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apparent to all who realize the importance of general education as
the great auxiliary of progress. Schools located and established
have only a temporary existence, and effect the most unsatisfactory
results, because of the uncertainty of their continuance. Confi-
dence is wanting on the part of the people, and not only does sys-
tematic public education become a questionable policy, but educa-
tion itself, as a positive good, falls in popular disesteem. We need
therefore an energetic and radical effort, which shall establish a
more substantial basis for a State system of public schools, and at
the same time inaugurate a process of supervision and culture, un-
der which thorough efficiency shall be ultimately developed.

In the first place therefore, 1 suggest as indispensable to the end
proposed, provision for the appointment of a Superintendant of
public schools, whose duty has been prescribed by the act of 1825.
To secure the services of a competent person, and his unremitted
attention to the duties of his office, it will be necessary to give him
a liberal salary, and to allow an adequate sum for the expenses in-
cident to constant supervision. Upon this officer should devolve
all the responsibility, for the effective and uniform operation of an
improved system, for the introduction of such amendments and
ameliorations as experience may suggest from time to time; and
for such obvious services as properly pertain to his office. It will
of course be indispensable to a successful prosecution of this work,
that the prevailing legislation upon the subject, should be entirely
reconsidered and reformed. The privilege now given to each coun-
ty to accept or refuse the system, and which thus subject the edu-
cation of its children to the caprice of tax payers, should be abol-
ished, and the uniformity of the system be ensured by a common
responsibility to the government, encouraged by the manifest bene-
fits that should flow from it. A radical defect in our present sys-
tem is to be found in absence of suitable provision for securing the
services of competent teachers. This is a subject of paramount
importance; and laying at the threshold of reform, and extending
its influence ceaselessly into the future. It is expedient therefore,
that such measures be adopted, as will commence and perpetuate
a source of supply, from which the whole State may look for really
useful, competent and professional teachers, reared and educated
under the auspices of our own institutions, and identified in every
respect with the common welfare. I therefore, propose the estab-
lishment of a Normal School.

Assuming that the gravest necessity for the organization of a
training school exists, I will develop in outline the plan of such
an Institution as strikes me to be feasible and suitable to the de-
sign. The place for, and the character of the school, are the chief
points to be regarded.

It will be readily appreciated by you, that such an establishment
must be in connexion with some literary institution of standard
character. To erect buildings, to obtain the services of a compe-