Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-10-07
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNTY SUPER.
INTENDENT.
CLEAEPIELD. Sentemhrr lSl

CLEARFIELD. September 1868
Not having received my appointment al
County Superintendent until short time be.
fore the expiration of the last school year, il
will be Impossible tor me to make fall re-
! port OF the condition of the common schools
of this county.
! The official labors and observations OF my
| predecessor are not of record. No statistical
notes seem TO have been Iaken OF last years
educaiionai operations, from which | might
make report for the portion of the last
school year when he was the acting officer.
At the time OF the receipt of my commits
sion, April 9th 1863, many of the schools OF
/ the county had already closed, while others
were about closing consequently, but few oi
| my official acts can TO embodied in this
| report.
| SCHOOL HoUsrs.-The plumber is l37. For
! the reason already stated, aul unable to rive
! the exact number erected during the year, or
! how many unfit to be the training places
OF youth but We have large number that are
! very objectionable, either III themselves OF IN
| point OF location. Some are situated on bleak
| hills without tree TO shade them others are
| located III The woods, where nature disdains
| the work of art, some are not sufficiently ven
| tiated. and others have too much air. In our
! recently constructed school houses, which
! have been built generally according to plans
/ i'll the School Architecture,a sd decided improve
( nent has been made in the size, location, and
| internal arrangement. They are an ornament
to their respective localities. and reflect great
credit on the directors. The furniture OF the
houses is we'll adapted tor the convent
ence and comfort of the Schoiars-the black
board surface sufficiently ample, but all are
deficient in school apparatus.
GRADED SCHOoLs.-The only graded schools
III the county are Cleartie Id and Curwensyille
boroughs. In the rural districts the schools
/ are ungraded and Inlperfectiy classified, the
Iattr rs owing TO Troublesome variety of
school books. A want of uniformity in text
books is seriously felt in our county. and is j
serious obstacle to the prosperity aud pre-
giess ot our schools. 1t prevents a proper
Classification OF the school, distracts the ef-
forts Of Ibe teacher, and retards the progress
of the scholar. While many Of our districts
have complied with the requisitUn of the law
in adopting a uniform series of books, yet it
is by no means general. as it should or even
nigh; be.
ExAMIN ArIoN.-i have not the means of as
certaining tue number of certificates issned by
my predecessor during the last year. Since
any appointment teachers have been exam
lned privately. at the request of the board of
direct oTs employing them. To of the APP
pl1cants provisional certificates tor one year
were granted, = TO: one term, and | rejected
Hereafter all teachaTs will be expected to be
publicly examined as the law requires. My
method of examining teachers is chiefly ora,
ana much the same ss have pursued with
classes ia the school room. [ never ask ques.
tiOus with the design ol pEZziing,-aiways tell
''."tit,' answers are r!"tt al "TOn.-. and II
wrong correct the error aud explain the rrst-
son ioT it. i have no set list of questions, but
ask those which occur to me as suitable, and
are best calculated to test the extent OF the
Candidates general knowledge, we'll as his
readiness. tact. aud power TO impart that
knowledge 10 others. In OrthOgraphy and
grammar the candidate is required to write
the words and sentences on the black board,
and III turn Is called on to give an orthograph
icai, chronological and syntactical analysis.
In written arithmetic, | usually commence
with elementary principles, write few easy
practical problems in the various rules on the
black board, and reqnire 4 solution and expla
nation OF each question from the teacher. IL
this way the candidates knowledge OF princi.
p2es, as well as his aptness To teach be sat
isfactority obtained. Besides the oral me tn
od u.s. in my judgment better adapted to a.
rouse the interest and secure the confidence
Of teacher, directors and citizens than the
written.
DISrRIor lNsriTUTss- Have been organized
gen rally through bout the county, and where
properly conducted, and kept in successful
oper iti"n, they become a powerful agency TO
execute a spirit of emulation among teachers,
aud awaken interest in the people. The
one at Cleartieid Borough which embraced
Lawrence township was we'll sustained and de-
serves special mention.
TEACHEgs.-Il is gratifying TO learn that
the number of good teachers in the county, is
increasing beyond expectation Many were
added to our number last year, aud further adj
ditions trust will be made the ensuing fall.
II is encouraging to know that many OF our
teachers are beginning to feel the great
pousb hi liiy they assuming, and the neces-
sity of a higher standard ot qualifications.
They are anxious to avail themselves of every
opportunity Tor self improvement, by study,
ana 10y reading thhse educational works which
are emiBentiy calculated to secure their use
tulness and success. Candor, however, COM
peIs me tn state that too many of our teachers
have not yet acquired sufficiently thorough
and accurate knowledge of the various branch
IS which they should have, who are still sat
sfied if they only keep school and hear
lessons.
SUMNER ScHoos.-Nine districts have sum-
mer as well as winter schools. The time OF
opening these schools is generally about the
beginning of May and appears to be Suitable.
Owing to the limited period have been in
office | can not speak of those other points re-
quired by the Department. But hope to be
able TO afford full information in my next an
uual report. G. B. SANFORD, Co. Sup't.
SrILLrHEY CoME.-Mr. Mcdowell, recently
one of the publishers of the Harrisburg Patri-