The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-06-26

ltlClo, lllOuSll VIC may llo0 hdCISA 7oAAlC
of our teachers.
Educational Work done by other Agen-
cies.
Thirty-three private Schools were open
during the year. Twelve hundred
and forty pupils attended these, en-
ploying forty-one teachers, at cost of
five thousand eight hundred and
thirty-five dollars. AS these schools
were, with a few exceptions, conduct
ed by our abIest teachers, they did good
work. We have few private schools
open during the term of the public
schools, hence, we do not feel that
spirit of antogonism between the two,
prevalent in some counties. All work
together in perfect harmony for the
common good.
Our County Normal School is still
literally patronized and supplies in a
measure the growing want of a higher
institution Of learning. One hundred
and forty students attended, eighty
five of whom taught during the year.
The school was under my direct super
intendence, assisted by Prof. R. A. Nc
Clure of Chambersburg, j. NJ. Rey-
noldS and Miss F. NJ. Haly of the Mil
lersville Normal School, and Miss
Maggie McCIeary of Bedford. The
Rainsburg Academy, under the charge
of Prof. J. w. Hughes ; the school at
Woodbury., taught by j. G. Kreich-
baum and w. G. Smith, and the School
at New Paris, conducted by J. A. Song
ster, all did good work in preparing
teachers. "The press is free" We
need but ask and the editors give us
space for any educational items.
Obstacles in the I0dy Of Improvements.
We have noticed number of fea
lures in our schools that show advance
ment, but we have yet to look at some
of the obstacles in the way of progress.
Among these, are reirregular attendance;
want of thorough classification want
of public interest; shortness of school
term frequent changeof teachers; en-
ployment. of incompetent teachers; neg
lect on the part of many boards Of dir
ectors to pay teachers in proportion to
their qualification, and heavy rate of
Of taxation. The remedy for the first
three evils lies almost entirely in the
hands of the teacher. Our skilful
teachers readily overcome these, and
unless the first has become chronic, the
teacher who understands how to use
the incentives at his command, will
not fail to effect cure. We want
more efficient teachers. 1t has been
said that "any one may teach the high
est departments; but to teach well the
elements requires mdSter," and that,
"the merit ofcOnveying easily to others
true and simple notions, is much great
er than is commonly supposed for eX-
perience proves how rarely this is to be
met with" We know the truth Of the
above. Look at the record in our
county and then judge from the ma
ture Of things how many "n1asters"
we have. Last year, of the whole num-
ber employed, fifty-nine had had no
experience and seventy had taught less
than one year. This year we employ
plOyed forty-five raw recruits and sew
enty-two who had not seen one years
service. Each year about 80 per cent
of our teachers seek employment in
some other occupation. Their places
are filled by young men aud women
who labor with us for a short time,
many of them zealously, with a deter
mination to succeed, and then, when
they are prepared to teach, quit the pro-
fession. Now why this constant
change? Simply because the term is
too short and wages not sufficient to of
fer an inducement to keep men in the
profession. The same change will go
on until we increase the length of the
school term and pay more literally.
And while this change goes on; while
we employ teachers who will only
teach until something better offers, we
need not look for that perfection of
our educational system intended by
the fathers of the same. We, there
fore, again suggest that one of the
means, calculated to promote inaprOUe-
me1t, is, more aid from the state. A
more equal distribution of the school
tax of the State would greatly lessen
our burdens and aid us to increase
our term. This would check the draft
annually made on our most competent
teachers and help us to build UP a
stronger profession. We again ask
the respectful attention of the legiSla-
ture through the school department
TO a change in the number of school
Directors in each district. Experience
shows how difficult it is in our rural
districts, to have quorum at any sta
ted meeting. The full board rarely
meets, meetings are called and busi
ness postponed again and again for
want of sufficient number of Direc-
tors present. They receive no pay and
many have little or no interest in the
work. There can be but little doubt,
that three members in each board,
secretary and treasurer,
paid for their services, would do the
work much more efficiently. Still
we will work on, believing that in the
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