Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-11-04

The Public Schools of Union County.

The Public Schools Of Union County
The duty of examining the teachers OF
this county, is once more performed. The
number of persons who manifested their
willingness to serve as teachers in our
public schools, was One Hundred and
Twenty Three. Fourteen Of these, had
County Certificates; and ninety-seven OF
those examined received Provisional ones,
varying from No. to No. 8. Those ap-
plicants whose at,aihmeDts fell below the
medium, received none. was obliged to
take this step for this reason: : heretofore,
nearly every one who had certificate, no
matter of what grade, was almost certain
to get a school, in some dstrict-if not
on the merits of his certificate, because he
was willing to "keep schoof' for small
compensation, which in some parts was
considered of more importance to the tax
payers, than the qualifications of the school,
master. Besides this, the teachers low
grade was generally reconciled with the
common opinion that "very POOR" or me-
elected school required but little skill or
attainments on the part Of the instructor.
But our people arc waking up on this
point, and now see that those long-neglect.
ed choolsrequire the most efficient teachers.
Four years ago, l found many schools in
which "the scholars had never studied no
Geography nor Grammar" therefore the
i'teacher didn't need to know nothing of
those branches neither" But this fall |
found but one.
The average of the grade Of certificates
granted this fall, proves that the teachers
generally have improved very much in
their a,,ainments during the past year, or.
that the examinations have been less rigid.
None lave openly charged me with hav-
ing too low standard. But number OF
applicants after looking over the list of
questions, &c, intended for the written
part of the examination, seemed to say by
their action that they considered them "too
hard," and therefore concluded to leave
teaching to those who could answer and
explain them. If the most experienced
and efficient of those who applied for
schools in this county, found employment
in our schools, We will have reason to look
for much improvement in them during the
presen: school year. l hope We may not
be disappointed in any of them.
In looking over the field Of labor, and
summing up all the evidences for and
a gainst the improvement Of our schools,
we fnd the account stands decidedly in
favor of progress-and progress, too, that
will stand investigation-progress, that
will be more appreciated BY the next gon-
Grafton than by the present. We have
not claimed Railroad speed improvement
in our schools, for We were obliged to
build the road first. Every person who
has given this subject auy close attention,
will have observed that the schools, not
only in this county but throughout the
State, have heretofore improved just in
as the people were willing to
yield hearty obedience to the requirements
Of the School Law, and we're found ready
to give the system fair and impartial
trial, by adopting such means as were de-
signed to promote theintcrcst of the schools
and The education Of the rising generation.
That, on the other hand, the schools re-
NAMED in the same stereotype condition
just in proportion as a general hostility
prevailed against the system and those
means which were calculated to elevate
the schools in which minds and hearts are
to be elevated and improved.
We have already spent millions of dol
lars, in Pennsylvania, to prove that schools
can not prosper without the personal infu-
ence of parents and patrons IN favor OF
them. If the parents are opposed to the
teachers or his plans, and manifest that
opposition to their children, they nigh.
almost as we'll keep them at home, for it
would be better for them and for the school.
A few insubordnate scholars, encouraged
by their parents, will do more harm to school
than good to themselves. On the contrary
a word "ftly spoken in favor of the teacher,
for the encouragement Of the pupil" is
Ikea pebble cast into the ocean-the inhu-
encc will be interminable.
D. HECKENDORN.
New Berlin, Oct. 1859
FOREIGN NEWS.