The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-06-18
ANNUAL REPORT az THE COMMON
SCHOOLS OF BEDFORD COIN
TK

dent, as published In the Jhiit NUMBER
of the Journal, in making this report,
and shall first speak Of Educational
Progress in the county, during the
past year. We have repeatedly asked
for more new houses, better furniture,
more school apparatus, more graded
schools, higher wages, and more com
petent teachers; but above all we have
hoped for better, more thorough, local
supervision. During the year we have
realized all that could be expected,
in regard to change in houses,
furniture and apparatus. No change
has been made in the number of our
graded schools. Those graded, have
given general satisfaction. A soon as
the buildings, now in progress of cree
ton in several parts Of the county,
shall be completed, we shall be able to
report, at least an increase in the num-
Der of graded schools.
2. Houses and Grounds.
| In 1867, we built four new houses
in 1868, twelve this year, twenty new
houses were erected, one tenth of the
whole number in the county. OF these,
two were built in Bedford township,
at cost of $1S07 three in Cumberland
Valley, at a cost of $l335 one in Hope
well, $3.50; one in Juniata, SiO0; two
in Monroe, $3.50; two in Napier, 1858;
one in West Providence, $377; one in
Saxton borough, $1,000; one in st.
Clair, $3.50; two in Southampton, 1915
two in Union, cost not aScertained
two in Middle Woodbury. at cost of
1925.
They are all substantial and comfor-
table buildings. With two exceptions
they occupy good sites and have suita-
BILE play grounds.
The one built in Saxton is the best of
the kind in the county. 1t is a frame
! building, 42 fl. in. long, 26 feet, 6 in.
wide, and l6 feet in. from floor to CELL
ing. It contains two anti-rooms for
extra clothing, and the whole building
can be thoroughly ventilated. Thesit
is a beautiful one, and when the
grounds are properly enclosed and i'm
proved. work the directors intend do
ing during the coming year, they
will be second to none in the coun-
ty. Our people are beginning to give
more attention to school grounds
Convenience of access, beauty of loca-
ton, and suitable play grounds are no
longer overlooked, when new school
house is to be built. AS fast as "these
monuments to the carelessness or in
competency of those who placed them
on bleak hill tops, or steep mountain
sides, in rugged ravines or swampy
fats" rot away Others, more favOrably
located, take their places. The direc'
tors of Schelsburg borough, have, al
length, secured a good site, and are e
recting a fine brick building, for theiI
schools. For the last three years nc
public school was taught here. Pri
vate schools were, however, literally
supported.
3. Furniture and apparatus.
Twenty FIVE houses were supplied
with new and improved furniture
Ten were supplied with apparatus
Although the directors have, during tht
} past three years, manifested great viii
! lingness to furnish apparatus, and have
in many parts of the county supplied
all that the means of the districts woult
warrant, yet there is room, need, TO
more. We want better black board
in many of the schools. Charts ant
: outline maps are needed in others.
tits true, teachers do not always u.s.
? the apparatus at their command-som
! men would not cut wood, though yor
4 placed an ak in their hands-yet mos
of our teachers are ready and willin!
to use apparatus to some good purp0s
ifit is supplied them. The teache
who, about the middle of his last term
= had not brought the outline maps fron
near neighbor's house to a schoo
It room, and who had "no time" to g
: and procure erayon, although he had
: ! a large class in Geography and Aritb
aces not belong to this latte
metic, =. .-.af g.,c1,,.
0i"os' -Hei
). Qualifications and Salurteo
Two hundred and three teac..
were employed, one hundred and for
ty males, and sixty three females
Some change has been made in the az
eToge qualification. Last year the av-
erage grade of certificates was 2.29.-
This year is was 2.27. If we were
guided by these figures alone we should
say there was no change. But when
we look at the improvement in the
methods Of instruction at the zeal
manifested in their work at the in
! creased number of educational books
and papers read at the attendance at
our county and district institutions:
at the increased amount of general in
formation our teachers have acquired.
we must conclude that they, to-day.
stand higher in their profession than
they did one year ago. The dead
ones, are nearer their graves, the live
ones are more alive. Wages are about
what they were one yearago, nor was
it reasonable to expect change when
we recoliect that last year wages were
increased in almost every district over
that of the preceding year. See re-
port of 1868,
In not a few instances, however,
where teachers showed the true spirit,
have their wages been advanced. Ia