The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-29

ing are very poor at the best, and in such
\ season as the last Institute-week, in many
parts of the county it was next to impossi-
Bile to get along.
The exercises Of our meeting consisted
principally of lectures, discussions, class
drills, and contest in spelling. We had
crowded houses, and the entire community
seemed Interested in our proceedings. Let
the croakers that have survived the food,
clamor as they may, am firmly convinced
that our county institutes have done, are
doing, and will continue to do good work
in the educational field. The thanks Of our
teachers are specially due Hon. j. p. Wick
ersham, Revs. B. NJ. Kerr and Jos. Waugh
and Profs. Andrew Burtt, A. c. johnson.
G, W. Cope, and F. S. Maloy, for the act
i've part which they took in the Institute.
". OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF IMPROVEMENT.
/ know of no serious obstacle in the way
Of improvement but what grows out of the
lack of money. Our people almost unani-
mously favor popular education, and are
willing to make almost any sacrifice for the
good of our schools. But we are very high
ly taxed, and it is out of the question, at
least at present, 10 raise any greater amount
of funds in most of our districts. In many
Of them the very highest rate of taxation
allowed by law is imposed. 1t is impossi
BILE TO do more If some Power would en-
dow US with the touch of Midas, we should
lind an easy egress from all our difficulties
We should like to lengthen our school terms,
increase the salaries of our teachers, erect
better school houses than We have in many
localities, and furnish these
" "Incipient seats of knowledge
with such apparatus as they should have.
But at present we are not able to accom-
plish all these desirable objects.
v. MEASURES CALCULATED To PROMOTE I'M
PRoVEMENT.
AS it is, many of our directors and teach
ers are honestly labOring to promote the i'm
provement and increase the efficiency Of our
schools. This effort is indicated on the part
OF directors by the greater interest and zeal
which they have shown than in former years
During the year made 81 visits in compa-
ny with directors-last year only 13. Quite
number of directors also attended our coun-
ty institute, and seemed to take interest in
its proceedings. In all sections of the coun-
ty they have been moving in the cause, and
doing all in their power 10 advance its in
terests. Better wages generally were paid
during this year than last. Teachers evinced
their interest in the cause by their attend
ance upon the county institute, the improved
character of qualifications as shown at the
examinations, and the greater success with
which our schools were managed. In the
absence Of the great lever-money-I think
that our schools will reap much advantage
from well conducted county institutes, nor
NAL schools, and a constantly advancing
standard Of requirements. Graded salaries
should not be overlooked. ] cannot help
thinking that much of our prosperity durin G
the term just closed has been owing to the
graded salaries which were paid in many
districts. These means of improvement are
within our grasp. A paid directory, uni
| formty of text books in counties. equalized
taxation, double the length of our present
I school term, and twice the salary now paid
! to teachers, may possibly forever exist as
only the chimeras of the educationist's s
/ dream.