Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-08-10

table. Any teacher who is willing to
make the proper exertion can have q
properly classified school. The ad
vancement of pupils to the differen,
branches of study has been and still
is most shamefuily neglected, espe.
cially in the following, viz: Mental
Arithmetic, Geography, United States
History. OF the 5000 children at.
tending the schools Of the county but
1876 study Mental Arithmetic, o07
Geography, and 1872 U. S. History.
The above figures exhibit most
shameful neglect somewhere, and it
is useless for teachers to attempt TO
shift the responsibility of such neglect
on the parents with tie frivolous pre-
text that we so often hear, "That the
parents will not buy the necessary
books" The teachers are the only
ones who are responsible for the proper
classification Of the schools, the School
Law having wisely delegated that
power exclusively to them, and those
who fail in these, viz the classified.
ton and advancement of pupils to the
different branches, are incompetent to
have charge Of school, and no bet
ter evidence of the fact is wanting.
The County Institute convened at
Perrysville Monday, December 18th,
1869, and continued in session the en-
tire week; it was a grand success.
One hundred and four teachers were
IN attendance during the week, eighty
six of whom were the actual teachers
engaged in teaching at the time in the
county. Lectures were delivered, i'll
structions given, and class drills con-
Quoted during the week by the follow
ing distinguished educators from a
distance viz: Hon. J. p. Wickersham
Sup't. Com. Schools, Pa, Prof. Chas
w. Sanders, of New York, Pro-. Hen
ry Carver, Prin. of Bloomsbury State
Normal School, Prot. Silas Wright,
PIN. OF Juniata Valley Normal
School, Prof. C. f. Cady, Of Harris
burg and Louis b. Kerr, Esq, Coun-
| ty Sup't Perry County. During the
evening sessions the large Academy
hall of Prof. Wilson's was filled to
its utmost capacity. and the interest
both day and night continued unhag-
ging 20 the close Two adjourned
institutes were held, one in Spruce
Hill district, and one at Richiield,
Monroe district, the former January
21st and 22nd, the latter February
25th and 26th. About forty teachers
Illt1lutl lilc tNO
EDUCATIONAL WORK DONE BY OTHER
AGENCIES.
OF Academies, Seminaries and pri-
vate schools no changes have taken
place, worthy of note, during the past
year. The following districts adopt
ed a uniform series of Readers, Spell
lers and Copy-books, viz:-Thomp-
sontown Delaware, Walker. Ferman-
agh, Mifllintown, Turbett, Spruce Hill,
Beale, Tuscarora, Monroe and Lack
and it is believed that the remaining
districts will make the series uniform
throughout the county the coming
year. The majority of the clergy do
generally stand aloof from the educa-
tionaI interest of the county; but one
attended the County Institute last fall
who rendered assistance, and the
names of ministers on the teachers
report books throughout the county
"were like angels visits, few and far
between" but it is hoped that the
future may speak of better things.
Have they not work to do in this
field as well as we? or is not the min
lister of gospel interested il the cause
of popular education? If he Is not,
then who should be?
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF IMPROVE
MENT.
For a more general statement OF
items under this head the reader is
referred to last years report. The
too frequent change of teachers from
one schools to another is also an obstac-
!e, and one too of no small magnitude.
Teachers are too apt to make such
changes without any good reason
whatever. 1t is no rare thing to find
those who have taught from four to
six terms in one district and not two
consecutive terms in the same house.
This constant changing from one
school to another is anything but
creditable to the teacher, and by 40
means advantageous to the school !;
vet strange to say, it too often receives
the encouragement and support of
not only the patrons, but boards of
directors. 1t is only where teachers
are found in the same school from
year to wear that xa find anv real