Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-02-17
COMMUNICATION,
For the Democrat d- .Semtiaa
COMMON SCHOOLS.

HAVING visited about one hundred schools
IN this County up to the present time would
beg leave, to tell in kind way, through your
columns what improvements nigh, be made.
shall do so without mentioning any names,
and making any personal reflections
In order to save space much breyity as
possible will be observed.
lst. The teachers are much more compe-
tent than last year, as but two have been
found who cannot spell their copies
md Order during exercises is very good
and discipline more mild than formerly
Those teachers who attended Mr. Brophy's
school, IN Ebensburg, have a much better
knowledge. both of the branches taught, and
of the proper discipline.
5rd. The majority of teachers attend too
late, thinking they have only six hours to mt
IN They should teach six hours, but fire
should be made one hour before that time.
4th. When Fuctofuns makes the fre, he
should be instructed to permit no one TO enter
the room. Some rooms are never locked and
the pupils riot inside until the teacher comes
at 9 o'clock.
9th. Pupils should be controlled by the
teachers before school hours as well as during
school. They cannot do this when absent
9th. During an open winter like the pres
cnt, 1t If questionable whether q Recess ought
10 be given, as the evils arising thcrefrom
are greater than benefits
7th. Sweeping should not be done in the
morning, as the dust is inhaled by the pupils
Strict cleanliness should be strictly enforced
in schools.
8th. The character of school is made up
of the department of pupils, as seen by
strangers. Hence teachers and directors
should enforce outside discipline. Coming
in, going out, going home, and coming to
school should be well regulated
9th. Education means more than Reading
and Writing. 1t means every thing that
tends to mCGoratc the condition of society
Good behavior, good manners good morals,
as well as good scholarship is Education.
10Th. 1t is the desire of the Department
that teachers take care of the school-room as
well as of the school, aud of the hcatt as well
as of the heat.
llth. School Books should be uniform, il
each District, but they are not in a number
Of Districts, This Injuries tue prosperity of
/ school very much
18th. School houses, though bad in many
instances may do, but Directors ought to see
that the small children have good seats. with
backs, in every school Their health may be
greatly injured by leaning an entire wrter
over their chests, without support for either
back or feet.
18th. Teachers complain of ic,fc attendance.
to cure which, it Is suggested tnat they at
tend earlier themselves. This will cure late
attendance,
18th. They also complsin of irregular at
tendance Thcy have reason to complain of
this Yet it is doubted whether it Will ever
be better in the rural Districts, where chill
Ircn oft
10th. Last year there were over 5000
children at school. This year there will be
over 1000 in attendance in the county.
10th Spelling is taught pretty we'll in
every District, Spelling schools and contests
arc encouraged. This IL right when thry are
well conducted. But the b, It way To learn
to spell is to write composition Oh the black
board, slate paper.
18th. Reading is not well taught There
are requisites to good reading. one should
know. Ist. The elements or words 2nd
The division of words by pauses. ard 4th
The rhetoric of words Will teache attend
to this?
18Th Pcnmanship is middling well tau ght.
In the teaching department. as well as out of
1t, Cambria county can baa>t quite number
of good penmen. The copy-books are gen
orally well kept
18th. Arithmetic is better tlught and per
haps better understood than any other branch
required to be taught in the common school
10th. Geography is sadly neglected -
When our 1000 children now in school. will
be scattered all over the world among one
hundred millions more. they will have a bet
ter idea of the necessity of that kind of
knowledge.
2lst. Grammar is taught in every District
and in two-thirds of tue schools, but to a
Hunted extent. Practical Grammar is much
needed even by Directors, Teachers and Su-
perinteEdents.
22nd. Philosophy either mental or natural
is not taught much The Sisters at Loretto
teach these with Chemistry and Botany and
have upon the whole the best school in the
county.
23rd. There is not cough of practical
and too much theory in our schools There
is too much learning on the book and not
enough of the book When children grow
up they will need practical knowledge
9th. Bookkeeping ought to be in every
school. Some of our teachers | am glad TO
see are introducing this useful exercise
10Th. Since examinations heen instituted
teachers are purchasing books to considera-
bic extent. They find they must understand
the reason of the rule
10Th. Visitation Is have tendency 10 keen
both the teacher and the school awake It is
hoped parents will visit schools more frc-
quentiy. Should you visit just go in and sit
down and look on, Do not talk much to the
teacher.