Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-01-31
ANsWERs To DIRECTORs. I'd.


ANSWERS TO DIRECTORS &c.
QuEsroN Have Directors the power to
prescribe the lines, within which alone the pu-
pills therein residing, shall attend the school
of that snb-district ? IascarOra District, Ja-
njata county,
ANSWER Sub districts" as such, were
abolished by the school law of 1854 but it
is still, not only the right, but the duty of Di-
rectors, to prescribe the limits of each school;
aud any pup attending any other school, than
the one thus designated 10y the Board, violates
school thus intruded into. -. .. g,
QUESTION In our district, there are schools
that in the winter, average fifty. and others
that do not average twenty scholars. The d.
rectors divide the school money amongst all
the districts qually-making no difference
either for the number OF pupils or the grade
of certificate of the teacher. Is this right ?
| Citizen Of Cra1cford county.
ANSWER This is really one of the most
difficult points in the administration of the
school system, in the rural districts and, as
no general rule that will square with every
supposabIe case can be prescribed, the law
wisely leaves it TO the discretion of the local
directors the only limitation, that there
must be the same duration, and as far as prac-
ticable, the same efficiency Of instruction, in
every school in the district. Apparently, the
directors in question have effected both of
these objects, by giving equal terms and equal
salaries to all the schools while, in reality,
great inequality Of result may nevertheless ex-
iSt. For instance, medium teacher may get
along tolerably we'll in a school of Is or 90,
but might break down in one with so or 90
pupils his failure being almost certain, If re-
Gured to teach those higher branches more
likely to be needed in the larger school.
Absolute equality of funds to each district
does not, therefore, seem to effect the true
purpose Of the system,-which is that of pro-
portioning instruction to the needs of each
pupil so that each shall have what it re-
uuires in kind, while all shall have the same
in duration On the contrary, the placing of
the best and most efficient teachers at the
points where the highest degree of instruction,
and the greatest amount of labor are demand
ed, does effect the object in view, and hence is,
beyond question, the rule to be adopted.
1t is exceedingly difficult to strike the just
medium on this point, SO as to give that meas
ure of satisfaction which ought to be arrived
a; but it is equally certain, that the adoption
of an arbitrary, unbending rule of equality in p
the expenditure of the funds of the district
amongst the schools. will not effect it. Un-
der the head of Division of School Funds"
page 81 aud No l60 of S. C. School Law
and Decisions. edition Of 1857, there are some
remarks whose appropriateness and soundncss
merit for them .he attention of directors.
QUESTION Ny school house stands on the
~ IL, ,f - lin Mo
ground attached to it, and the scholars are in
the habit OF playing on the road A neighbor
is constantly annoying them by abusive lam
guuge and threats, to prevent them from play
ing there Have they the right to play on the
public road ? Teacher IN Huntington co.
ANSWER They have not. The road is for
the free use aud passage of thepublic and
though abusive language is unjusthable,
yet its obstruction by this or any private or
different purpose, is illegal. Besides, if in
jury occur TO any one by this meanS-say by
the frightening aud running away OF horse
no doubt some one would be liable in
damages, whether OVerseers, Directors, Pa
rents, or Teacher it is now unnecessary to
decide.
A school-houSe without adequate play ground
can hardly be called a school house at all -
wanting, as it does, one of the essentials and
the Directors Of such an incomplete affair
should supply the defect at once.
In this case, the Teacher is advised to noti-
fy his Board of the existing difficulty, and to
demand proper provision in this respect, for
the health and comfort of his pupils. He
should also adopt, aud as far as possible, en-
force the rule, that all sports be confined to
the proper play ground, limited though it be.
QUESTION Can Board of Directors CON-
pei teachers to close their schools on Satur-
days, and yet exact "a days for q month ?
Teacher IN U1estm0rcland.
ANSWER If a provision to that effect is in
the contract between the Board and the teach
ers, they can not otherwise. a days, with
the Saturdays and Sundays added, would, at
the shortest, make a month of 81 days, and
in the month of December, 1860, would make
"a days which is simply absurd. If nothing
is said in the article of agreement, about the
number of days III the teachers month, and if
the question be left to this Department, p
days will, for the present. be decided TO be
the teachers month that is, the Lunar
month with all the Sundays aud one-half of
the Saturdays omitted. The Lunar month is
essentially and practically the school month.