American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-07-25

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the list of accepted teachers.
A creditable, or even excellent exam
ination is not sufficient criterion, for
those who have passed such an examine
ton sometimes prove to be very inferior
teachers. Hence it is necessary that the
teacher should be seen in the school room.
The opinion expressed in foamer re.
ports, of female teachers, has undergone
no change by the experience of the past
year. A good female teacher is equal in
our common schools, to good male teach
er. That there should be more failures
among females, is reasonable, because
they are three times as many, they are
younger, and besides, must labor under
the great disadvantage of deeply rooted
prejudice which is s,ofteutimes carefully
instilled into the minds of the children.
Other things being equal they are quite
as we'll qualified for cur schools as males
Still it is important that male teachers
should be retained, and every iuducement
offered to secure as mansHas possible to
devote themselves permanently to the
work.
VIsITATIoNs.-An honest effort was
made to visit all the schools. To do so
not day must be lost, and all the schools
must be found open. To prosecute such
a work, in such a Winter as the last one,
and over sach roads as we had, through a
period of four months, is scarcely reason
able. Though requiring short rest my
self, yet would have worried through in
order 10 reach all the schools, if mercy to
my faithful horse had not demanded for
him a weeks rest.
In all, 1876 schools were visited, being
92 per cent of the whole These visits
averaged about 1t hour in duration -
This was sufficiently long to accomplish
the chief end of school visitations, which
is to obtain knowledge of the teachers
ability in the school room, to make such
suggestions as may be required and to
gather statistics. To do this it is need
less to re main half day in one school as
in that case, scarcely half the schools
would be visited If those persons who
find fault with the Superintendent when
he fails to visit few schools, or when,
for some cause, the visits may be brief,
would consider these facts, the unreason-
ableness of their complaints would be ap-
parent.
DISTRICT INsTITUTEs.-In seven dis
tricts, institutes were held with partial
success. In many districts the schools
we're kept open Oh Saturday. AS this was
violation of the law, | Immediately
drew the attention of the School Boards
to it, through the public prints. In some
cases the practice was discontinued but
in others the law was disregarded through
the whole of the school term. Had di-
rectors insisted on requiring 22 days for
the school month, erclusire of Saturday,
larger number Of districts would have
established institutes, as many teachers
would have preferred attending an insti-
tute to protractiug their school term
nearly two weeks longer and had the
schools not been open on Saturday, the
Superintendent would have had nearly
two weeks longer time for visiting, and
would have been able to see every school
COUNTY INsTITUTE.-F For several years
prior to my entrance upon the duties of
my office, no County Institute existed.
The first two years of my term were the
most anxious and dreadful years Of the
rebellion. TO undertake the orgauza.
ton of an Institute under such circum-
stances, and especially when there were
scarcely any male teachers, was thought
inadvisable. The next year the dark
cloud Of war passed away many teach
ers returned and the hearts of all were
made glad. This was felt to be an aus
picious time to commence. A conven-
tion was called, an organization effected,
and one meeting of the Institute held in
the early part of November. This, al.
though thinly attended, exceeded beyond
expectation, and, it is believed, good was
done. 1t was but beginning. The de-
velopment of this beginning to full
grown, vigorous and influential County
Institute now depends upon my successor
and the teachers of the county.
RETRosPECT.-As this report closes
my official connection with the School
Department and the Common Schools of
this county. retrospect of the past three
years will not be improper.
1t has already been remarked, in an
other place, that there are but few visi-
bic marks of progress. On entering
upon the duties of this Office. as friend
of Education and the Common School