Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-06-26
Gdnfattpaal.
ANNUAL REPORT of the SCHOOLS
OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

| III
! EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY.
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 year. This viii be particularly no
ticeable in the number and kind of houses
built, and the care exercised in the selection
of sites for the same; number of schools fur
nished with apparatus; increase of salary
paid to teachers; number of teachers who
attended county and district institutes; bet
! ter qualification of teachers and increase of
interest on the part of the public The sys-
TEN is power that is slowly but surely
! overcoming its enemies here as wen as else
where, Public opinion is fast becoming ed
ueated to the fact that on the success of
these schools depend the strength and glory
] of our commonwealth. 1t is true that here
and there we still find croaker who makes
hoarse noise because the light is break
ing, but the great majority of our people
are warmly attached to the schools, and are
| giving freely and literally of their monies
toward their support.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
Little change has been made in these
Bedford and Woodbeny have added two
additional teachers, and Rainsburg has sep
arated her pupils into two classes 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 the schools during the com
ing year. Each year more fully shows the
advantages these schools afford their pupils
and we would again urge their speedy adop-
ton at Pleasantville, St Clairsyille, Saxton
and Stonerstown.
HOUSES AND GROUNDS.
Twelve new houses-eight more that last
year-were built. One in Bedford tp. one
in COlerain; two in Cumberland Valley; one
in Harrison; one in HopeweIl; one in Mon
roe; one IN st. Clair; three in Southampton
and one in Middle Woodberry. In nearly
every instance particular attention was paid
to location" 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 a
sufficient amount of grounds, and had the
same properly decided to the respective
boards This plain duty has been greatly
neglected heretofore The houses built in
Bedford Cumberland Valley, Harrison and
Middle Woodberry townships deserve special
notice. They have been built with view
to the future as well as to the present wants
of the districts, and are in respect TO size
and general arrangement among the best in
the county. The Woodbery house is a mod
el. The spirit manifested by the boards of
Cumberland Valley and Southampton is
especially commendable They built five
new houses during the past year; have sold
out five more to be erected during the pres
ent summer, and are taking initiatory steps
toward replacing all the ''old log with
good houses. While we speak well of these
we cannot but condemn the carelessness and
shortsighted policy shown in building the
house in Colerain The whole building to-
gether with the furniture is total failure.
Think of it, doors planed on the one side,
rough on the other; benches and desks, that
fall to pieces after three loeeks using, and
windows fastened, so that they cannot be
lowered. The directors should never have
taken the job off the builder hands.
In Napier, Sehensburg, Monroe and
Union arrangements have been made to
build new houses during the coming year.
We look for some model buildings here.
Thus we see that while few townships are
still willing to continue to occupy miserable
log houses, in the majority new hou-
ses are needed-as may be seen by referring
to statistical report, y they are making the
proper effort to improve.
FURNITURE AND APPARATUS.
With new houses comes improved furni-
ture 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 Pierce 5 Magnetic Globes
at cost of about Sl80OOO. These were
purchased for the schools of Bedford, Broad
| Top, Coledale, Londonderry, Liberty, Har-
rison, Napier, Middle Woodbelry, Monroe,
/ Southampton, st. Clair, Saxton, South
| Woodberry and West Providence 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 hun
/ dred and ffty-two have outline Maps; one
hundred and fifteen, globes, charts and
maps, and ajc-t one hundred and ninety
have blackboard surface. There are, how
ever, only thirteen that are lceH supplied
with apparatus. The directors have mani
tested willingness, far beyond that hereto
fore exhibited, to supply the schools with
/ apparatus.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SALARIES OF
TEACHERS.
There has been change in the average
qualification of teachers. In point Of
scholarship, the teachers are steady i'm
proving. Last year the average grade of
certificates was 2.52. This year, although
eighty per cent cf the applicants were ex-
amiued intvyo additional branches United
/ States History and School Economy. and
although the examinations were fully as
rigid as those of last year, the average grade
is 2,29. One year ago, only one teacher in
the County came up to the requirements OF
the Professional Certificate; now eight are
teaching, who passed therequisite examina-
ton, and attained Professional Certificates
and quite number more are preparing to
receive the honor. Wages are advancing.
The reports from few townships will show
this. Last year the average wages in Liberty