Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-08-18
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
Report Of tie County Superintendent for

| Report Of the County Superintendent for 1889.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY.
Houses. Whole number. $50; frame, ] 3S;
log. II and brick, containing l56 schools.
One new house was erected, during the year,
in each of the following districts, viz Brad
ford, Burnside, Chest, Decatur, Goshen,
Jordan, Knox, Pike and Woodward The
one in Goshen is a frst-class frame house,
few better in the county location, not good !;
perhaps the best and most suitable that
could be had in the district The one in
Knox is plain log building, suitable to its
location, but not calling for special descrip-
| ton. The others are all good substantial
frame buildings; all good locations but the
one in Burnside entirely too small for the
number of pupils. They were constructed
credit to the several townships, and speak
well for the liberal views of their directors.
Furntture.-The new houses have been
furnished with suitable desks, table for teach
er. and sufficient blackboard surface. Little
or no change made in the furniture of old
ones That found in most of the buildings
is in good condition, and in the others no
great change will take place until new ones
are erected.
apparatus. change in apparatus
deserves notice. The directors of Brady,
Knox, Lawrence and Pike townships, have
supplied their schools with globes reading
and writing tablets. Directors of other dis
tricts, it is believed, entertain liberal views
in regard to supplying their schools with
similar apparatus before the expiration of
another year. They are indispensable arti-
cles in the hands of the active and live teach
er, TO make his instruction both practical
and thorough. Suitable apparatus for
schools is just as necessary and essential as
instruments to the surgeon, or tools to the
mechanic.
Teachers,-One hundred and fftysix we're
employed in the schools of the county, Those
who were employed, generally. .labored faith
fully and earnestly in the discharge of their
duties 1t would be mere farce to say all
rendered entire satisfaction. The number
that did not, however, is small. Directors
found it necessary, in few instances, to
dismiss those whom they had employed
Their failures resulted rather from indiscre
ton, want of dignity or manly bearing, than
from defective scholarship. The time has
been, and not many years since, when our
own teachers were 'ostracised and the
school houses of Cearfeld county filled with
teachers from other counties but during
the past year, more than nine tenths of the
schools were taught, and satisfactorily, too.
by the sons and daughters of our own citi
ZenS.
Qualifications and Salaries.-The num-
Der of qualified teachers and their success in
the art of Teaching is gradually increas
ing, as near as / can estimate, compared
with the previous year. | can state this not
only from my own observations, but from
opinions expressed by directors and citizens
III various districts. The result is highly
gratifying. The causes of the difference
were first, that many of the younger and
more enterprising teachers spent their win
tiers in teaching and saved as much as would
pay their expenses at some good school du-
ring the summer, and others made improve
ment by private study; second, public sen
timent; and third, the growing determine
ton to employ none but competent teachers
In general, teachers deserve much credit for
the progress made, yet there is room for
improvement. The average wages remain
about the same-males S37, ,and females, S553
per month. The salaries in number of
districts are now graded according to quail
fcations. This is certainly right So long
as unqualified teachers receive the SAME as
qualified ones, our schools must necessarily
retrogaGe What is there to induce young
people to spend time and money in acquiring
skill and ability in the art of teaching, if the
possession of these things is no better paid
than the want of them?
Modes Of Instruction. "A manifest i'm
provement is plainly perceptible in the
methods of instruction. The teachers are
beginning to teach more synthetically and
analytically, and are abandoning the old
laundering method of teaching arbitrary
rules, without explanation or illustration, to
their own satisfaction and decidedly to the
increased success of their schools. As a
class, our teachers are alive, and fully awake
to the interests of the children under their
charge.
Books and Studies In all except few
districts we have attained strict uniformity
in books. The ones adopted by the board
and no others, should be strictly used.
Grammar and history were introduced into
number of schools. in which they were
heretofore entirely unknown as studies for
the school room; and in nearly every instance
inspired the pupils engaged in them, with
new zeal and activity.
Ont buildings i feel delicacy in again
calling attention to this subject tits fact,
and indeed lamentable one, too, that near
" all the houses are destitute of them. If
these buildings are essential to the cultiva-
ton of habits of propriety and delicacy, at
home, among the children of the same fam
ily, how can they be dispensed with at the
public school house, where they are necessa-
rily without the guardianship OF parents, and
e IL. 4