to tue obnoxious details of the law, that the most powerful efforts were reqaired on tho part of the friends of education generally to prevent an entire abandonment o! the great principle involved in its enactment, and which, wholly irrespective of the particular mode of its execution, had received the | clear assent and fall approbation of the poopie. Pending a conflict so embittered and extensive, embracing within its range nearly every district and neighborhood of the State, and affecting so | many and such powerful interests, it could scarocly have been expected that the prosperity and welfaro | of the schools should not have beon seriously and | generally afiected A careful inspection of tho re- | turns herewith submitted will, however, show that while in some few respects the statistical tables compare unfavorably with those of preceding years, | their goneral results demonstrate a steady, reliable and gratifying improvement And now tha: a | crisis so perilous to the interests and the advance- ment of our noble systom of priory edacation, has | been safely passed, and tho irritating causes of com- | piaint which inducrd it, effectually removed, we may not unreasonebly look forward to an un- | inter:upted progretsion and expansion of this moat | impertant department of our free institutions. | To whole number of school districts in tho | State og the first day of July last was 11,179, of which 5,507 are composed of territory wholly situated in the respective towns in which the schoo! | houses are located, and the remaining 2,72 are | joint districts, comprehending portions of two or more towns. As the trustees of each of these latter districts are required to report to the town superin- | tendents of each of the towns from portions of which the districts are composed, the number of parts of | districts included in these reports is stated at 5 Returns in aocordance with law, have been received from 8,318 whole and ‘4 part districts, leaving 489 whole districts and 127 parts of districts only from which no reports have been received. Agsum- ing, as has hitherto been customary, each of these joint districts to cofsist of territory situated in two towns, it will appear that reports have been re- ceived from 11,080 districts, leaving 309 from which no returns have been made. The average period during which the schools were kept open, under the charge of duly qualified teachers, was seven months and seventeen days. The whole number of children between the ages of five and sixteen years, residing in the several | district, on the 3lat of December, 1850, was 753, O47 ; and the whole uumbar of children reported by the trustecs as having been under instruction, for a longer or shorter period during the year, was72b,- 291. From the more detailed statoment, however, made up from the teachers’ lists of attendance for the different periods required to be stated for the information of the department, the accuracy of which may safely be relied upon, it appears that the whole number of children under instruction during the year was 800,430. Of this numbe 7,037 were under instruction during the entire year; 43,306 for a period of ten months and le than twelve; 59,062 for eight months and less than ten; 110.981 for six months and less than cig 170,005 for four monthe and lees than six ; 212 for two monthsand less than four, and 19 lesa period than two months The number of unincorporated gelect and private schoola within the limits of the several districts, during the year reported, was2,277, and the number of pupils in attendance on such schools, was 45,540. e number of scheols for colored children in the | State is 105; and the number of children between | the ages of five and sixteen taught in said schools during the year reported, was & ‘ The number of volumes in the several district libraries, on the 3]st day of December, 1850, was 1,507,077, showing an increase duriug the year re- ported of 57,127 volumes. Returns of the whole number of children between the ages of four and twenty-one years ri the State on the firat day of A last, as re- quired by the twelfth section of the act passed at the last session, have been received from only 46 of the 59 counties ; and so defective are these returns ‘whioh bave been received, that it bas beer fouxd impracticable to submit any estimate under this head in the present report. As the apportionment of public money among the several school districts will be made in accordance with the enumeration of such children, made on the 3ist of December last, no injurious consequences can result from the omission te make the special returns required by the act referred to. ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES OF SCHOOL MONEY. ‘The whole amount of public money received and ex- ded by the several aistricts during the year embraced Tr'tte reports of the trustees, for the payment of teach- ere) Wages, WAR....665 $782,469 29 istrict tax unde: Raised by district tax 286 896 53 Pr of the act of 1849, for the same purpore Raised by rate bills voluntarily levied Locai funds applicable to the fame p In addition to this amount, the sum of. is reported as having been raised, (vo! tarily, it is presumed,) to meet the ex. penees arising from the exemption of 1,254 children from rate bills. and as raised by district tax to supply deficiencies in rate bilis made out previously to the act of 16,915 03 for teac 1840... oo Be eeee sees cess ‘There were also paid here’ wages in colored achools, over and above the public money spplicable to seid schools... Atarefor tesabere’ wages Goring the yee t ¥ ju e year repo fo Ma mtn iscennaegaSl 250,845 92 Amount lc money expen jor dis- trict Wbtesies.cccee oe “fe 89,104 96 | ‘The following additional sums wer by district taxation for the purposes speci- fied :-- For purcbasing school bouse sites Bailaing school houses. For hiring school houses For repairing school hous: For insuring school houses For fuel...ss+ sees for book case, boo! - other baer geregate amount of expe ‘purposes duritig the year. ‘The whole amount of pu sources by the several town superintendents during the year ending om the first day July last, was. $1,062,923 70 Of which there has been spportioned for teachers’ wager . +s $854,422 89 For librarice... 95,698 50 $58,865 91 145.915 86 $1,884,826 16 950,120 83 Leaving unappropriate see $102,802 87 3. APPORTIONMENT OF STATE TAX AND ITS AVAILS. a | premise proposed, without the slightest understand- | of those who favored and brought forward the by the existing law to be made by this department, neither the county treasurers nor the Comptroller have any means of ascertaining the shares dio to the respective counties. Tho State Superintendent might, it is true, order the avails ofthe State tax in | each county to be paid into the State treasury, | whence the entire fuud might be disbursed accord- ing to the apportionment made in accordance with law; and this would seem to be the most convenient | and practicable mode of accomplishing the objeot | in view. To authorize this, however, a specific appropriation of the fund to this purpose by the | Legislature is necessary under the provisions of the | constitution, the Comptroller being prohibited from | paying over any money from the State treasury, | except by a direct appropriation by law. Such an | appropriation is, therefore, respectfully recom- mended, in season to enable the ssveral county treasurers to make their drafts by the first day of February ensuing, for the whole amount duo their Tespective counties. WEBSTER'’S DICTIONARY In pursuence of the authority conterred by the act of the last session, entitled * Au act to authori, the Superintendent of Commo; Webster's Unabridged Div y schools of this State,” a contract into with Messrs. G. & © Merriam, of Massachusetta, for the pur t | of a sufficient number of epi at work to sup: ' py the orders of several districts indicating a lesire therefor, in the mode and within the time prescribed by the act. Tere is reason to believe , that in many districts the trustees have neglected | to order the work, from ignorance of the epeciiic | provisions of the law, and that, if permitted; they | would gladly avail themselves of the liberal offer of | the State. It is, therefore, respectfully recom: | mended that the time limited by the act referredto for forwarding orders be extended until the first of Octeber next. So favorable an opportunity for supplying all the schools of the State with a copy of this standard and excellent work, at a greatly reduced price, ought not to pass unimproved. Under the peculiar circumstances attending its passage, the act of the last session was unquestion- ably the best that could be obtained by the friends | offreetchools The only alternative presented was a return to the system in force in 1847, and a virtual abandonment of the principle for which the friends | of universal education had so long struggled, and | which had so repeatedly and signally triumphed. It | will be recollected that althovgh a popular majo- | rity of more than twenty thousand votes had been secuied against the repeal of the act of 1849, forty- | seven of the fifty-nine counties in the State had cast their votes nominally in favor of such repeal. The representatives from those couzties, constitu- ting a large majority of both branches of the Legis- lature, while fully sware that the popular expression of their respective constituencies, adverse to the continuance of the law in question, was not to be regaided #s in opposition to the principle of free schools, felt themselves bound by that expression to pursue a middle course bet ween the entire rejection of that principle and its unlimited adoption. Con- fident in the ultimate settlement of the question on a basis in accordance with the dictates of public sentiment, and relying on the intrinsic justice and soundness of the principle involved, the friends of free schools consented to the adoption of the com- | ing on their part, or, as it is believed, on the part amendment, that it was to be a permant disposition of the subject. 1€ was, on the other hand, regarded certainly, by the former, as a temporary arrange- ment merely. Jf it be conecded that the public sentiment has unequivocally declared itself in favor of the adop tion of the free school principle—and on this point there cannot, in the judgment of the undersigned, | be the slightest room to doubt—then any action of the Legislature, in contravention of or falling short of that principle, cannot justly be regarded as fival or conclusive. However desirable it may bo, under ordinary circumetances, to avoid a re-agitation of questions once fairly settled by legislative action, and especialiy where those questions aflect an inte- rest of such extent and importance as that under | consideration, the will of the people, fairly and clearly expressed, is entitled to be carried into fall effect; and if, for any reason, their representatives have failed to embody that will in thoir legislation, there can be no euch binding efficacy in a compro- mise .neasure at variance, in any tial respect, with the declared verdict of the popular voice, as to preclude subsequent action at the earliest practi- | cable period, in conformity with such verdict. Tho | act of the last session was clearly in contravention | of the popular will, repeatedly and distinctly ox- preased, £0 far as the provision for meeting any por- tion of the expense of instruction in our cominon schoole, by rate-bill, was concerned; and although, | after a long, animated, and finally successful strug- gle at the Ballot boxes for the complete recognition of the free school system, the people were disposed, in view of the manifold difficulties attendant upon the full embodiment of that principle by the Legis- lature, to rest eatisfied with the important step finally taken, as the utmost tha’ could, at that period, be accomplished, it ig manifest tha’ their compulsory acquiescence in this respect cannot pre- clude them from insisting, at any subsequent period, upon a complete and practical legisiative recognition of the right of every child in the State to free admizeion to the common schools, during the period in which they may be open for instruotion, untrammelled by any pecuniary restriction, how- | ever slight. There is ancther consideration connected with this | subject, which cannot fail to address itself with | great force to the statesmen and legislators of our State. Either the free school system is in accord- ance with the popular will, or itis not. Either the | principles upon which it is based are in conformity with the dictatee of a sound and enlighented public rr: or they are at irreconcilable variance with t. In either case there then should be nomedium course between the full recognition and adoption of the system, and its practical incorporation asa | portion of our institution, and its rejection alto- gether, and a return tothe system as it previously | exested. Itie utterly incompatible with all gound | principles of legislation to deelare in one breath | “that common sckoole throughout the State shall | be free to every child between the ages of five and twenty-one years,” and in another to provige for | the compulsory impoeition of a rate-bill for the | expenses of such tuition, beyond a period embrac- ing a portion only of the ordinary term of instruc- tion. It is eminently unworthy of the representa- tives of the Empire State, thus to “ hold tho word | of promise to the car, and break it to the hope.” | Nearly two hundred and fifty thousand of the | citizens and legal votere of the State, constituting | a majority of one hundred and fifty thousand of al By the 2d seotion of the “Act for the establish- ment of free schools Pie ee the State,” passed | at the last sceeion of the Legislature, the eum of | eight hundred thousand dollare wae dirested to be | annually raised by tax on the real and personal property of the Siate, for the support of common schools ; and it was tarde the duty of the Stato Su- perintendent, on or before the tenth day of July, in each year, to apportion the amount thus directed | to be raised among the several counties of the State, according to the valuations of real and per- sonal property therein, returned by the assessors of the several towne and cities in accordance with the law, and to certify the amount thus apportioned to the clerk of each county, whore duty it was made to iny the same hofore the board of supervisors of euch county on the firet day of its annual session. ‘This apportionment was duly made and certified to the several county clerks within the time presoribod by law; and ap abstract thereof, containing the the votes cast, doclaredin 1849 their desire that the common sohools of the State should be entirely free; and notwithstanding the obvious and universally all questien conclusive of their intention, at all bazarde, to preserve uvimpaired the free school priociple ; end the s'roog vote of the direct repre- sentatives of the people, in favor of the first section of the act of the last sasion, declaratory of this principle, affords 1adubitadle testimony of the strength of public sentiment in nao ara Let us lovk tor @ moment at the practical results cf the existing law. It purports on its face to be * An act to catablirh ‘ree echools throughout the Srate section oxplicitly declares tbat mmon schools in the several school dis tricts in this State sball be free to all persons residing iu the districts, over five and under twen- ty-one years of age,” as thereinafter provided. The annual revenue of tho Common School Fund amounts to three hundred thousand dollars; and this eum (exclusive of $55,060 set apart for library urpozer,) together with the avails of an enousl tate tax of $c00,000 is aporopriated to the pay mentofteachers’ wages. Tbe average leagth of time during which the several schools are kept opon, during each year, is cight months, or two terms of fourmonthseach The aggreg: mount paid for teachers’ wages throughout the State falls a little ehort of $1,500,000, and is constantly in- creasing as teachers of a highor grade of qualifica- tion aro brought into the school. For the first term of four months, the echools may, therefore, be entirely free ; in other words, free for one third of the year. At t-o close of the second term, there will be a balance of nearly $400,000 to be collected by rate bill— an amount falling very lit- tle short of the sum herctofore contributed for this urpore, under the act of 1847. This enormous joes will, undoubtedly, in the great majority of instances, instead of heing collected at the close of the second term, be diffused over the entire year— a portion only of the public monoy being appro- priatedto each term. ‘Thus every child who en- ters the school, instead of finding it free, will, at the end of each term, be charged with a rate bill; and unlees exempted on the ground of indigonce, by the trustees, bis parents or guardians will bo compelled to pay the amount so assessed with fees for collection. Is it not absolately mockery to term such a system free? The proposition to authorize a permanent mill tax on the property of the State, will, it is con- ceived, if adopted, carry out the wishes of the peo- ple and their delared will. Tho amount is too trifling to be burdensome to any individual; whilo the object to be eflected jis one of the utmost mag- nitude and importance. Is there an individual in the State who would not cheerfully pay an aznual azeesement of one mill upon every dollar of his valuation, or one dollar upon every thousand, if thereby he could secure the blessings of educa- tion, not only for his own children, but for every child of suitable age in the State, for the entire term duing which the schoo!s are kept open in each year, in all coming time? Is it not far better that the entire expenses of tuition should be met in this manner by one simple, definite, self-adjusting process, adapting itself to the varying standard of property and valuation, and to the increasing wauts of the school, than that the trustees of each of the eleven thousand districts should be periodically burdened with the trouble, and parents with the expense of a vexatious and karassing rate bill? | cannot hesitate, therefore, cordially and oarnestly to recommend the adoption of this measure as in my judgment best calculated to render our common schools in reality and permanently what they now are nominally, free; believing it to be due not only | to the highest interest of education, but to a proper | respect to the clearly expressed will of a majority of our fellow-citizens, that the noble enterprise, the foundations of which have been so aeonely nid in an enlightened public sentiment, should, | without unnecessary delay, bo prosecuted te a completion. 3 Whether, however, this desirable result shall be accomplished or postponed to a more favorable period, no reasonable doubts can longer exist as to the expediency, not to say the indispensable ne- | cessity of a restoration in some form of the system of county supervision. ‘The attention of the Legis- lJaturo has been annually called to this subject, both by my predecessor in office and myself, from the period of the repeal of the act creating the office of ecunty superintendent to the presont time; aud each additional year only increases the strength | of the argument in favor of the proposed reform. Every incumbent of the oflice of State Superinten- dent without exception, during the period which has clapsed from the passage of the original act establishing this class of local officers, has borne uniform and strong testimony to its utility and ne- | cessity; and the most enlightened friends of popular education throughout the State have, with equal unanimity expreseed thoir decided and unwavering | conviction of its value and importance. The con- siderations which demand its restoration, as an essential part of our system of public instruction, are numerous and incontestable: and it is by no means going to far to eay that in the continued absence of some instrumentality of this nature it will be found utterly impracticable to lay before the Legislature and the people, that information in relation to the condition and administration of our school system, which is so indispensably requisite to ite cflicieney and advancement The annual ro- ports of upwards of eight hundred town superin- tendents, involving full and detailed accounts of the receipts and disbursements of nearly a mil- lion and a half of dollars, are now required to be made to the county clerk—an oflicar otherwise en- tirely disconnected from the system, and whose whole duty consists in preparing a mere abstract of these reports, for the information of the depart- went, without the power of ascertaining or correct- ing apy errors or omissions that may occur, how- ever important. The unavoidable coasequence of this state of things is tho accumalation ot inaecu- racies and errors, in theee reports, so great in many instances @3 to render them wholly unreliable for the purposes for which they are required. A care- ful inspection of those abstracts for any two conse- cutive years will show that scarcely an approxima- | tion to that accuracy, which should be required in the cflicial statements of public functionaries of every grade, is attained in the reports of the great majority of the town superintendonts. There is, indeed, no reaccn to believe or to suppose that any portion ef the public funds committed to their bards, is improperly or illegally expended; but | from the impossibility of examining and connect- ing their reports, where obviously erroncous—of pointing out deficiencies and inaccuracies—and of subjecting them to the scrutinizing teat of some supervisory guthoyity—the official statement of these officers are, to a very great extent, compar tively vatueleea@s @ fall exposition of the pecuniary operations connected with their station. ‘Che same remark is likewise applicable to other portions of their report: inder such circumstances, it is ob- vious that a mere bey apie from year to year of tabular statistics without system or accuracy, must for all the purposes of practical legislation, be not only useless, but dangerous. A county offisor, chosen or elected with express reference to the par- formance of his duties in this respoct, and invested with competent authority to cxercise a cupervisory jurisdiction over the several town superintendents, would effectually remedy this cvil Indoperdently, however, of theso manifest ad- advantages arising from a return to the system of county supervision, there are numerous other reasons why lhe best interests of our common schools would be essentially promoted by such a measure. They have been so trequontly and fally recepitulated in previous communications from this department, and in the reports of the appro- riate iegislative committees to whom the subject Eas from time to time been referred, that their re- petition at this time would be ranerecneee ory and uncalled for. The whole subject will be found fully diccussed and elucidated in the report of the Commiscioner already referred to; and | deem it only secessary to add that the entire experience of the derartmwent during the period of my supervision | ofits c@ire, pas strengthened the conviction en- teriained and expressed by me at its commence- ment, that a recurrence, at the earliest practicable eriod, to the system so unfortunately and inja- Soiously abandoned in 1847, would be attended with the most beneficial results to the prosperity and welfare of our common schools. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. Thie excellent institution continues, Dap tN to furnish our schools with teachers of the highest grade of excellence, and to vindicate the far seein; wisdom which provided for its establishment permanent maintenance. ‘he report of the E cutive Committee will present an outline of the operations ane the past year, and of its ent state and condition. Atno previous perio ite history have its prospects for continued usefulness becn more flattering and auspicious; its arrange- ments for supplying schools more perfect and com- and devoted... It is earnestly to be hoped that the distinguished euccess of this institution may induce the further extension of the system, in other sec- tions of the State, until every district shall be far- nished with thoroughly educated and competent teachers. ‘The funds of the State can in no way be more beneficially applied than in securing this moet desirable result. Our invaluable system of common schools can effectually accomplish the eb- | ject of their establiehment only with the aid of well | qualitied instructors; and all experience hasdemon- strated that the art of teaching can be acquired only by a systematic and enlightened course of intelloc- conceded defecte of the law enacted with the view of carrying their wishee into eflest, they refused by a majority of more than twenty thousand to sanction its repeal, lest they should even seem to ondanger | the great principle they had so successfully vindi- | cated and asserted. Having thus repeatedly and | | deliberately placed themeelves upon the record, in | this respoot, they confided in their representatives to remove all the objectionable features of the law, | without aflecting the vital principle at stake. Had it been their desire to restore, either wholly cr in | part the old rate-bill system, it isreasonable to sup- pose they would have proceeded directly to the ao- | complishment of their object by a decisive vote in } favor of the repeal of the act of 1549. Their vote | | against such repeal, in the face of unansworable ob- | jections to tho details of that ,act, is boyond | tual and moral training in institutions expressly de- signed for this purpose TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE! The Legislawre, at its last session, doubtless inadvertently, omitted to make any appropriation for the expenses of these associations, as provided for in the act of 1847, They have consequently been left during the past yoar to their own unaided resources; and not being generally aware of the omission, the teachers of sevoral of the counties have assembled as usual, organized, and conducted thoir exercises, on the supposition that they were to participate, as heretofore, in the bounty of the State. ‘Tbe great utility of these institutions, as a preliminary discipline to teachers about engaging in the business of instruction, is now universally conceded as well in gur own o# in othor States, prehensive; or its corps of teachers more efficient | whore they bave been extensively ado; 4 and! Mitiear vocom mend tant tha pote a propriation their encouragement, as well for the past as the present year, be mady {t haa also occurred to me es very desirable, in many rospoc'a, that some adequate p peertsion should be made by the Loghaiaaars for the selection and designation, either by the it or some officer Spedally designated pose, of competent and w: ualified i to preside over and conduct the exeroires of these institutes, in order to render them efficient in the bighest practicable degree, towards the accomplishment of the objeot ia view. COMMON SCHOOL LAWS AND INSTRUCTIONS. In accordance with the directions contained in the section of the act of the last session for the estab- lishment of free schools throughout the State, the several laws relating to common schools, with full instructions and expositions, and a complete digest of the several decisions now in force and applicable to the existing system, accompanied with a concise history of tho olga and progres of the system, and a summary of its leadin, tures, have been compiled by Samuel S. Rani Deputy Superin- tendet, under the direction of the day ment, and pile to the several school districts and school officers. The-attentien of the Legislature was callod, in the last annual report from this department, to the necessity and importance of restoring jurisdiction on appeal to the Superintendent, in ali school dia- trict controversies, of which he was inadvertently: deprived by a clerical error in the engrossment of an act passed in 1849. A bill for that purpose passed the Asgembly at its last session, but was emitted to be acted upon in tho Senate, from want of time. DISTRICT SCHOOT, JOURNAL OF EDUCATION. I reepectfully recommend a renewal of the State | subscription to this valuable periodical, as an indis- | pensable auxiliary to that departmont ia the trans- mission and communication of official information, | System of district sohool librarics, seriously on- and in the disteminatioa of oducational views gone- rally. Ita value in these respects might be essen- tially enhanced by an inorease of the appropriation in its favor, which wou'd enablo it to dispense with the necessity ot socking advertising patronage, and | to devote its cclumns entirely to the object for which it was specially designed | REVISION AND CODIFICATION OF THE SCILOOL LAWS. By aresolution of the Assembly, of the 11th of | July last, the Governor was authorized to appoint @ commissioner, whose duty it shouldbe to prepare | and report to the Legislature, at its onsuing ses- | sion, an entire common sctool code, in one act. Under this authority, the appointment of commis- sioner was conferredon Samuel 8. Randall, late Deputy Superintendent of Common Schools, who proceeded at onco to the discharge of the duty thus devolved upon him, and whose report will be for- warded to the Logisiature at an early period of ita sestion. Following, as thia resolution of the As- sembly did, immediately upon the completion of | a full’consolidation aad arrangement of the exist- ing provisions of law in relation to common schools, under the act of the last seesion, the commissioner deemed himself authorized to incorporate in the new revision such amendments and modifications of tho system now in force, as, in bis best judgment, | after fulland free consultation with the moston- | lightened and experienced friends of education throughout the State, seemed desirablo and neces- | sary. Tho principal seggestions and recommenda- | tions made by him in the discharge of this impor- | tant and responsible duty, are fully in accordance | with the views of the dopartment ; and their adap- | tion will, it is confidently believed, place our com- mon school system upon a permanent and satisfac- tory basis They are understood to embrace as their leading and prominent objects—first, the eeparation of the office of Superintendent of Com- mon Schools from that of Secretary of State, and its erection into a separate and distinct department; second, the substitution of a permanent annual State tax of one mill upon every doilar of the ag- gregate real and personal property of the State, tor the support of common éehools, in lieu of the present tax of cight hundred thousand dollars ; | avd, thirdly, the restoration, in a modified form, and with suitable guards and restrictions of the | system of county supervision. | The proposed alterations of the existing system | are incependent of each other; and any one or | | mort of them may be adopted by the Legislature, and engrafted upon the system to the exclusion of | otkers; or the whole may be rejected, leaving the enactments of the present law to stand sebstan- tially as they are, with anew and improved classi- fication and arrangement, and with such modifica- tion of their details as to adapt them more perfectly | to the objects for which they were desigaed, and to carry out moro fully the obvious views and vishes of the Legislature Some amendments of the existing law will doubtless be found absolutely iucis;ensadie; and, if combined with a full andcom- plete revision ofthe system, in euch a manor as to render it permanent, as far a3 may be practicable, there can be no doubt that the interests and wol- faro of the cchools, and of the inhabitants and officers 0! the several districts, would be materially pro- moted by such an arrangement. 1. With reference to the separation of the office of Superintendent of Common Schools from that of Secretary of State, the expression of apy opinion in favor of the adoptioa of such @ measure, in tho peculiar potition of the present incumbent, about to give piace to a successor, elected with express reference to tho conju:tion of the two offices, might secm somewhat indclicate and improper. Conscious, however, of being actuated by no other motives in | this respect than such a3 regard the true welfare and improvement of the common schools, and forti- fied by the nearly unanimous opinion of the friends of education throughout the State, of all parties, so | faras an opportunity has beon afforded through tke medium of a very extensive correspondence, and by personal intercourse, to ascertain that opinion, the undersigned eannot hesitate to express his entire conviction that the department of com- men schools should constitute a distinct and inde- pendent branch of the government. The nature and extent of the official duties devolved upon the Secretary ef State render it wholly impractisable, if not absolutely impossible, for that officer to be- stow that time and attention upon the complicated interests involved in the gencrai supervision of the commen school Rig which their great impor- tance imperatively demands. ‘This important branch of his duties is consequently necessarily de- volved, toa very great extent, upon a deputy; and while, it is believed, no serious cause of eomriatee has yet occurred in the mode in which those duties have heretofore been discharged, a due tegard to the public interests, and a proper appreciation of the magnitude and responsibility of the trust thereby cor ferred, would seem to dictate that a department embracing the direct and indirect supervision of upwards of eleven thousand school districts, with their forty or fifty thousand officers, and of near!: | one thousand t-wn officers connected with thi branch of the public servivo, through whose hands | nearly three millions of dollars of public money annually passes, should be under the direot super- vision and perecnal management of a responsible and eflicient head, choren by, and accountable to, the people or tho Legislature. ‘There is, it is bo lieved, no other inetance in our institutions of the combination in one office of powors and duties so variant and incompatible; and no valid reason exists why, at the present time, and under existing circumsiances, these powers and duties should not beeeparated. ‘The proposed substitution of a permanent annual State tax of one mill upon every dollar of the real and personal property of the gate, in lieu of tho existing tax of eight hundred thousand dollars for | the support of common schools, commends itself to | the judgment cf the undersigned as a measure | fraught with incalculable blessings to the cause of | universal education. If adopted, and permanently | engrafted upon our existing system of common echools, its effects will be to carry out, inthe most simple, efficacious and perfect manner, the will of the people, LY ot ep and distinctly expresscd, that the property of the State shall provide for the elementary education of all its future citizens, and that all our common schools shall bo entirely free to every child. This ete having been fully re- | cognized and established, after matur considers: tion and discussicn, it is unnecessary now to re-open the grounds upon which it was adopted, or to on- ter again upon the arguments whichhave so effsc- tually demonstrated its soundness. The Logisla- | ture, at its last session, solemnly and definitely | ee it en of ane pattem ofa jaw, making a liberal appropriation - | gregate property and funds of the ciate the | maintenance and support of common schools. | This appropriation, howevor, liberal and enlight- ened ag it was, ‘and wortby of the vast resources andimmense wealth of the State, proves inade- quate to the full accomplishment ofthe noble ob- | ject in view--the education of all the ohildren of the State, during the whole period ordinarily de- yoted in each year to common school instruction. + An inconsiderable fraction of a mill upon each dol- Jar of the incroased valuation of real and personal estate ia all thatis requisite, in addition to the pro- | visions already made, to secure the inestiamblo benefit ef free schools, in all coming time, to every | child ofthe State. It would be utterly unworthy of the enlightened forecast of the groat majority of our follow citizens, to suppose that thoy aro not prepared te make this slight additional sacrifice for the permanent accomplishment of an object of such greatimportance. ‘The present Stato tax of $#00,U00, amounting as it did undor the valuation in force at tho period of its adoption to considerably moro thana mill upon each dollar, is insufficient, | with the aid of the annual rovenue of the Common School Fund, to provide for the support of the | schools of the State for an average poriod excood- ing eix months during each yoar. A permanont mill tax on the existing valuation capable of ad- justing iteclf from time to time tothe fluctuating valuation of the property of the State, and te the increasing wants ofthe schools, will, in conjuno- tion with the public funds already applicable to | | | that object, provide liberally for the ti A of every echool in the State during the entire yoar. In opposition to these views, it may probably bo urgod that tho action of the Logislature at ite last \ seesion providing for am annual State tax of 000, in addition to the annual revenue of the sobool fund, for the eupport of common schools, acd directing that apy deficiency ‘in this respect should be eupplied by rate bill, should, uader the circumstances, be regarded at a final compromise between the views of the frieads and opponents of an entirely free school eystem; that it is inexpe- dient and injudisious again to throw open to legia- lative and popular discussion, a subject upon which 80 considerable a diversity of feoling and of opinion is known to exiat; tl the very general acquies- cence of the people in the pr disposition of the matter is indicative of their satisfaction with the existing aw; and that it is unwise at this early period to disturb these arrangement a0 ro- cently and with such great unanimity adopted, especially in the absence of any experience of their practical workings, and of any general demand for their alteration or modification. These objections are, unquestionably entitled to great weight, in the consideration of this subject ; pores unless they can abit Sree, the neces- ity or expediency of the proposed change must be regarded as doubtful. GENERAL REMARKS. In bringing his official labors to a close, and sur- rendering the administration of the department to other hands, the undereigned can only indulge the bite that during tho critical and stormy period in which the complicated interests of public instruc- tion have been committed to his guidance, some advancement will be found to have been made in the right direction. On ageuming the responsible charge entrusted to his hands, two objects prosent- ed themselves as, in his judgment, of sufliciont importance to demand his individual attention and utmost efforts. The one was the proservation aud perpetuation, in all its integrity, of our admirable angered by what he deemed, and atill dooms, a most injudicous provision of the existing law, authorizing, under certain conditions, an entire diversion of the munificent fund provided for the arnual repleniehment ofg thego institutions; and the othor was the entorprise of rendoring every one of our eleven thousand sohools free to every child of the State of a suitable ago to partici- pate in their benefits. In the accomplishment of the first of these objects, entire success has been obtained, by an uncompromising refusalin any case or under any circumstances, to give the requisite | sanction of tho department tothe application of any portion ofthe library monoy, to any othor ob- ject than the purchase of books and scientific ap- paratus forthe use of schools. Many and strong temptations have from time to time been prosent- ed, for a departure from the strict and rigid rule | | thus prescribed; and doubtless frequont and serious offence has been given by the unytelding pertinaci- ty with which ithas been adhered to Tho altor- | native, however, seemed to be presented, on the one hand, of a gradually and ultimately entire abandonment of that fai ing and enlightened policy by which every school district and every neighborhood of the State was annually supplied | with the means of intellectual and morai cultiva- tion, andon the other, of a firm and decided re- fusal, in any case whatever, of that consent which the law required as a condition precedent to the di- version ofthe fund. The importance ofthe princip'e involved in this dctermination may have been over- rated; and if so, the remedy is at hand and may easily be applied. It has, however, appeared to me, from long observation of the workings of the system in this respect, that the means of free ac- cess on the partof every family of tho State, and each member of every family, of suitable age, toa judiciously eelected library, comprising standard worke in every department of literature and scienos, involved advantages and blessings not to be put, for a moment, in competition with temporary pecu- niary considerations. Whether fully appreciated or not at the present moment by those most inter- ested in their peeecerany the time can not be far distant when they shall be universally regarded as among the choicest and most iden prized bless- ings which it was in she power of legislation to con- fer. The universal diffusion of thischeap and popu- lar mode, of the elements of knowledge, the incen- tives to usefulnese, and the incitements and oncour- agements to virtue, constitutes the surest safeguard to our free and republican institutions, and affords the mest reliable guarantee for the continual pre- valence of that intelligence and integrity which alone can perpetuate our existence as a people. These inestimable advantages would be poorly exchanged for a slight and temporary relief | from the inconsiderable burthen incident to the payment of teachers’ wages. Nor have I been insensible of the important and, in my judgment, decisive consideration, that taerecan not be the slightest equitable claim on the part of the inhabitants of tho several school districts to any portion of tho funds thus set apart for this specific purpose, unlessit be the pleasure of the Legislature thue to divert it unconditionally and absolutoly from the beneficent object to which it was originally con- secrated. | earnestly indulge the hope that this will not be deemed necessary; and that this en- lightened and noble feature of our system of public instruction, instead of being in any respect weak- ened or restricted in its operation, will be cherished, expanded, and perpetuated to the latest generation. Our schools are not yet entirely free. Deeply as this is to be regretted, after tho noble, unyielding, and repeated efforts of the devoted friends of uni- vereal oducation—after the distinct and clear ex- pression of the popular wiil in this respect—and after the unassailable grounds of principle and ex- pediercy so successfully vindicated by the advo- vates of reform—there are ample and abundant fources of consolation in a review of the con- test which has been ged for the ado tion of thia great measure. So far as pa lic opinion is concerned, the question may, un- doubtedly be regarded as definitively settled. Reforms of this nature, when based upon sound reason and pourra olicy which underlie the principle of universal education, in a country such as ours, never go backwards. The indispatable right of every citizen of the American republic to such aneducation as shall enable bim worthily and | satisfied that it will be for the interest of tho State Trade and Commerce of the Canats. (From the Albany Bvening Journal. }, In accordance with our usual castom, soon after the cloee of canal navigation, ws now preeeut oar readers with @ pretty full account of the amount of property paesing through this great artery, for tas bree past seasons. The canal closedeseveral days vsrlier than was anticipated, and so suddenly, tbat a large amouat of property, consisting principally of flour, wheat, barley, and beef, destined tor tide water, was locked up inthe canal between Schenectady and Little Falls, which, had itarrived here, woald have materially altered our figurea for thia year The commercial year, however, compares favor- ably with any of its predecessors We have oot complete returns of the amount of proporty going from tide water; but from the fact that rebile there haa been a slight falling off in the tonnage coming to the Hudson river, the aggregate tolla received on all the canals exceed those of last year about $70,000, thus showing that a larger amount of pro- perty haa been conveyed on the canals than thers was last soason. During the summer and early fall, the railroads monopolise the carrying trade in able articles, and dealers in butter, choese, and lard, avail them- selves of thoro facilities to secure an early market While this is true in regard to tho articles aamod, the canals must neeessarily retain such articles ag sugar, molasees, iron, &c , which paying but small profits to the trader, will not bear so high @ rate of transportation as charged by railroads. In February last, the Canal Board made consi- derable reductions in tolls on several of tho leadiog® articles to be transported to and from tide wat and while many doubted the wisdom of their the result has shown their sagacity. We are in. clined to the belief that the present Board will be called upon during the winter to make further con- cessions, which they will undoubtedly acoede to, if Atan early day we shall exdeavor to give the “general movement,” showing the aggregate ton- nage of property ascending and descendiag the canals, and its estimated valuation We now submit our tables showiag the amount of property arriving at tide water, which embraces the returns from New York, Albany, Wost Troy and Waterford offices, and the ostimated valuation of the same :— Sratesent, sowine THE Tora Quantity of nach Aett- CLE WHICH cant: To THE HUpaon River on ace THe Canare punine THe Yrans 1849, 1850, ax 1851 :— THE FOREST. 1349 1350. 1851 Fur and peitry, lbs.. 654.531 636,000 484,160 Product of Wood :— Boards & scantling, f¢.207,431,140 425,095,442 457,288,982 Shingles, M... ony $1.25 1,868,083 57.706 ‘Timber, cubic feet, 1,407,627 1666 268 — 3,189,179 Staves, Iba.. 154,159,359 202,224,000 1,190 Wood, cords, 11977 12411 12.640 Ashes pot & pe’l, bbis $1,289 52,237 23 108 AGRICULTURE Product of Animals:— é Pork, bbis.... 40,618 45,013 Beef .... 97,259 T7798 Becon, Ibs. 9,680,000 10,901,923 Cheese... 25 508,045 9 564.268 10 814,940 — 240.768 12,731,403 10,517,408, 696.564 STLT4 Tallow, - 207,510 “egetable Food : He » 3263087 3,368,465 2.724,580 8,163,032 822.942 ‘U2 603 5,121,270 7,070,345 = 7,335 1,881,101 5 2.469,697 3,634,682 B }, Lbs 402,464,000 45,476 249 Peas and,beans, bus. 515 129,502 Potatoes .. 600.182 Dried fruit. sees 369 1,423,350 All other Agricultural Products : : 316,094 287 330 196,056 8,698,600 <-* 1161,040 2,479,098 569,400 1,981,684 166,500 1,877,805 650 886 2,107,595 2,310,498 - 63 Beer, barrels ........ Linseed oil. gallons. Oil meal & cake, lbs. -- 6,392,000 Btarob. . — 2744060 Leather... “ 5532610 = 7,176,000 Furniture 1,116,300 1,102,000 | Agricult’l on _ 16 000 Bar and pig lead. 11,167 83,000 Pig iron ....06 9,636,166 5 276,000 Castings. “i easis — 1,880,000 8 and parts gee Ibs... oe ae 280,000 153,310 Bloom and bar iron. 22,126,000 53,449,254 Irom ware....-.++ _ 3.700 Domestic woollens. 1,018,000 824,540 Do. 1,868,000 2.249.835 D 13.164000 12. 962,166 1,826,000 1,195,600 - Live cattle, hi 1d sheep, Lb: 1,578 000 889.550 Stone, lime, 87,916,000 104,167,030 6.950.000 9,669,609 a 3.280,000 5. 678,264 25,169,959 32,146.000 40,622. 220 Fish...... - 458,000 ‘277 515 Copper ore. .-- — 104000 = 417,780 Flint enamel'd w oa 2 jaa Bundries.... + 101,244,928 94,113.000 111 020,090 Sratsment showing the aggregate, in tons, under the 1351 divisions as specified in the above table :— 1849 ‘1850. The Forest. 9AT,768 Agriculture. 926.048 Manufacture: Merchandise Other articles. Total tons .. 2,053,363 2,010,700 Statement showing the estimated value of each article which came to the Hudson River, on all the canais, during the years 1849, 1860, 1851:— 1,679,046 vt rf . 50. 1881. roperly to discharge the varied and responsible |... 77% ToRtst. a aigees Taites incumbent on him, as such, cannot long | [obey a ea Seatel (Ee. remain practically unrecognized in our republican g 4,450,157 = 6,365.724 7,226,197 institutions. It has already incorporated itself in ‘153,774 02,668 205,390 the system of public instruction of several of our 119.698 440,490 697,465 aister States: is nas found its way into the muni- bert =o eine cipal rogulations o! our cities, and m tl ¥ a ost in jortant towns of our wis ‘State, oe 41,016,800 1,618,088 eae above and beyond all, it has entwined itself into the deepest convictions and soundest regards of the 613.78 «633,010 ao mass of the people. Its full assertion may sonree 681,300 ¢ deferred, but cannot ultimately be repressed. 580922 980,966 In the vindication and maintenance of this prin- 1955,122 1,663,606 ciple, it has been my fortune, during the whole of 2,391,863 © 1338,00T the brief period of my connection with the depart- 620,868 978,840 ment, to occupy a conspicuous ition. As a 42,506 68,637 necessary consequence of this position, voluntarily 4,372,673 = 4,101,416 assumed, and firmly maintained, I have been eon- 54,801 oe tent to endure and to confront a more than ordi- bs = aay eae of mor ny and na was ro- | LG cg ta a 16816, 16 280,425 13,436,542 garded by me as of infinitel reater consequence, ur, bbis. poten, , ref fo witness the inevitable renotion upon the ‘Tohools | Wheat, bush, 3 na f00 bo of the State of a protracted and embittered con- Xy°: ayuin seen | Gin troversy. That controversy is even yet undoter- ton ‘meal, bbls. a ot one "20,172 mined; and it may require years to repair the fariey, bush. 868,116 1417/6827 ~—«1,434'542. breaches ovcasioned by its existence. But 1 have "ead 808/084 1,014,678 1,368,962 the consolation of knowing that the part which! | Bran& shipstuffs, lbs. 242,756 863 366,091 have taken in this controversy was the result of a | Peasandbeans, bush. 160,234 89,382 143.21 firm and abiding conviction of public and private Potatoes...... 117,018 193,960 842375 duty—of duty tothe State whose confidence had | Driedfrait,ibs...... 78,007 182,019 114,108 been reposed in me as a public officer, charged with | .4ll other Agricultural Products:— the administration of a most responsible andimpor- | Cotton, Ibs.......... y240 158,230 35,590 tant trast—of duty to my fellow citizens deeply in- | ¥ terceted in the satisfactery adjustment of a qucstion baa o1s7is which came directly home to the business and the o ied nee hearth of cach one of them—andof duty to the eight 145 3,130 hundred thousand children who annually throng 1506476380 the disteiot eaneat aeveaiol. oe. State, to OE | saxevaceiaas, e : that education without which their future pros- f 3 pecte of usefulness or happiness wore to my far foe ene bess tar bag tally ted. Sustaine supported by | Lineeed oll, geis 66 these considerations, and by the active co.operation | Oil meal & cake, Ibs.. of many of the most onlightencd friends of educa- | Starch, do. 135,73 tion in every section of the State, my course of ac- | Leather, do.. Lasoera tion was Poe and upon a careful and soarehing | Furniture, gene 18 oe review of conduct and motive, I find nothing to | fSricuy himpuinde. « ‘820 retract or Hy fab! but my own inability more offeo- | Pig iron, do... 67,563 tually to realize the full convictions of ie | Castings, de.. 74,360 and the most ardent wishes of my heart in this ; Machines & parte,do.. 15,332 respect. If! have, though feebly and imperfectly, | Bloom & bar iron, do.. 985 contributed in any essential degree, to the ultimate | ware, do.. wag tit triumph and full’ recognition of the noble Principle | Bomestic wool’ns,do.. Bei Ce Satreat osnieation pees bh ee {tee 43 all— | had est gage 73,000 82612 66.075 ifin part through my humble exertions, the future | 2 ‘4 = E ar millions of children who shall hereafter oongrogate | 'oresnealt, — do.. cer vies in our elementary institutions of learning, tall be | use anne he penn freely to Poy: Need in the inestimable | pe wt a4 - 47,240 lessings of sound intelectual and moralinstruction, | store Tine, 74,60 118/482 without restriction or discrimination, my highest | Gypsum, — 6,742 14.949 earthly ambition will have been amply realized. | Eggs, do.. — ~ 197,54 Curistorusr Morgan, | Mineralcoal, do., 66,603 90,951 Superintendent of Common Schools. |. Fish, do.. it ee abil eines | Copper ore, do.. Fiintenam’'d ware. do 240 OnscryiT1¥s FROM CuiNa.—A remarkable im- | Sundries, . do., 218,648 1823014 portation has recently taken consisting of @ scries of paintings, or, more pro- perly, carvings of an elaborate character, paiated and contained in a kind of frame, each having hinges inversely, so as te close after the manner of a draught-board in tho form of a book. On ox- amination of this piece of mechanism it was found that cach of these painted carvings formed a slide which discovered another carving of an equally elaborate description, but of a grossly obscene cha- racter, the figures comprising theso obseonitios boing cal Maa in Fa representing Chinose | character tis believed that on no previous oc- casion has the skill of mechanical art been more grossly perverted to an improper purpose. The articles were, it seems, in transit for France, but the authorities have given direstions for these ob: scene carvings to bo immediately and entiroly do- atroyed.—London Paper. Nana from China, by Avstratra.—Nows from the gold diggings stato: that gold continues to be found in large quanti i : iat tho foolonists aro hoiag ruined by want of labor Bratewent showing the aggregate value of the property which came tp the Hadaon river, on all the canals, dur- ing Cd fe 1849, 1850, 1861, under the divisions as epecified in the above table ;— 1849. 1850. The Forest...... $7,192 796 $10,515,115 Agriculturi + 08,465,456 88,511,546 Manufactures... 8 899 238 3,960,864 Merchandilee.... 508,848 665.615 4 Other articles... 2.319.985 2.398,495 2,780,257 Total......... $52,075,621 $55A74607 $54.452,450 Ressia.—Tho Trieste Gazette gives the following details of sho effective strength of tho Russian army. ‘The infantry, including the imperial guard, &o., amounts te 610,388 men; the cavalry to 101,692; the artillory, including tho rie corps, to 42,902, making a total of about 830,000 men. By calling out the resorves and the depots, that number might bo increased by 240,000, Inthe event of an Euro- an war, 300,000 mon would be disposable to cross the western frontior, botwoon the Baitio aud the Danubian principalition