Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-11-12

1st. 1t gives better satisfaction to the Direc.
tors who employ them. ID. Parents have ar
opportunity of being present, (f they will to
ascertain the character and qualifications OF
those who are to take charge of, and educate
their children. 3D. 1t affords an opportunity
to explain the school law to directors and
teachers, and proves the fairness of examina-
tions by the presence of persons not interest
ed. 4th. 1t exposes the ignorance of unqual-
lied teachers and elevates the standard of pro-
fessional ones. do not expect to please ey-
cry body, or that every body will please me.
Some think am too thorough and particular;
others that am too lenient and should reject
all who do not come up to the full require
ments of the law. There is medium way.
and shall try to be as near the M TX as can.
and do justice as far as my ability p. Ill permit
School Houses AND FURSIruRE.-Clearfield
county has 125 school houses, which at an av-
erage of S25O,will amount to S31 $50. Forty of
those houses are good and adapted to the pur
pose of instruction. Folty-five may be SO al
tered and improved as to become very good
are under eight feet in the ceiling, and have
no means of ventilation except by open doors
or windows. The remaining forty might, with
some repair, do for pig pens or chicken coops;
but are totally unfit for the purpose they were
intended. The best houses are "a by 26 feet,
and to ii feet in the ceiling-medium, %
by "a, and feet or less in the ceiling-3d. l6
by Is, and 90 by 20, and less than seven feet
ceiling. The best and medium houses have
from six to eight 12-light windows The 9TH
ers-some four 6-light windows and four Q
lights. The best houses are plank or frame,
with stationary seats or desks for two to sit at
All are heated by wood or coal stoves, placed
In the centre of the house. The medium hou-
ses are hcwn logS-dcslls too high-moyeable
slab seats; and every way inconvenient, and
injurious to the health and physical powers, as
well as the mental. There is but one brick
school-house in the county, viz: the Town
Hall il the borough of Clearfield-two stories
high-rooms below for school purposes-desks
for two, and can accommodate 100 pupils.
The black boards in many places are too di-
minutive for practical purposes. No globes,
maps or other apparatus, belong to any district
in the county.
LoCATIoN.-But little attention has been
paid to the construction Of school houses, and
less to the location, which in most cases is de-
termined by central position, regardless of all
other consideration. The forest or open fields
are the only play grounds-no shade trees ex-
cept those planted by nature, and seldom any
thing about the school-house to make it an at
tractive place of resort for the young children,
who have great taste for variety and some
thing to interest and please.
TEACHERS AND No. OF PUPILs.-There are
1850 pupils-2435 males, 1915 females-llO
school teachers, 80 males, 20 females. Five
of each sex have State certificates, the other
100 temporary ones. A number have i'm
proved SO much in the past year that they may
obtain first class certificates the next exam
nation. Sixty of the teachers gave general
satisfaction ; thirty-fivc medium and en-
ployed for the want of better; fifteen are unfit
for the occupation of teaching. There are no
graduates from normal schools or any college,
employed; can't get them no, sir! that
would not do, for heard one Director remark
several years since, ssCollege larnt men could
MT larn his children; he wanted somebody
plain so they could understand 'em- that's it!''
30 teachers have been teaching less than one
year, 20 less than three years, 10 from to 6
years, five from 6 to 10, and five from Is to 20
years. Birth place-Pennsylvania 80, New
York IL, Virginia 2, Ohio 1, Maryland 2, Yer
mont 5, Ireland 3, England 2, Scotland L.
Age-six are over fifty years, Is under 40, "A
under 80, 46 between 30 and %, 16 between
IL and 81, and under II years. The num-
Der who intend to make teaching profession
are not over 25.
VIsITATIoxs by directors and parents, like
angels, are few and far between, being neither
regular nor frequent, but have resulted with
great benefit where attended to regular and in
a proper manner.
With these preliminary remarks, will pro-
ceed to give in alphabetical order each dis
trict, No. of pupils, attendance, order, &c.
BURNSIDE has 8 schools in operation, 1872
males, 146 females average attendance, 200;
No. reading, 2l6; writing 175; arithmetic 81;
As; grammar 15; history 81 two
or three only thro' Davies Arithmetic, 90 to
fractions and interest, rest beginners. Only
one or two visits by directors, and none by pa
rents. Teachers good-one went to the ex-
pense of SO to get outline maps for the bene
fit of his pupils, when their parents opposed
the study of geography. This infused new
life into the juveniles and made them anxious
TO attend school and make progress. Burn
side pays high tax and has good houses.
Books throughout the county = Readers,
Cobb's, Sanders, English Reader, McGuffey's
and Testament; Cobb's and Sanders Spoilers;
Smiths and Kirkham's Grammar; Arithme-