Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-06-18

this is, do not know. It is a fact we can
not deny, that our ministers, seldom, if ever
visit our schools. In vain we cast our eyes
down the list Of visitors, in the teacher s
report book, for the name of the clergyman
residing in the district Ii is not there.
Have the teachers neglected to note the
visits? Surely the clergy, above all others,
should have the highest interest in the sue.
cess Of our public schools. The boys and
girls will soon grow up to be men aud wo-
men, They are to be the future stay and
support of the church Would it not be
well, then, for our Ministers to call at our
schools occasionally, to cheer on the teacher,
to encourage the scholar? There is too
much Of this standing back on the part
Of those, who, il they would but come for
ward, could be of powerful aid in this work.
Schools. -Ol the whole number of schools
open, twelve are graded; one hundred and
seyenfy-nine were well classified; in one
hundred and eighty-one the books were uni
form, and the Bible was daily read, either
| by the teacher, or By the scholars and teach
er in one hundred and ffty-nine. There
are still twenty-five schools in which the
books are not uniform. The directors Of
these have decided upon a uniform series Of
books but their exclusive use has never
been enforced Every teacher knows how
the usefulness Of the school is impaired By
this ruinous policy
1t might be sound policy to withhold the
State aid from such schools, until the direc-
tors thereof comply with the law in this
particular. The law is plain, and the wis
dom in it so manifest that no intelligent
board should hesitate one moment in full
filing it to the letter.
Obstacles m Htc rag Of mproUcmctt.-
Few new obstacles have presented them
selves during the year Those most in the
way, and the means calculated to promote
improvement, referred to at some length,
in my last report to which the reader may
turn.
''We must have more efficient local sup
ervisioD, is the cry we hear every where.
But how is this to be brought about. In
my Judgment there is but one way elect
three men for each district-the best men
IN the district Let these form a board,
President, Secretary, and Treasurer: select
from among these the one possessing the
most knowledge of schools, as district Su-
perintendent whose duty it shall be to visit
the schools regularly, at least once a month.
Pay the board for every day actually en-
gagged in transacting the business Of the
district Make them sworn officers This
subject has been agitated again and again,
10 our conventions, and it seems about time
that we have some legislation on it.
IF directors, as they are now elected,
would carry out the laws strictly, and if
parents would look to the interest of their
children; supply them with proper books,
see that they make good use of them, send
them regularly to school, uphold the teach
er, encourage him by their visits and kind
words, most of the obstacles in the way of
improvement would disappear. But this
is rarely done
Directors arc not paid for their services,
and they frequently do the least possible
amount Of work Not receiving any pay
themselves they often feel illiberal when
teachers are to be employed not receiving
any pay, when the Superintendent calls on
them to visit schools with him, he often
hears the excuse, "it won't pay me to ride
through the storm.
am more than ever convinced that many
teachers fail because the schools are not
visited oftener by some efficient officer.
The Superintendent can at most, in coun-
ty ike this, visit all the schools only once,
in term Of four months Many schools
must, therefore, remain unvisited until the
third month The teacher makes mistake
after mistake, until the time arrives when
the Superintendent reaches the school He
finds it failure which might have been
prevented had the school been visited in the
first month,
Concluding RenlarEs-I take this op-
portunity Of thanking my many friends,
throughout the county for their many kind
nesses toward me during the past three
years To the Department | am sensibly
indebted for the many words of advice and
the promptncss with which they have al.
ways answered when called upon. l thank
each and all and wish themabundant sue
cess.
H. w. FISHER, County Supt