The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-12-04
party IN eXisteI

For Hs BeIjonl Ga-ete.
ComH20a Schools.
40. l.
1IEs5RS EDjT0Gs
As almost every person in
the county tre.s more OF less Interested IN our
common schools, perhaps it viii BE- very accept
able to most of your readers, 70 have some sta
shssics and iag'S 10 reference to their rhe
sghoo.,') p,osp gIs Of the present wirte: and II
Won uil please give me little corner in your
paper, OCCASIONALLY, will present such mat
ters. from Ga,s TO time, CONCERNING the schools,
as may come uader my observation and be
thought interesting 70 all.
Ga the 26b Of September last, started on
a tour through the county, to visit the different
school districts 10 examine teachers and to
give such encouragement and explanation IN
school matters as might seem necessary and pro-
ger. The tour was a pleasant one, or in most
of the districts were found active aud energetic
men as directors. And 10 every district, with
one exception, there was an active interest
shown By lar people in behalf of the schools
The number Of people coming out 10 The pub
lie examinations, was not as large as ii should
have been. Many seemed to think and say too,
1 that The Superintendent is bound to grant an
examination to any person, at any time and in
any place, and therefore they would hold back
/ fora private opportunity, 10 be, as they express
/ ed il, "5at Trough IN t2co minutes" Ii tbs
were allowable, neither the directors nor the
schools would have the necessary pro;rctlon.-
But il is d mistake; il Is not ALLOWABLE. Ibp
instructions from the department OF Common
Schools, scarcely allow a private examination
d. all. Taey cannot BE- granted excepting for
special reasons. The following is an extract
ffomtae Instructions touching this point 1t
is plain and positive and sPeaks tor itself.
DEPARTMENT or CoMMos SCHOOLS.
HAERfsBURe, SEPTEMBER, 1887.
sPaate Examinations: These have been
tolefa.I heretofore to an injurious extent,
and have consumed the time and seriously Grip
pied th- movements Of Superintrudenls.-
IHe rguhriy appointed public examinations
are o,-0 to all applicants, and It IS their duty
10 present themselves in their proper districts.
SHpyu0.yn yndruts should refuse to make private
examinations, excepting fot special reasons, and
lOt Thea unless applicants bring written re-
-alst from at least three members # the board
u directors Aao drsr- to.empIoy thetG.'
Car hundred and hi,y eight teachers, in ali,
have pres MED themselves ior examination, ~
70 hi. f;n,e. one hundred and six nubncly.
and fa,-tuo. .pr,yatrIv. some Of tLose who
r,,,,a ,-;ya,.I, ,ssi,nsl ,nscisI ami st,isfrto-
>, -. r,r ~, att4nlin,- rpIlicIv Ctasrs
,ro,,i, ,,r,rf. r-o,,,.sts frn.u ,b h1ards Of d.
-.r..r, ,,.,,.,' 'd..si-.F f,.-o,nr,, ,brn Brs;d..
has,. tb..ra y.r- .,.n,. ,,,,., .yr.s..,,al Them.
..,y.. nr;yal4, IL i,,.n,t l,c..9 a,, il,ng a. an
/, shaw INV lbsy >fgaIJ b. Tzlu.aes. or pe,-
hams bayinr . .a.~. private or indiyIdua! rec
yb,n refused ,al,ied back
with them such rga,rts as best suited their con-
.poienc4.
There are one hundred and eightv-five schools
n tbe. coactv. ami if all The teachers who were
.xsminpd are now rmnloyrd, there is a want Of
wertv-seven.
About fifty Of those now engaged in teaching
IRE EMPLOYED from necrssitv and from choice.
7,rtv-fwo have never rapsIt before and fittv-
,pe have taught less than twelve months. SIX
v-seven are not coo,Drtgnt 10 teach EogIish
p, p 2r,o,n,ar--srvrDtv.f-p o,n, are not con,npf-9t 70
Zach Oeocraphy and LARGE per centaCe is We
y deficient II arithmetic. One hundred and
hirtY-one have never read any professional
work on teaching, aad but very small num-
1-r have ever attended trachrr's institute
)nIy seventy-tour follow traChing as a business.
A Il but thirty-seyen profess to read a portion
II the Sacred Scriptures as an opening exercise