American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-09-06

doubled IN the form OF crescent over low
desks, suited only for small children.
APPARATUs.-A very gratifying ad-
vance has been made in the furnishing of
apparatus. Ten districts have been pro-
vided with full sets of Outline maps,
since my last report, and l was highly
pleased to find, in my visit, that most OF
the schools in which they have been in-
troduced, were using them, and, in some
instances, with remarkable SUCCESS. In
some schools, however, | am sorry to say,
they were used only as ornaments for the
walls. OF their utility there can be no
doubt Directors should require teach
ers to use them No other apparatus have
been introduced.
ScHooLs.-Twomore schools have been
graded-those of Centreville and Harris
vile. These seem to be doing we'll, and
will doubtless give full proof of the su
periority of graded schools.
There are yet two which ought to be
graded-those of Harmony and Helieno-
pie. To these, reference was made in my
last report. My visits to these schools
last winter, has fully confirmed the views
then expressed.
The practice of dividing the school
term into Summer and winter schools, un
der the direction of different teachers, |
am pleased to find, is gradually becoming
unpopular.
In number of townships, now, the
schools are opened early in the Fall and
continued the full term of 5.or 6 months
under the same teacher. In this case
there should be short recess Of not more
than two weeks before winter begins.
TEAcHERs.-Th teachers have acquit-
ted themselves, generally, in an accepta-
BILE manner. Some have succeeded ex-
ceedingly well, and by their diligence and
tact. have earned for themselves the en-
contains of parents and directors, il not
the pecuniary repord due for their faith
full labor. There are, it is true, some ex-
ceptions-some entire failures. The mum.
Der of these, ] am happy to say, is few,
and Of these, there were as many males as
females. The views expressed last year
with refereHce to female teachers have
been strengthened by observation. am
satisfied that if the teachers are properly
sustained and encouraged by directors and
parents, there would be very few failures,
and success would attend all to much
greater extent AT far as possible the
standard of qualification has been raised
to that recommended by the Department,
and hence the number Of applicants re-
jccted is greater.
Having been informed that certain
teachers holding certificates from me bad
used very exulting and disloyal langtage
in reference to the assassination Of the
President, | published card in the
county papers stating my purpose towithi
hold certificates from any who had acted
in this manner. a
Inasmuch as the form of certificate now
requires the superintendent to'certify to
the good moral character of teachers, it
| seemed to me that such conduct indicated
defect in moral training, and justified
me in the course pursued In accordance
with this decision, hape eDnullcd the
certificate of Que teacher. ~.
| VIsiTATIoSs.@The work Of visiting
was prosecuted from the opening until
the closing of the school term with little
loss of time. In all, $50 schools wero
visited, leaving a larger number unvistcd
than there was last year. This was ow-
ing in part to these being closed at the
time of my visit. Directors accompani-
cd me in some of these visits, and could
notice have been given of the time Of
| nv entrance into township, donbbtless
there would have been much larger
number. very much regretted that
could not thus notify many who
would have cheerfully accompanied me.
To 90 to the residences Of Directors, in
most cases considerable distance from
the school house, would be attended with
too great loss of time, ard necessarily
make my visits still more brief. | am
grati6ed to say, that in some districts, the
directors visit the schools frequently, and
in others, the district secretaries are per-
| forming regular yisitations. In the great
re number of the districts. however, there
is want of interest, in this, both by di-
rsctors and citizens.
DISTRICT INsTITUTEs.-Whilst III a
few districts, Institutes were sustained
with considerable interest and advantage,
in the majority, they were Of little use,
and in some they were entirely ignored.
| prohahlv IL ia az we'll that attendance up-