58

form series of Text Books, the State Normal School, building
and furnishing School houses, and the local tax required in
several Counties to continue the Schools in Session as Free
Schools, longer than the 6 months required by the Constitu-
tion and Act of Assembly. In various parts of the Law, verbal
alterations were made to correct ambiguity of language and
contradictions or seeming inconsistencies, which resulted from
the fact that there was no general revision of the whole law
after it had been amended and almost entirely changed, in
wane of its leading features, while under discussion in the
Senate.

Nothing was then reported which changed the essence of
the law. No organic alterations were then proposed nor are
any now recommended. The system of Free Schools is in the
main adapted to our wants, and nothing would tend so much
to unsettle confidence in its operation, interrupt the progress
of pupils in their studies or disturb teachers in their methods
«f instruction and discipline as changes, unless they are im-
peratively demanded, and are suggested by persons who
coming in daily contact with the Schools, can fortify their
recommendations by practical experience, derived from a
close and intelligent observation of the condition and progress
of the system of public instruction. It would be wiser to
bear with minor defects and to contend, against moderate
difficulties, than to attempt any change by which modes of
administration to which teachers and pupils are becoming
accustomed will,be disturbed. What we want now is a
patient continuance in well doing.

SCHOOL LEGISLATION.

Here I ask the privilege to depart from the plan which has
been kept in view in this report, namely, the explanation of
the School law and an exhibition of its work, and to discuss
briefly the subject of School legislation. While studying
closely the History of School legislation in every State which
has adopted a system of Free Public Schools, one fact has been
most forcibly impressed upon my mind. It is that every
man claims to be an expert on the question of Schools, and to
know exactly what a School ought to be, who is a good
teacher and how he ought to govern his pupils. This is to
my mind an anomaly. Gentlemen who are farmers do not
venture to discuss dictatorially questions of law. Financial
problems are not most properly referred to physicians, nor
are clergymen invoked to decide upon the State policy as it
concerns Rail Roads and Canals. The manufacturing inter-
ests and mining interests are wisely committed to skilled
mechanics and scientific men who have made mineralogy and
geology a specialty; in a word, all specific interests are
presumed to be best regulated and most wisely developed by