Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-07-27

"ldeas before words
Dirctors.--A number of these of
iicors arc active and perform their du-
ties wdl Wo have a few, however,
who aie opposed to the system, and
others 10 all measures oflmprovcment
} Moro care in the selection of teachers
! is necessary on the part Of directors
{ The movement Of the whole school is
entirely dependent upon the teacher
{. 1t is not TO the incapacity Of our chill
: dron, but to the teacher, that we are
to trace a want Of progress in some OF
our schools therefore, special discrimi.
nation and prudence should be used
in selecting teachers, on whom the
welfare Of our children so much de-
pends.
U.-EDUCATI0NAL WORK.
Examinations twenty-lhrcc
public and a large number of private
examinations issued one hundred and
lixty-three provisional certificates and
rejected ten applicants. Forty-nine
directors and eighty.fvc citizens were
present. aud appeared much pleased
with the exercises Travelled one
thousand six hundred and seventy
miles, wrote three hundred and fifty
four official letters and taught eight
weeks in the Normal Institute.
TisHati0nS. With FIVE exceptions
all the schools OF the county were
visited, and a few the second ;ime
spending, generally, from two and a
half to three hours in each, In twon.
ty-fiyo districts one or more directors
aud citizens accompanied me, and in
all 20 directors and 90 citizens
A Normal Institute was opened in
/ Clearield, on the I'd Of May, aud con
timed In session eight weeks; al.
though small compared with former
ones, it is believed that it did some
good.
IIT-woRK by OTHER AGENCIES.
"Clcardold Academy" conducted
| by Ror. p L. Harrison, A. NJ; "school
for Girls" conducted by Miss Hattie
Swan, and a number OF select schools
throughout the county, assist more or
less directly or indirectly in adyan.
cling the cause of education.
District Superia'eaieRiS.-.In num-
Der of districts, the Secretary acted in
this capacity. Where the duty is
faithfully performed, by one who has
been n practical teacher the bcnef
cial results are plainly visible. II
seems TO me this position should nerer
be filled by any other, as the changes
often suggested by an inexperienced
one only cripple the usefulness Of the
teacher.
4 County Institute was held in Cur.
wonsyiIc last October, and in many
respects, was n decided success Valu.
able Information was impaired to the
teachers, by the Hon. ] r. Wicker
sham State Superintendent, and Prof
c. l.. Cady of New York Some Of
our own teachers took an active Part.
The election, Of our State, being held
on the same week, detained many
2 persons interested in the canso Of eda-
ation,-hence the attendance was
not SO large as the previous year
. IIv.-oBsTAcLEs IN THE WAY OF IN.
PRovEMENT
, /. Tho want of more competent
and hithlul teachers Short school
terms aud low wages 3. The frequent
change Of teachers. SO strong is the
desire TO change, that only eight OF
ten schools during tho last four years
! have been taught for two successive
terms by the same teacher, and but
+ two or three fora longer period 4
Irregular attendance OF pupils. The
= evil results from this are patent to all;
aud wion the parents know that the
absenie Of one pupil is not only an in.
, jury % himself, but to the whole class,
! canrot sec why they do not endcav.
or to idapt their home arrangements
moro 20 those of school-ior without
thoparents cooperation little progress
can ls made; with it much more
than now is can be accomplished 3
lncorpetcnt directors, aud careless
ness of others in the administration Of
schoo affairs,
Y.-TO PROMOTE IMPROVEMENT.
lst. A law requiring directors to be
, sworn, particularly Secretaries, to .
, proper discharge OF their duties. ID
1, An inclcusc of the State appropria
tion, sufficient to keep all the schools
, of The State open four months IN the
year. 8d An increase Of tho mini
mum length to six months Teachers
cannot be prevailed upon TO. qualify
G themselves for the duties Of proios.
sion which does not guarantee t.
9 them moro than four months employ
mpt 4lh. Appropriate school build
= ints in Cloariicld borough. with
grdnds sufficient to accommodate al
G the children; under the control OF q
J. ccmpetcnt and faithful teacher, who
u should have the power TO adopt and
!, carry out a right course OF discipline
y board of directors, who feel an in
Il tcrcst in all the children, aud the cry
C of 'public nuisance" would ccuse q
v be 80 common in our county seat.
Financial Records. With the con
!. sent of directors, a uniform system
q of keeping school accounts will be es
h tablishcd IN every district. A reform
a is very much needed
e Public Sentiment has long beer
It favorable to the school system. Ii Il
It true, there are neighborhoods wher'
h little or no interest is felt, where build
I. ings aud furniture unsuitable iol
o school purposes still remain, whcr'
T. persons who are known TO be opposed
# to increasing the taxes for school pur
'r poses, or paying teachers better wa
10 gcs, are elected directors; but thl
large majority see the importance o
RI having their children we'll instructc,
If in the English branches. The idea o
\. erecting a commodious school odiicl
n IN each district Of ten or more schools
a. to which all the advanced pupils MAY
ir be sent, has been suggested to man,
n. oi the boards. and is rapidly gaining