Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-06-18
9isfellauG0M9.
ANNUAL REPORT
Of the Common schools of Bedford Co.

Of the Common schools of Bedford Co.
shall confne myself strictly to the sug-
gestioDs from the State Superintendent, as
published in the June number of the Jour
nal, in making this report, and shall first
speak of Educational Progress in the Coun-
ty during the past year. We have repeat
edly asked for more new houses, better fur
niture, more school apparatus, more graded
schools, higher wages, and more competent
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 ochange
has been made in the number Of our graded
schools, Those graded, have given general
satisfaction. As soon as the buildings, now
in process of erection in several parts of the
county shall be completed we shall be able
to report at least an increase in the number
of graded schools
>. 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 town
ship, at a cost OF $lS07; three in Cumber-
land Valley, at cost Of $lll5; one in
Hopewen, $3.50; one in Juniata, $4O0; two
in Monroe, $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, $676; two in Union, cost
not ascertained; two in Middle Woodberry,
at a cost OFFS $1275.
They are all substantial aud comfortable
buildings. With two exceptions they oc-
cupy good sites and have suitable play
grounds.
The one built in Saxton is the best Of its
class in the county 1t is a frame building,
- #. 4 in. long, 25 f. 6 IN. wide and lG #.
iD from floor to ceiling. 1t contains two
ante-rooms for extra clothing, and the whole
building can be thoroughly ventilated The
site is beautiful one, and when the grounds
are properly enclosed and improved, work
the directors intend doing during the com
ing year, they will be second to none in the
county. Our people are beginning to give
more attention to school grounds Conve-
nience of access, beauty Of location, and
suitable play ground are no longer over
looked, when a new school house is to be
built As fast as these monuments to the
y,.raIoz=,,,se ,y ;,oo,, o,av- oc tboro - -
placed them on the bleak hill tops, or steep
mountain sides, in rugged rayines or swampy
fats, rot away, others more flvorably 10
Gated, take their places The Directors OF
Schelsburg borough, have, at length, Sc
cured good site, and are erecting fine
brick building, for their schools. For the
last three years no public school was taught
here Private schools were, however, liber-
ally supported
8. Furniture and 1ppayatus Twenty,
five houses were supplied with new and i'm
proved furniture Ten were supplied with
apparatus Although the Directors have,
during the past three years, manifested great
willingness to furnish apparatus, aud have
in many parts of the county supplied all,
the means of the districts would warrant,
yet there is room, need, for more We
want better black boards in many of the
schools. Charts and outline maps are need
cd in others.
1t Is true, teachers do not always use the
apparatus at their command-som men
would not cut wood though you placed an
ak in their hands-yet most Of our teachers
are ready and willing to use apparatus to
some good purpose, if it is supplied them.
The teacher who, about the middle of his
last term, had not yet brought the outline
maps from near neighbor's house to the
school room, and who had mo time, to 90
and procure eraYon, although lie had large
class in Geography aud Arithmetic, does
not belong to this latter class.
T. Qualifications and Salaries af Teach
ers-Two hundred and three teachers were
employed, one hundred aud forty males and
sixty-three females Some change has
been mede in the orTagc qualification.
Last year the average grade Of certificates
was 2-29. This year it was 2.27. If we
we're guided by these. figures alone We should