The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-10-29
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
COUNTY sUPERINTENDENT.


class wa. small, they were mostly oral ex-
cept map and outline drawing and work
ing problems IN Arithmetic. When the
class was large, the examination Orthog-
raphy, Arithmetic, Geography and Gram-
mar was written, in Reading, Mentai
Arithmetic and Theory of Teaching it
was oral. 1t is my custom to make
few suggestions to teachers before com-
mencing to examine class. after which
printed list of questions ID Orthogla,
ply, Arithmetic, Geography aud Gram
mar is placed before each Applicant
These questions are carefully prepared
SO as to embrace as much as possible of
each branch in a small space No ques-
tiUn Is SO worded as 10 admit Of a mono
syllable yes or no as answer, but each sug
gest prlnciple or topic which is to be
elncldat,d, and much pains is taken to
exclude everything so easy as to be puer
lie, OF SO difficult and puzzlns as to be
unjust. Nor are all these questions
equally difficult, but they advance from
the plain aud simple to the abstruse and
complicated, so that he who performs all
that Is required of him fairly earns the
highest grade Of certificate. AS sUou as
they receive their lists Of questions all are
set TO work, the oral examination com
meuclng at the same time usually With
.he Theory of Teaching. Each teacher
is called upon separately for oral exam-
ina;ions aud though all are at liberty to
listen, uo one is obliged to suspend his
Written examination. After each one
has been thoroughly examined in the The
ory OF Teaching. similar course Is pur-
sued with Men,ai Arithmetic aud Read
ing.
| will now state what | conceive to be
some of the advantages of this course {:
lst The Ordi e1Unl tHutiOn IS cOhJncd to
those branches best inteMded to interest
and ?nstruct an auIieacc. Theory of
Teaching is especially appropriate for this
purp pose. When tue teacher Is all cXpe-
ricucel one Directors aud parents cannot
fail to be bcuetled by his views on the
nece ,slly of good order in school aud the
, rncaus ot securing il, the need Of parental
CO operation, .he adaptation of u course
of study TO the natural order Of mental
Development &c , mOle than by any reel.
tatiUn III Arithmetic or Grammar hUwev-
er ready or correct II may be. When
, the teacher Is beginner thorough ex,
animation In this department affords an
exceIen: OPP ptortunity tor conveying much
, useful Instruction. ID. Written er0nai-
nation IN tie n,rre difficult LraRcheS BEN
cftS the teacher. The question lies be,
tore the teacher. and lie need not answer
till he fully couj jprehends 1t but free from
EN- barassneut he can collect all lis
know ledge in relation to the subject and
, proceed Ut his leisure. He renders it pc,
cuiiarly acceptable to the ditideut. In
talking all are more or less careless IN the
choice oi language but in writing tiuIe l.
, given to select such works aud phrases
/ as exactly convey the meaning Intended,
aud he who vrites a blugIiug definition
does so becats Sc he can give no better one.
!; 1t. therefore prun otes accuracy III the use
, If language. 1t, also checks that loquac-
, ity with which some teachers by giving a
great deal not called for, rive To conceal
f some real deficiency. The care uecessar!
to present neat and legIble manuscript
is excellent drill for ueatness in black
:: board exercises aud illustrations 3D.
. The ashote examination can be made
, more Morouyh. Tins is very evident, as
10 one is waiting for another 10 recite.-
Each teacher can employ all his time in
writing except while he Is under oral ex-
animation A greater amount of each
branch being bIaught before the class the
!, results are more reliable. In fact, were
/, the examination all oral, but little more
, time could be spent Oh the whole, than Is
now employed Oh une-half the branches.
, AUeroye Qualifications These are,
on the whole, ii traction below those OF
last year This is not the case with indi
! vidual teachers A large number of the
teachers re examined ii is year show some
progress, and several have made comenda
ble improvement. Many young men
hitherto engaged IN teaching, have joined
the army, some of whom were the bright
) est ornaments to their profession. Some
Experienced teachers, mostly fema!es:
have also given up teaching. A slight
) reduction in wages and shortening OF the
, school term probably contributed to this
result. The deficiency thus caused could
only oe supplied by employing beginners,
, 10 which fact the retrograde III average
: qualifca ions is to be attributed.
Frmoie Teachers The proportion OF
female teachers is nearly the same as last
year. Their average success for the year
Is little better than the male teachers.
This is, doubtless, owing to the greater
facilities for attending school, furnished
to girls in agricultural regions, than to
J bows [ do not hesitate. however, to re