The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-11-04
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
To the Beard of Education, by the
Superintendemt of the RaVenna Un-
ION school, for the Year ending
June 10, 1884,

To the Beard of Education, by the
June 10, 1885,.
PROMOTIONS.
At the close Of the school year, "a passed
from the Primary to the Secondary; 32 from
the Secondary to the Grammar; 81 from the
Grammar to the High School, and 8 gradna-
ted from the High School. Those from the
two lower Departments were more thorough
ly prepared for advancement than any classes
which preceded them.
A more perfect Classification than former 4
ly, allowing the teachers to devote a larger
time to each class, produced this desirable
result. In the Grammar School, as we are
now situated, the work of three years must
be done in t,oo, thus rendering it impossible
to be as thorough as is desirable. The brev-
ity of the schoo. year, too, renders thorough
ness in course of study designed for COM
pletion in term of years of forty weeks each,
far more difficult in all the Departments than
it would otherwise be. As remedy for this
general euil, I would recommend the extern
sion-as soon as the funds at the command
of the Board will admit-of the school year
to forty weeks For the one affecting more
especially the Grammar School, 1 would rec
ommend--as soon as funds permit--the en-
ployment of an additional teacher, whose time
shall be occupied in teaching classes in the
Grammar and High Schools. In the latter,
during the past year, the teachers have been
obliged to omit some of the studies in the
Course, finding it impossible to hear all the
classes, without shortening, SO much, the time
for rectations as to be superficial in all; and
thoroughness in part is believed to be prefer
able.
ATTENDANCE.
The total number of pupils in attendance
during the year was SAG. They were distrib-
viz: In Primary No. One, 138; Primary No.
Two, 1o5; Secondary No. One, 81; Seconda-
ry No. Two, 81; Grammar School, IS; High
School, 81.
The average daily attendance in the sever
al schools was: In Primary No. One, 60; Pri-
mary No. Two, 56; Secondary No. One, 80;
Secondary No. Two, 81; Grammar School,
46; High School, 46. Total, 292.
The average attendance in some of the
schools was little more than half the num-
Der enrolled in others, Il little less-the av-
erage of all being trifle greater than half
Some plan, which will secure far greater
regularity in attendance, is certainly desid-
eratum in our schools. VIII not some inter
ested patron invent one?
The Board of Education has devised vari-
GUS expedents, and the teachers have endeav-
ored to give them faithful trial, bat perfec-
ton has not yet been attained. Judging from
the large representation of " little folks,'' 138,
whose average is only 634 years. the patrons
are anxious to avail themselves, as early as
possible, of school advantages; but it is to be
deeply regretted that this anxiety is not
less periodic and longer continued. Many
pupils, as well as parents seem to think the
sooner they are out of school and engaged in
he active business of life, the better and
that all time spent at school, after certain
age, is thrown 'awayi Strange idea to be-
come prevalent among an enlightened, a dis
eliminating people. What eagerness to as
sumo and to have assumed, responsibility such
as man anu woman must everywhere bear,
but how little ability
Thorough, long continued drill is requisite
to make the efficient soldier. Who, theE,
can expect to fight life,s battles successfully,
if he enters upon its duties without sufficient
preparation?
Such may, in time, become fair soldiers,
but seldom brilliant officers. If parents de-
/ sire their children to besled instead of leaders
all through life, let them send to school when
nothing else can be found for them to do, and
then remove them entirely at the earliest
possible period.
FOREIGN PUPILS. -.a
The number of foreign pupils in attendance
the past year is 81 The tuition received or
receivable from this source for the current
year, is $3.50, 81.
This is somewhat less than for the school
year last preceding Any falling off in this
respect is to be regretted, both because it di-
minishes the resources of the Board and be-
cause we need the influence of foreign pupils
which is almost uniformly salutary. They
are generally from the best families of our
rural population, and have not yet learned
many of those things SO undesirable for youth
| to know.
1t is believed, therefore, to be wisdom to
encourage, to any reasonable extent, Foreign
Patronage. Two things are mentioned, by
those seeking the advantages of our school,
as tending to diminish such patronage. First,
board, or rooms for self boarding, cannot be
| obtained here on as reasonable terms as they
1 can at private schools in this vicinity. Sec
ondly, the habits of some of our boys, Y oung
i Americas" are such as to deter very many
| parents from sending their sons among us to
remain even for short period. Could these
two objections be removed, we believe our
| foreign patronage would largely increase.
lf LIBRARY.
/ - uie o6SH luGIedSeO I1e past
year by about twenty-fi five books, kindly do
mated by H. H. Stevens. These consist of
| House Journals, Executive Documents, &C.,
and add much to the appearance of the Lii
brary. Several others. received from the
County, have also been added 1t has been
extensively read by the pupils, and to some
extent by others who were entitled to draw
books from it-books being drawn once in
two weeks
Though few of the books have become
valueless from constant use for years, most of
them are still in good condition
Finally, though there are many things in
which we may yet improve, the school is be-
4 lieved to be in fourishing condition, and to
need only the hearty cooperation of patrons
with the Board and teachers, to bring it still
nearer what all our true friends of Education
desire it to bean Institution to prepare the
youth in a most thorough manner for the va
rieus positions they are to occupy in life.
Respectfully submitted.
D. D. PICKETT,
Sup't
| There is a story circulating in Naples that