The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-08-09
4 WORD q plrecto,..

4
From The annual reports Of the schools our
impression at visiting them is confirmed that
in the county the schools are much too small
for the proper working Of the system, OF raih-
er that the schools are divided into too many
schools. This requires nearly twice as many
teachers to be engaged as are really necessa.
ry, and the result is nearly double taxes, and,
in the call for as many teachers, the employ
menl of some very poor ones. Let us illus
iraie /: One township reports total Of 1s1
schools, and an average of i27 which 1t has
divided into seuen schools. These scholars
could be quite well educated in four schools,
for we have seen one o! these teachers, when
in another district, manage school Of 40 10
perfection. True, in the latter case there
was uniformity Of books, but so there
should be in every district. The sepen schools
consumed nearly $500 of lax, and quite as
much as the county and state levies. And
yet there was only Term Of q months in the
district Out Of The seven teachers about four
competent ones could have been found, and
while one half the children had but poor in
struclion, all might have been under good
teachers for a. months, for the same money
that was paid 10 keep up % months school.
Another district paid nearly $40O for edu-
eating an average of 140 scholars in Seuen
schools during term of al months. We
suggest that out of the seven teachers four
or FIVE good ones might have been found
who would have taught all the scholars OF
the township TO the best advantage for term
OF sir months for less money than was paid
for term of Al months, in which we know
that many OF The scholars received very in.
| different instruction. One young lady who
taught in The dislric, is fully competent 10
teach a school of40 scholars.
| Sill another district divided an average OF
1877 scholars inio sir schools, w lille. four would
have given every child school within two
miles at most, and Term might have been sir
months with reasonable good teachers, in
stead of four months with applicants for GER
tifcales who did not know the use Of pause
in reading.
We Enow how difficult will be a reform
in this matter. Every person finds it more
convenient! TO have school. house near his
door, and if he is willing 10 pay the expense
i; is certainly no business for any one else.
But we find it necessary TO suggest reme-
cy for the complaint against high taxes with
which directors are often troubled In
thinly settled district every farmer cannot
have church, school-house, store and smith.
cry at bis door without paying very dear for
these conveniences and good school at
two miles distance is worth much more than
a poor one next door 10 you.
Then in thiny settled districts where many
children have some distance TO go 10 school
We recommend more summer school and
less in the winter. Without any larger out
lay Of money than during the past year youj
can have winter term of three months and.
a summer term of the same lengh:. AS .tls
terms of our schools enlarge, persons of be
ter education will seek the more permanent
employment which they will then afford->
And in summer you can secure those teach
ers whose winter engagement has expired
Some of the best teachers in this county have
in vain sought employ ment at teaching du-
ring the summsr; and others among the best
teach at very low wages. About a month
ago we visited school taught by young
lady who for scholarship anc capacity to
teach is not excelled by any one in the couu.
ly, and after expressing 10 a gentleman our
| qualification with the result of The visit he
informed us that while the citizens agreed
that the school could not be better taught, the
teacher received only eight dollars per month
and her board.