Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-08-29
p,,ort offhe 90. superintendent.

Graded Schools are six
Graded schools in the county. Tn,
frue method of grading, however, il
not strictly observed. A standard
qualification for promotion should bC
required before such change be made
bnt as this is not done, of necessity
the classification must be defective
There is a building in progress in
Osceola, which, when completed, will
be one of the finest in the county and
the schools of that place become
graded. The question of grading il
being also agitated in Lumber City.
School Houses and Gr0unds.-We
have 144 school houses, containing
l47 schools. OF this number 27 are
totally unfit for such purposes, and
comparing the old with the new style
even this number should be much
increased. Nine new houses were
erected during the past year. Two
in Graham, three in Woodward, one
in Penn, one in Osceola, one in Becca
ria and one in Bell. They reflect
credit upon the respective districts
Very few houses are furnished with
the proper out-buildings-most o.
them have only coal or wood houses
Generally, the grounds are insufficient
and lily adapted for the proper amuse
ment and exercise 1t is hoped that
patrons may soon manifest disposi
tion to have the school house and
adjoining grounds such as may prove
pleasant and cheerful to the pupils,
Furniture and apparatus. = The
new school houses were furnished
with good homemade furniture. In
this respect all the modern buildings
surpass those built five or six years
ago. Those houses reported unfit ano
some others, have miserable furniture
many of them having desks and seats
entirely too high, without supports
for the backs of the pupils For the
convenience, comfort and health oi
the pupils, a reform in this respect
cannot come too soon. Fifty-eight
houses, under existing circumstances
may be classed as well supplied with
suitable furniture, 40 with insufficient
and of inferior quality, and 40 with
injurious. Seven schools well provi
ded with apparatus, 1O1 partially and
SO wholly withoutany Much remains
to be done in this important work
One hundred and ten schools have
insufficient black board surface, anc
even much of this unfit for use. AL
the districts, but three, have a diver
sity of textbooks, rendering classifi
cation almost impossible This has 0
retarding influence upon the progress
of the schools, heretofore not fully
realized by directors and patrons
There is, however, a fair prospect
now of having uniform series adopt
ed throughout the county. This will
remove an evil that has become very
burdensome to many. We trust the
directors viii strictly adhere to the
law and cause an immediate change
as it will give less dissatisfaction thar
a gradual one.
Qualifications and Salaries of Teach
erS.-It affords me much pleasure tC
speak Of the great advancement made
by many OF our teachers during the
past year. A large majority of them
are young and of little or 10 export
ence, but in short time by Their
untiring zeal and energy will become
first class teachers. Too much praise
cannot be given to those who thus
realize their responsible positions. In
few instances incompetent teachers
have been employed because better
could not be secured. The salaries
have been increased only in a few
districts, but not proportionate to th'
wages in other employments.
Methods Of Observation-Disclosures is ;
disposition manifested by many teach
ers, to instruct thoroughly, having
the pupils not only understand, bu
reproduce what they learn. A few
however, still adhere to the old man
ner of hearing recitations, in a 'par
rot-like method"
Visits Of DirectOrs-In numbe
of districts regular monthly visit
were made by directors and patrons
while in few, visitation was entirely
neglected. ] find frequent visits L
be of good effect 1t stimulates thu
teachers TO labor more earnestly anC
faithfully, and renders the pupils NOR
obedient and studious.
Educational work done by Superintendent
Conscious of the responsible posi-
tion, l entered upon its duties will
no little degree of anxiety; and 4
add to this, ] found most of tn,
prominent and experienced teacher
engaged in other and more lucrativ,
employments-leaving the schools, il
this respect, even in worse condition
than they were before the establish
ment OF the County Superintendency
and TO be supplied by those who wer,
inexperienced and poorly qualified
The necessity of qualifying them 70,
their position was obvious, and acting
upon this thought, / opened, on thu
4th of June last, local Norma
School, in Curwensville, which con
tinued for II weeks. was assisted
by Rev. A. II. Sembower. Seventy
five students attended, Of whom fort,
taught last winter with few excep
tions, all of these, am glad TO sa.
met with entire success. From thes'
results / was induced to open anOthe
school this spring to continue twent.
weeks. / secured the services o
Prof l. S. Geist, late Professor 0
Natural Science in the State Norma
School, at Millersville, Penn'a., VIII
A Il.