Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-08-07


will be in greater demand among teachers
Notwithstanding the facts enumerated some
progress is being made in the county. The
School Boards of Tuscarora, Turbett, Walk
er, MiiiiintOwn, Patterson and Greenwood
increased their teachers salaries last fall some
five dollars per month.
The visitation of schools by directors is
not as well attended to as could be desired,
except in Tuscarara and Lack where that
duty is performed by the Secretary acting as
District Superintendent; in these two districts
they are visited regularly once a month, and
this amount of regular supervision is quite
apparent in the schools.
EDUCATIONAL WORK DONE.
Twenty one public and six private eXami-
nations were held, and nincty-fve applicants
were examined; ninety-three received the
provisional certificate, and one the pro-
iessional at my second visit 10 the chools.-
Two were rejected. The average grade oi
certificate two and one-eigiith. The methods
of examination principally adopted were
oral, except where the oral and written had
TO be combined. Some directors were pres
ent at nearly all the public examinations, but
very few citizens. A better attendance of
citizens at the public examination would add
greatly to their interest.
All tho schools were visited once and eighty
six twice, few were visited three times; the
reminder had closed before reached them
al my second visit The average time spent
at each visit two and Il half hours. | com
menced The visitation Of schools on the first
Of October, but could not continue it regu
| larly in consequence of the schools not all
being open until the thirteenth Of NoYcnbc r
and from this latter date until the middle
Of March, notwithstanding the severity OF
the weather during the greater part of the
winter, | lost but SIX days, then IN conse-
quencc Of bad roads, and from iEdispo-
stion. One hundred and ninety visits in all
were made, and the distance Travelled in max.
ing the examinations and visitations was
twei, hundred and thirty miles.
At my first visit l generally allowed the
teachers TO pursue their usual course-heard
sometimes a few recitations in some of the
schOol5-noted the methods of instruction,
anu at the close pointed out to the teacher
any errors | supposed to exist, and made
such suggestions as seemed necessary At
the second visit seldom heard any of the
classes unless requested by the tcacher-pre-
! ierring at this time TO witness the methods of
instruction and note the improvement that
had been made. l generally spoke a few
words of encouragement and advice TO the
school, and offered additional suggestions pr
vatelv to the teacher if deemed advisable be-
fore leaving. 1t was very gratifying at my
second visit to find that many of the sug-
gcstions at the former one had been well Ia
ken and practiccd accordingly.
The District Institutes is not on the increase
but seven were organized and partially at
tended during the term. We are inclined TO
think that they were not all a success. Bet
ter schools were generally formed. and more
life in l.Cth school anu teacher in districts
that had II properly organized and regularly
attended District Institute than elsewhere
Public sentiment to some extent, is unfavor-
duIt ~ illC bi>tiItl lHSiitutt.
is ergcd that it takes two days from the pu-
pills each month without going any cqIiva-
lent in return. 1t is not considered that the
teacher to engage i'll the exercises of a prop
ery conducted District Institute will be re-
qured TO make greater efforts for self i'm
provcment which must result in benefit To
the schools.
Two County Institutes were held, one in the
west end in November, and one in the east
end in February. Neither of the two were
entire successes. The first, though not well at
tended by the teachers in its immedlrte vi
cinity, was tolerably interesting meeting,
and Il majority Of the teachers who. did at
tend took an active part and manifested quite
an interest in the exercises.
The County Association convened at Mex
leo, January 24lh, and continued in session
three days, and was probably the most sue
ccssful educational meeting ever held III the
county 1t was attended by seventy-five
teachers Lectures were delivered on the
common school system by Prof j. 7. Wick
ersham, on the True Aim of the ieacher by
Hon. C. r. Coburn, Instruction was given in
rhetoaic by Prof. J. II. Shumaker, Of Acade-
mia. in School Government by Col. Geo. r.
Mcfarland, in reading " Mr. Mohler, Sup'i.
of Miflin county, in ElocutioE by Hiss E.
Stetson. A paper was read on District In
sttutes by Mr. A. Baum.
rnrc ATIoNAI WORK DONE BY OTHER AGEN-
CIES
Private schools are taught in a majority of
the houses during the summer season. These
schools are generally taught by females, and
the lcnr,h OF term from two to three months. /,
These summer schools are adapted more par
tic;llarly to the wants OF beginners than to
those more advanced or aiming to the quail
fca,ions and training for teachers. Hence a |
,,,.pt is here felt for such schools tor the
special preparation of teachers. Last sum
mer however there were two private schools
for this purpose, one in PerrysTilie taught by
INV predecessor Mr.. II. B. Zimmerman, and