The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-09-30
REPORT OF R. W. WEAVER, ESQ.,,
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT,
Of Columbia County for the year ending June
lA 1887


to open about the first of November, and
close about The first of March, without hav-
ing term of public school in summer This
is unfortunate, as reducing the time of school
visitations 10 four months, and those the
most lnclement of the year. 1t also prevents
the attendance of young scholars; aud even
Of The older scholars with that regularity
which is desirable and profitable. There is,
however, some improvement in this respect,
end In sevetal of the most thinly settled dis.
lricts, the directors have resolved upon q
summer term.
Examinations and 1saeheYs-In November
last made series of appointments through
the county, to meet aud examine teachers
but, as in previous years, the attendance OF
teachers and directors was not go general as
it ought TO have been, 10 indicate and inspire
that interest in public education which an
Intelligent community ought always 10 feel.
The teachers stay away, because many oil
them know that they are only apprentices In
the profession, though in most cases they
have improved all the scant opportunities
Tor mental improvement that were in their
teach. Most of them frankly confess their
incompetency, aud excuse i, by the want of
proper instruction. In many cases havs
found il necessary 10 instruct teachers, rather
,han 10 examine them. In order 10 find
teachers for all the schools of the county,
was still compelled 10 give certificates of a
lower grade than was desirable; aud indeed
10 some teachers so deficient, that they con.
fessed they would have preferred to 60 To
school as scholars, instead Of teachers. But
know that our county is not worse, in this
respect, than many others and The evil can
only be cured when Normal schools are once
established. We improve slowly, each year,
by heavy effort but 1t is only in pace with
the general progress of knowledge in the
community, and the schools do not, as they
ought, lead the public mind.
Within the time Of my official service the
wages of teachers have raised, SO as to be
now quite up 10 The grade Of qualifications,
and in many cases are rather above. II is
10 be hoped that the pay will remain up,
and the teachers will now prepare themselves
TO earn ii, by organizing teachers institute.
True excellence will always command good
wages.
Within the past year granted one hun
dred aud twelve temporary certificates, and
three permanent ones. Ten applicants were
refused certificates. The teachers of las,
year, in most cases, hold these certificates
with some improvements. Their ages, time
of service, and relative capacity, would rank
very much rs in my statistics Of last year.
So also would the condition Of the school
homes, and their desliluiion of furniture, for
there has been very little change in this re.
spect
Tisitations.-I visited ell the schools could
within The short months they were open,
and found in most of them decided i'm
provement since my first visit in 1866
Twenty Eve schools could not reach while
They were IN session. Catawissa is the only
district in which found reIrosression from
The excellent graded schools Of last year.--
| found twenty little abecedarians, and ten
different reading oks, in a school which
the teacher was expected 10 make "frst
rate."
In general the manner OF study and recita.
ton has become more natural and more
10 the scholars, and they
have come 10 think more upon the subject OF
their lessons. There is, however, still great
room for improvement, and in no branches
mo.e than in arithmetic and composition.
! have found that the most benefit resulting
from supervision of the public schools is
in the work at home, where slmost every
day some teacher, director or citizen came
for information, or with bill of complaint
II is in explaining the workings Of the ccm-
mon school system, in reconcilng difficulties
and misunderstanding, and in preventing
feuds and lawsuits, that most good can be
done. Still, visitalons are necessary, and
il is highly desirable that those of the Super
should be followed by others from
he directors.
The examination of teachers has very
,ood moral influence in driving incompetent
persons out of the business Of keeping school:
Ind in exciting among fit teachers laudable
'pirit of pride 10 sustain respectable exam
nation, and obtain a good certificate. Al
hough the school law of l849 required an
of teachers, it's directions in
hat respect were moi generally observed IN
his county, and where an examination was
il was very superficial and imper.
ec!.
Progress.--Three years ago there were no
,raded schools in the county; oral arithmetic
vas almost unknown as school exercise,
md music unheard, except in one or two
chools. There had been no public school
or exhibitions of any free
chooI ia the county, and 10 association of
he teachers for progress or improvement
low almost all the towns have graded
oral instruction is applied as strong
lement in every district of the county
music IL common branch Of instruction
n nd