Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-28
For The REPORTED.
SCHOOL VISITATION.

Directors are required by law to
"Visit the schools once month" and
"record the results for future ref
erence, and to guide the action of the
board. 1t is fact that comparative
ly few of our schools receive that
systematic visitation which the law
contemplates Our late State Super
intendent says truly that "no duty
of the Director can be more benef.
cial to the schools than the one here
enjoined if we'll and faithfully done"
1t is, however, seldom "well done,"
and frequently Lot done at all. Di-
rectors excuse themselves with the
remark that they get no pay for their
time, and cannot afford it. But the
law provides that the Secretary may
do this duty for them, and be paid
therefor, so that even this excuse
falls to the ground Our schools can
never be what they ought to be 80
long as the majority manifest so lit
tie interest in them. There should
be a stronger sympathy between pa
irons and teacher feeling that
their interests are common interests.
Frequent visitation of the schools by
parents and Directors would prove
of incalculable advantage to all con-
cerned. If Directors faithfully per.
form this duty they will be prepared
to perform the other duties of their
Office far Smore intelligently They
are the legal employers of teachers.
How else, than by inspecting the
work, can they know that those they
employ are faithful to their trust
How else can they compare one school
with an other, and Judge of the rela-
tive 1c0rth of teachers-their ability
to govern-their aptness to teach?
How else can they become acquaint-
ed with the condition and necessities
of ca h school SO as to put the right
teacher in the right place? Most of
the mistakes and failures in our
schools might be avoided if Directors
would visit them, and thus learn their
wants and peculiarities.
Visitation is also a benefit to the
scholars. It awakens a desire for
the appreciation of others, thus prov
ing check upon the wayward, and
stimulating the tardy to increased eff
fort. This desire for the good opin-
ion Of superiors is part of every
child's nature, and the skillful teach
er knows full well the value of fre.
quent appeals to it. Let scholars see
both Directors and parents interested
iii their progressively to approve
every effort III the right direction, and
they have powerful motive to dill,
hgence and good behavior. And
what an incentive to faithfuIness and
selfdenial has that teacher whose
patrons thus show their desire for his
success. The teacher needs such an
incentive. If for three long months
no one visits the schools, or inquiries
after it, what inference can the teach
er draw but that nobody cares ? And
if no one else cares, why should he ?
For twenty years past l have been
connected with schools as scholar,
&c, yet l cannot recall a single visit
during that time by a clergyman. In
looking over Reports in my district
find but one such recorded during the
last six years. Do not these facts
show 1" lost opportunities " for doing
good? Whes there is proper solic-
itude for the education of the young,
it will manifest itself in some way
Where schools are not visited educa-
tional interests are at lOU tide.
Jan. 1867. ALPHA BETA.