The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-02-10

orally than at any previous time, and aD'
plcations for private examinations have
ceased entirely.
| TyooeL-In visiting the schools df this
county, more chan double the amount of
time is required to travel between the
schools than III visiting them, allowing
two hours to each visit. \ few Of the
schools are situated within two, three, or
four miles Of each other, but the maiori-
ty are much farther apart; some, eight
cen or twenty miles. and in one instance
twenty three miles travel is required to
visit one school only, of about fifteen
scholars These schools are situated in
the southern portion of the county, which
is vet principally covered with forests. In
torder to visit the schools in these remote
districts, my visits in the more pupulouS
portions of the county have been neues-
sariiy less frequent than they otherwise
would have been.
! In1DrocemcRts.-I find a marked I'M
nrovement in the n,ethod Of teaching -
! Instead Of the dry and formal method of
nero questions and answers, as found in
text books, oral instruction in connection
with that furnished in books is given, aud
illustrations used, which tend TO make
practical application Of the principles Of
science, and thereby to create an interest
! for them in the mind of the pupil. By
these means, orthography in many schools
/ has been divcSted Of its usual drynesS,
and rendered matter Of interest and
! pleasure to the younger, as well as the
Older scholars.
Mental arithmetic also is receiving more
attention, and is more Systematically
taught than heretofore. In quite mum
Der of the schools which | visited last
winter, every pupil was engaged in the
study of this important elementary branch
| of education, which, when properly taught,
never fails to awaken an interest and ef-
feet healthy discipline of the mind
I This has been the result of instruction
given at the academy in Coudcrsport,
where a large majority of the teachers
principally receive heir education, pre-
partory to the business of teaching; also
OF the Institutes and associations held in
! the county, and suggestions made At the
examinations.
| Institutes. A county institute was
called in the month of November last to
continue five days, Sixty teachers were
in attendance. At the close Of the in
sttute, the Potter County teachers as
sociation' was organized 1t has held
! two regular meetings, of two days each,
within the school year, which were large
/ ly attended by teachers and friends of ed
ucatiJn.
/ Directors and Directors VISITS. =
! Throughout the county, directors have
generally been very cordial in their CO.
operation to promote the interests If com
mon schools. Some have taken more
pains than others to procure first class
teachers; in which Hebron and Sharon
districts have been the most successful.
and their schools have generally present
ed better indications of correct discipline
aud advancement.
The directors Of Homer have been the
first to establish and sustain district as
Sociation for the improvement OF teach
ers, and the promotion of interest in edu-
cational matters; and the SCHOOLS of this
district have made GOOD advancement
They have also visited their schools more
or less regularly. But the case most wor
thy of notice, in this respect, is that of
the secretary of Harrison district, who
has visited all the schools, and most OF
them monthly, without any compensation,
as this district, like all others OF the coun-
ty, except Hebron, have made no move
/ nent towards adopting the district super
intendeucy. In other districts directors
visits have been only oeoasiDQal, and IN
some none at all.
An EoH to be Ren,edted.-Among a
few evils that might be mentioned opera
ting against the interests of education,
one stands out prominently, viz: The
districts, with few exceptions, are sadly
in debt, so that teachers who have earned
i their wages and received their orders, are
Obliged to wait long time for the money,
or sell them at a discount OF. fifteen to
twenty-five per cent. The cause Of this
is bad management, and loosenesS in do
ing business. Secretaries books are Oft
en- kept in such manner that it is i'm
possible to tell by them what business
has been done duplicates of school taxes
have frequently been put into the hands
of collectors without requiring any bonds !;
treasurer accounts, of long standing, re-
main unsettled and in various ways the
object in view is not accomplished. The
result of this is, that many of the best
teachers are leaving the profession, or go
| ing to other localities, and their places
have to be supplied with others who are
inexperienced and but partially qualified