270 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



In viewing the public school system of our State, it is observed at 

 a glance that it was brought about by agitation. The Puritan set- 

 tlers of New England built the school house by the side of the church. 

 Their first schools were, however, free, in part only, and to those who 

 had contributed to found them. It was similar in our own State. 

 Within the recollection of some of j'ou the school house stood beside 

 the church, and few school houses were found at places different 

 from the church. This was the public school system of Pennsylvania 

 but 65 years ago; public to »uch only who contributed towards its 

 building or who paid a regular monthly tuition. By agitation our 

 legislature founded the free school system and regulated its course 

 of study and term, first, four months, then five, six, now seven months, 

 a year. 



Within the recollection of all of us, each pupil was obliged to bring 

 his or her own book; and it is of that period, when there was six 

 months school and each pupil obliged to furnish their books, that I 

 shall refer to once more, later in my talk. 



The law at preseat is compulsory for the smaller children, but is it 

 not true that most of your grown children only go to school until 

 they are fourteen to sixteen years of age. I have always pleaded 

 with parents' on this account, because it is that period of life when 

 their minds are actively developing their higher powers namely: 

 Conception, judgment, reasoning. And it were far better could that 

 development be done in school rather than, perchance, in the street 

 or public jjlace. A teacher is expected to be a man of some intellec- 

 tual attainments, higher than his pupils. This, too, is the period of 

 life when some occupation for life is to be selected, and again I would 

 state, it were better to choose wisely and thoughtfully than simply 

 in a careless w-ay. Send your pupils longer to school than you do 

 now, and you will better the condition of the common school. 



Send your children more regular. That is when they enter in the 

 fall let them go to school every day. They are the only pupils that 

 snake good progress. Fortunately, my own district is such where 

 it seems to me parents realize this truth, for our percentage aver- 

 ages 96 per cent, in attendance, including sickness. Take advantage 

 of the seventh month recently added to the length of the term. You 

 l)ay the tax, therefore, let it not be an idle tax, but use it to its 

 utmost. Send your pupils more regular to school and you will aid 

 the schools and benefit yourselves. 



To-day a child comes to school and is there furnished with all the 

 necessaries. When you and I first went to school we had to bring 

 our own books. I will not raise my voice against the free text-book 

 system, for I think that all of us by this time realize that it has 

 many good results; but I want to warn you parents against a new 



