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

possession of school at the eleventh
hour, and once in possession, they fel
pretty certain of being able to wrench
by means of that scarcity, from th'
County Superintendent such q certi
ficate as would enable them to retair
their position for the term, and in mos
cases with little or no advantage tt
the schools entrusted to their care.
The subject of grading teachers
certificates and paying salaries &C
cording to qualifications and expert
ence in teaching, is receiving more
attention than heretofore. There is
yet by far too much leniency on the
part OF board of directors in retaining
incompetent teachers after their in
competency has been fully ascertained
In several instances where the dis
charge of such teachers was recon
mended, who after fair trial were
found to be incompetent, was disre
garded, the sequel proved that the
money paid to such was worse thar
thrown away. A few discharges o.
this kind by board of directors would
do much towards stimulating teach
ers to more faithful discharge ol
their duties. So long as they have
the certainty of being retained under
almost any circumstance, the indo
lent and dishonest have but little In
centive to exertion.
Visitation of schools by boards oi
directors and parents is by far toe
much neglected. If directors would
visit schools more frequently,a and visit
all the schools in their respective dis
tricts, for nearly every district in the
county has one or more good school
in it, they would soon see the differ
ence in teaching and proper training,
or in too many instances no training
at all, and at once would demand the
discharge of those unfaithtul to theil
trust. In almost every other pursui,
in life more interest is evinced than
in the education of the young. Sc
long as this apathy exists educators
may labor in vain, or at least much
of their efforts must be lost County
Superinteadents may hold educational
meetings, county institutes, public
examinations of teachers, and travel
from four to ten months in the year
in the discharge of official duties. and
still accomplish but little for want of
this much needed co operation.
Two schools were graded during
the ear,-that of the borough of
Thompsontown; it is rather regrade,
as it formerly enjoyed that privilege
before its separation from the town
ship.
EDUCATIONAL WORK DONE BY
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
Eighteen public and two private
examinations were held. The public
in many of the districts
were well attended by both directors
and citizens. Fifty-three directors and
about two hundred citizens attended
the different examinations. One hun
dred and twenty-six applicants were
examined, one hundred and twenty
two received the provisional certifi-
cate, and two the professional three
professional certificates in all were
granted during the year. Four ap-
plicants were rejected. The thirteen
regular examinations were held by
deputies, being unable myself to per
form that duty at the time required !;
the remaining seven special examina
tions were held by myself. l COM
menced the visitation of schools on
the 10th of November, and continued
during the entire winter, with the ex
ception of one interruption Of seven
days. All the schools in the county
were visited once, except one in Black
Log; it was not open at the time Of
my visit to that locality. Thirty-one
schools az the commencement of the
season were visited by Mr..
Baum. One hundred and ninety-two
visits in all were made-the average
time spent in each school about two
hours. All the schools were visited
twice, and few three times, except
twelve, five in Turbett, two in Spruce
Hill, one in Beale, one in Milford and
three in Lack. The FIVE in Turbett
were missed in consequence of deten-
ton from my regular programme in
the performance of other unavoidable
business. The two in Black Log
could not be reached at my second
visit on account of the heavy snow
storm in March, the roads at that time
being utterly impossible over the
mountain; the remaining five were