The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-06

after the age of fifteen years, the entire
inadequacy of the present length of term
will more clearly appear.
Many of the evils under which the
system labors, arise from a lack of inter
est on the part of parents.
Of course my remarks In regard to the
negligence Of parents, must be understood
In n general sense, as there are many
creditable exceptions-many fathers and
mothers who are laboring faithfully and
efficiently for the cause Of education, by
cooperating with the teachers and pro-
noting home instruction and discipline.
1t cannot, however, be denied that with
many the injunction "Train up child in
the way heshould CO. seems to have become
obsolete; and, though they readily admit
the propriety, if not the necessity of edu-
cation, yet they habituaily detain their
children from school for trihing causes.
In the southern portion of the county,
our population is engaged In developing
the immense deposits of coal and iron
which uuderlie that region and in the
northern parts, the business of numbering
claims much of the attention OF the peo'
pie And therefore, as laborers were
scarce, employment for boys plenty and
compensation good, the result has been,
that in many cases, young men and boys
have been sent to work who should have
continued attending school. Such is yet
the case at Johnstown and vicinity
Many of the boys of this locality are sent
to work in the mines or some department.
Of the immense iron manufactory located
here, at about the age Of fourteen and
not few even before that age, who sell
dom have an opportunity of education
afterwards.
the evils consequent upon this state OF
affairs were in some measure mitigated, by
the establishment of two night schools
here last winter-one in Johnstown by
the directors and the other in MIllville
borough by the Cambria Iron Company.
| These efforts to improve the mental con-
dition of the juvenile employees Of the
works here, were attended with success
! and the community owes debt of graft
| tude to the originators and supporters of
these schools.
In concluding this subject, allow me to
| remark, that it Is absolutely essential to
the complete success of the system, that
| parents should properly understand and
! appreciate that one great duty of the pa
rental relation-that duty which includes
and oversbadows all others-the duty OF
giving to their children complete moral,
mental and physical education.
TEACHERS.
There has been an increase Of eleven
! (11( male teachers during the year and a
corresponding decrease in the number OF
females employed. 1t was expected that
| the number of male teachers would mate
rally increase after the close Of the war
! This expectation was not realized, as but
few of the teachers who entered the army
returned to the profession of teaching
after coming back. This result was, in
some measure, accomplished by the mad
equacy CT the salaries offered for teaching
A class was established last summer
for. the improvement of the young teach
ers and the preparation of those intending
to enter the profession. 1t was attended
with reasonable degree of success.
In some districts there is a prejudice
against female teachers which has done
much to retard the progress of the schools
This has, to some extent, increased
during the year, most likely for the fol
a
left the profession to join the army, il
the first years of The war, it became nee
essary to employ a large number of fe
males. These, unfortunately, could no
be obtained without admitting into th
profession a large pum5er of entirel,
inexperienced and not over we'll qualified
young ladies' Some of these failed, no
because they were females, but becaus'
they were not properly qualified. Hac
an equal number of males Of like age
and qualifications been employed, it i
highly probable that the result, Sc far a
actual success is concerned, would hav
been the same.
, 1t must, however, be admitted, tha
there is some cause to be dissatisfied Will
our teachers. This remark must of cours
be understood with many particular excep p
tions We have some good and faithful
teachers, ten (10) of whom received pro
fessional certificates during the year
Manv others made credita5le improve
ment. We have, however, a large elias
who make no effort TO improve. 1t is t
be hoped that the services of the latte
can soon be dispensed with.
The principal points of deficiency o
the part of our teachers are the follow
ing:
!, 1st Want Of age.
I'd. Want of experience.
3d. Deficient education.
4th. Incorrect ideas of eoucation.
In proof of the first point, l need onl
, refer 10 the fact, that there were emrloyc
Surincr rho vaor % teachers who Wer