The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-06-26
The 8edfpra Gazette,
ANNTAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOLS
OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

EdLtcdtlO2luC FTO9reSS IN Lne COtHuY.
A careful examination of the facts
given in the following report, will
show that the common schools of our
county have, in many respects, made
considerable progress during the past
wear. This will be particularly nOticea-
BILE in the number and kind of houses
built, in the care exercised in the Sc
lection of sites for the same; number of
schools furnished with apparatus in
crease of salary paid to teachers; num-
Der of teachers who attended county
and district institutes better qualifica-
ton of teachers and increase Ofinterest
on the part of the public. The system
is a power that is slowly but surely
overcoming its enemies, here as well
as elsewhere. Public opinion is fast
becoming educated to the fact that on
the success of these schools depend the
strength and glory of our common
wealth. 1t is true that here and there
we still find a croaker who is "making
a hOarse noise" because "the light is
breaking" but the great majority of
our people are warmly attached to the
schools and are giving freely and lib
orally of their monies toward their
support.
Grdded Schools.
Little change has been made in these;
Bedford and Woodbury. have added
two additional teachers, and Rainsburg
has separated her pupils into two class
es according to age and progress.
There are now four graded schools,
employing thirteen teachers. Several
other districts are preparing to grade
one or more of their schools during the
coming year. Each year more fully
shows the advantages these schools af-
ford their pupils, and we would again
urge their speedy adoption at Pleas
antville, st. Clairsville, SaXton and
| StOnerstOwn.
Houses and Grounds.
Twelve new houses-eight more
than last year-Were built. One in
Bedford one in Colerain; two in
Cumberland valley one in Harrison; ;
one in Hopewell one in Monroe; one
in st. Clair; three in Southampton and
one in Middle Woodbury.. In nearly
every instance, particular attention
was paid to ''Iocation" in building the
above houses. Directors availing
themselves of the power given them
by the late supplement to the school
law, procured eligible sites with suf
fcient amount of grounds, and had
the same properly decided to the re-
spective boards. This plain duty has
been greatly neglected heretofore. The
houses built in Bedford, Cumberland
Valley, Harrison and Middle Wood
bury deserve special notice. They
have been built with view to the flu
ture, as we'll as to the present wants
of the districts and are in respect to
size and general arrangement among
the best in the county. The Woodbury.
house is a model. The spirit manifes-
ted by the boards of Cumberland valley
and Southampton is especially COM
mendable. They built five new houses
during the past year; have sold out
five more to be erected during the
present summer, and are taking initia-
tory steps toward replacing all the
cold log" with good houses. While
we speak well of these, we cannot but
condemn the carelessness and short
sighted policy shown in building the
house in COlerain. The whole build
ing together with the furniture is to-
tai failure. Think of it, doors, planed
on the one side, rough on the other
benches and desks, that fall to pieces
after three lCeek's using, and windows
fastened, so that they cannot be lower
ed. The directors should never have
taken the job off the builders hands.
In Napier, Schellsburg, Monroe and
Union, arrangements have been made
to build new houses during the coming
year. We look for some model build
ings here. Thus we see that while a
few townships are still willing to con-
tinue to occupy miserable log houses,
in the majOrity-where new houses
are needed-as may be seen by refer
ring to statistical report" they are
making the proper effort to improve.
Furniture and apparatus.
With new houses comes improved
furniture. Two OF the rooms in the
graded schools of Bedford, together |
with all the new houses, save one,
were supplied with good furniture.
That put into the second grammar
school, Bedford, is the best in the
county. One hundred and twelve
schools were supplied with Peirce's |
Magnetic Globes at cost of about |
$500. These were purchased for
the schools of Bedford, Broad Top,
Coaldale, Londonderry, Liberty, Har-
rison, Napier, Middle Woodbury.,
Monroe, Southampton, ST. Clair, Sax
ton, South Woodbury. and West Provi
dence. Sixty schools were supplied
with primary charts. There are now
only six schools in the county wholly |
without apparatus, and these are the
most backward schools we have. One
hundred and ffty-twO have outline
Maps; one hundred and fifteen, globes,