St. Mary's gazette., 1867-03-21
it prevented attention 70 condition Of .chool


r clcnsion. resignation, end removal from
.hc County, but one member remained,
aud. of course. the work of supervision
suffered Tie three vscarcies we're at
length f.led by the appointment OF Messrs.
Albert Young, Gso.GeI. SpalGing and
Edward s. Aheil. gentlemen we'll qualified
and with h,srts for the work. The
Board, thus composed. began their work
iety isspecting tho deld of operations which
VA. found as follows: Thirty school
houses, few Of which we're ,olerably com.
Portable. but the majority uu61 70 Be occu-
pied sspeci.lly in inclemertweather. Not
one had ruisable seats or desks. and as to
appliances Indispensable TO the work
Of tesshing. there were none. save
here and there solitary black oo.rd-a
sable witness of the exit Of 9. ..,ao.-but sure
harbinger of approschir.s order.
With such hcu'r... how can the system
tslhl Its pror -,se7 How can children be
educated "a houses uncomfortable and With
out zoe necessary furniture and means OF
: instruction. And yet, tow can the Board
supply the want? Tnc funds at its dispo-
sal ars not enorgh to keep schools open
during the scholastic year, repair dilap'-
dated bouses and build the rev ones re-
quir.d. We shall be forced to suspend
I.chools for 1T least one term. IN order 70
have funds to repair and build: Indeed.
some four or Eve schools are now urgently
needed in a, many neighborhoods, 10 each
Of which are some 25 or 80 children Of
school going age but there j. no house IN
which school can be kept. l suggest that
the Legislature authorize our County Com
missioners to levy a small County tax for
the purpose Of building repairing. aud
furnishing school houses | know st.
Mary's has suffered much in loss Of prop
erty BY the war, and therefore, l merely
advise permission in the matter. | am not
in favor Of local District tax, as some
neiyhborhoods. through penuriousnass or
Indifference. might be content with house
and furniture unit for their purposes. |
am happy to say that teachers, very gem
orally, show increasing interest in their
work. They are not only attentive to the
more general duties Of their calling. but
to those details which mark the good teach-
er. and are necessary 10, successful instr ac1
ton. They are getting to understand tie
system and the duties it prcscrlbes.-
Hence there is decided improvement iE
the schools in respect Of order, disciyfne.
and classification Of scholars. Their teach
ing is of more scientific character. They
attach importance to principles. and are
striving to teach them to their pupils. l
notice decided progress in bo.h teachers
aud scholars, and am hopeful Of still fur
thcs advance in tho right direction.
Nothing can we+ Be more evident than
that the PRESENT compensated supervisor
is indispensable to the efficiency OF Public
school.. It is admitted by those general
" whose children are interested IN the
ma ter. The supervisors at these visits
learn the entire condition Of the school,
how the scholars arc progressing, aud tho.
method Of instruction the discipline OF tho
school, :nd the Classification of the pupils
whether there be enough Of hooks and Of
the right kind and, the condition Of the
house and furniture. At these visits the
teachers receive friendly advice aud dircc-
ton az to the organization aud manage
meut of their schools aud, indeed, upon
whatever, connects with their Calling
Children too, are addressed upon the i'm
portance Of education, and urged 30 rcgu-
isrity of attendance and diligence in study.
&c. The good effects of these visits are
ssen ic the greater interest Of teacher,
scholar and parent Surely tho good cf-
f,cts of the visits Of the President, Com
missioner., and visitors to the schools arc
too manifest for any on@ to doubt them
Commissioners visits to the schools arc, in
nv opinion, the essence of the efficiency Of
the sys:cm.
A: it regards High School we have,
as vet. don. nothing We have not the
uecess ary funds There is. hswcver.
am happy to say, 10 present necessity tor
one. as the higher wants of this and tho
adjacent Coahty are fully met by Char
lotte Hall School," located in village OF
| the same name in the upper part of this
County. From time almost lmmemorisi
this school has had reputation second to
no other of the same grade. Ni~ays ia
vored with an able Board Of supervision.
and a Faculty Of rare distinction, 1t has
| had to sa9 the kgst, IT'S share OF success,
and has educated many who have attained
c,nincnco in the several pursuits OF life
= Justly the pride of the peop.c OF tins
whole section, and whether it may ever
connect moro intimately with our new sys-
tenn. time alone will tell. Some of our
best teachers we get from It,
And now, Doctor, you have my Report.
7 have labored hard, for my field is q Ia
borious one. My colleagues have done
their duty and bear record 70 their inter
90. and xeal God knows my heart that
f! i, is unsel6shly in this work. and know
tha, my imperfect efforts have not been
equal to my interest in the cause. My
intercourse with you has been pleasant, and
know tia. you. too, have labored with =
zeal worthy of this great work
! JAMES BrSTISG.
I'residont Of the Board.