The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-08-23

perhaps 80 pronounced as to be unintGl-
ligiblc, or questions in geography SO
lroI1uaR that the examined loses his
understanding entirely in his attempts
to recollcct whore wermaids are found,
where dolphins display their various
hucs, or in what latitude The lIottcntots !
reside. SO they concluded to give the |
young man chance for iow days TO
prepare for examination
"School commenced - next day; a
few calls from the directors convinced !
them that it would he proper to Give
! the teacher a formal examination, as
we'll as a formal dismissal. He appear
cd in school so deficient in the first ru
dimcnts, so far tcliind the scholars, and
so much Of laughing stock among
them, that the idea of his tcachiay was
absurd. Accordingly he was examined,
ana so profoundly ignorant was he found
in all that portaincd to a school teacher,
his rejection was immediate. 70 the
inquiry " how came you to offer your
self as teacher, whom you cannot write
a single sentence, nor spell the words
that compose it ?" he answered that he
" had been three months at the Acado,
my in Alfred n. Y and his teacher
there told him that inc did not think
him qualified to bear examination in
York state, but he could take school
in Pennsylvania, and would answer
there" The young man, who came
ponuiIcss, was furnished with money for
expenses home, with the admonition
that his advisers who had told him to
colho into Pennsylvania, had wronged
him, and that it would be more reputa-
bic for him to chop togs than to chop
t2yjc. Ridgway was thereafter seldom
troubled with such applicants.
This circumstance has been dwet up
on more lengthily than perhaps is nc.
cessary but when taking into consid-
,, Grafton, the importance of conducting
the public schaos in the Countrywide
carc;ulnca5 that should be exercised in
the employment OF teachers, TO whom
q. are entrusted the early education of the
children, ii is worthy of comment.
There Is no time in life when correct
impressions as to language, spelling,
; reading pronunciation, Nc., than in the
, first steps Of education. Errors in
spelling, uncouth accent in pronuncia-
ton, a drawing manner Of reading in
, ,ho pupils first advent into school, will
cling to them in after life, and is seldom
entirely eraiicated after years OF study
and application in the higher institu-
q, tions Of learning.
Since the establishment of the Com
, mon School System" in Pennsylvania,
the law provides for, and if strictly ad-
=, hcred to, prevents in great measure,
y the cmplOymentofin incompetent teachers.
: The school law of Pennsylvania has
been so often amended since its first cs
tablishment, that its first founders can
-. hardly recognize their parentage.
Our Common Schools have become
% in fact, free schools, founded upon a sys.
TEN OF taxation and direction that cx
cmpts all volition, judgment, or active
> participation by the parents of the chill
; drcn, 1t may be urged that as this is
r free country, the right of suffrage en-
-, ioyed by every man in the selection Of
- school directors is in their hands, anC
y they are not under the necessity of elec
e ting such officers as will disregard thcil
>, their duties. But experience is con
:, stantly demonstrating the fact that the
!. Office Of director Of Common Schools il
- more often sought after, and election
>. ccred for, for the purpose OF giving pat
| = e., a., i,
aud style Of a schoolhouse in close prox
=, unity to their property or a irieud's con
~, vcnicncc, than to the necessity and ad
-, yantagcs Of schools in public point o
4 view. Thus we are as likely 20 choos
+ unqualified directors as previously t,
=. select unqualified teachers. An apath,
- IS cugendcred among parents by shifting
- all the responsibilities upon the direc
l. tors an article cheaply procured is al
., ways cheaply valued, and the reijoa
! proprietor of many children, whose ed
n ucation is fully provided for by the law
- of the State, deems it unnecessary t.
bcstow any attention upon a subject Sc
fraught with consequence to his of
spring. 70 place a man in situation
i takos from him all action in public al
"a fairs, takes from him the responsibility,
l. as father to his children in their elacG
i9 tioa, he soon relaPses into carelessnes
III u in the matter, and finally into indiifer
j.; ence. But let it be understood tha
~ there is something dtrcct for him to pay
~ however small the amount may be, an,
Ct he becomes NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is
a person, and will .1;el as having a riga
u to question and criticise the directors
u and the teachers Of his children. 1t !
~ =; not the wealthy x-payor, nor the pol
~ ~ tician who raise the greater number G
- children. Since it has become unfash
VI ionablc and Mcthusian to rear q iamil
a' " offspring, is duties have been left t
- the poorer and Gasophiaicated elias: