Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-15
COMMON SCHOOLS OF CLEARFIELD CO.
REPORT OF 1857


of the schools for 1861, as given by the
teachers at the time of visiting them, will ex-
hibit their retrogresslon or advancement. If
any of the teachers feel due credit has not
been given to their districts, moments re-
fection will excuse me from partiality, when
they consider cannot be in all the schools at
one and the same time, without possessing the
attributes of omnipresence and omniscience.
Some schools were visited from six to ten days,
and others from four to ten weeks or more af-
tcr.the opening OF the schools. Those first
visited will not be fairly represented unless by
second visit towards the close of the term.
Some schools have been visited twice. few
three times, but large majority only once.
Itis a matter of impcssibility to see all the
schools twice, and do Justice to any of them. =
Time spent in examining Teachers and
Schools, over four months. L have aimed to
be impartial and thorough in the examination
ofapplicants, to the extent of their knowledge,
so as to bring out their real qualifications in
the branches to be taught. Having but one,
two or three applicants at time, have ex-
amined orally, giving each one slate and pen
tanning to practical business of she school
room. l have examined this year about 60
applicants singly. that was unavoidable on ac-
count of residing in other counties, and this
will be the case so long we have not half the
number of teachers wanted, without calling
them from other counties. From six TO eight
thousand dollars are paid annually to teachers
who do not reside in the county. Why not
prepare our own teachers, and thus keep the
money in our own county! BY making CON-
parison between this and last year, it is evil
dent this has been year of progress and inn
provement, in teachers and schools, of nearly
fifty per cent, and another year will tell still
more the happy results of our system of pub
lie instruction, through the common schools.
ExHIBrTIoSs.-Severalh have been held at the
close .of the schools for reviewing the studies
and speaking pieces, highly creditabc to the
teachers and pupils. These exhibitions have
been largely attended and highly applauded
by the citizens.
TEACHERs.-A number of young mon and
ladies of this county who hare taught school
the past winter, have adopted Davy Crockett S
motto Of ''go ahead" and are qualifying them
selves for the profession of teaching, by at
tending normal school, or some other respec-
table seminary of learning. The number of
good teachers is increasing, and will continue
to increase in proportion their services are
appreciated and the pay made to correspond
with their qualifications. Directors have gra-
ded the salary in some districts according to
the certificate, whether professional or tempo
rary. This is right, and serves as stimulus
to those who are deficient, to improve and
qualify themselves better. Teachers holding
temporary certificates may have No. l and
in some of the branches, and No. and 5, or
o, in others. Such are not fit to teach, and
should not be employed if better can be found.
No teacher should be employed to teach a
branch not named in his or her certificate, as
it would be lost time to the pupil.
No. of Teachers-7O males, 90 females. 20
of the males hold professional, or No. 1, GER
tifcates. The remaining so temporary, and
some very poor certificates. Of the females
hold scaled, OF No. l, certificates, and Il tenn
porary. All seem anxious to improve and be
useful.
Ages.-12 males are between II and 90 &c
between 20 and % 90 between % and 80;
between 80 and 40, and 2 between 60 and 20
years. The oldest are the poorest teachers,
(over so years.) 8 between so and 60. OF
the females, 15 between IL and % years,
and 5 between 25 and 35.
Some eight or ten teachers make no preten-
sions to geography or grammar, and are not
good IN arithmetic; Others have improved so
as to obtain No. and in arithmetic, geog-
raphy and grammar, who had Nos. 3, and 5
on the first examination. Only one teacher has
been examined to teach the German language,
four in Natural Philosophy, Botany or Physi-
ology, and eight in Algebra. l can report 80
teachers by profession, or propose to become
such, and few holding temporary certificates
are not qualified mentally nor by education to
become efficient and successful teachers. A
man. young or old, with little mind, no educa-
tional training, and without means to fit him.
self for tho profession, had better give up at
once, and engage in some other business better
adapted to his capacity.
DIFFICULTIEs.-Those which most impede
the progress of improvement are the want of
a sufficient number Of competent teachers and
uniformity Of text books, outline maps,
globes and other apparatus for the benefit OF
teachers and pupils. We have but 80 teach
ers, (some only pretenders,) to supply l2O
schools. Of course some of the teachers are
employed for two schools, to make up the de-
ficiency. no schools only are in session this
year, the Directors having in some districts
thrown two into one to make the funds reach
four months.
PUPILs.-Whole number about 1900. There
are 500 more males than females. The aver
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