Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-08-23

Increase. 5IS
The only excuse that can be offered
for introducing the above is its gener-
al neglect i'll the schools of the coun-
tv however, it will be seen that a very
creditable improvementin severalof the
branches mas been made, vet there is
still room for more. 1t is hoped that
the teachers minds and Others most in
terested have been fairly turned to-
wards this very important subject and
that they will not slacken their la
bors nor cease their importunities until
every child in the county is supplied
with its proper mental food at its due
time, until then we cannot hope to re-
alize our cherished expectations in the
cause for which we labor We are
not in favor Of everlasting or over
working the juvenile mind, or of .
system of examining, it for in ninety
nine cases out of q hundred the ten
dency is in an opposite direction.
EDUCATIONAL WORK DONE.
Seventeen public and two private
examinations were held. One hun
dred and twenty-seven applicants were
examined. one hundred and fourteen
received the provisional certificates,
thirteen were rejected. Two profes-
sional certificates were granted during
the winter. Forty-seven directors
were present at the public examina-
tions, and about three hundred and
forty citizens. More interest was
manifested at the public examina-
tions than heretofore. All the schools
in the county were visited once but one,
and all would have been visited at
my second tour had they been open at
the time but seven. | was compelled
to abandon visiting the latter in con-
sequence of indisposition. $50 visits
in all were made; average time spent
at each visit 2.45 hours. | was ac-
companied by 50 directors, and | have
reason to believe this number would
have been larger had all secretaries
been as punctual to notify other mem
ber, according to programmes sent
them as the duties of their office
would seem to enjoin however this
duty of school visitation by directors
is vet much neglected and likely to
remain so at least under the present
regime, there is want here that in
our humble opinion can only be filled
by measures already recommended in
a former report. Nearly all the di-
rectors in each district, except in one
or two, seem to be sufficiently interest
ed in the progress of their schools, yet
they think they cannot afford the
time necessary for their proper vista
ton. 3t rO'a
tiny first visit ! usually visited
about three schools each day pursuing
the usual course as heretofore, with
this exception of giving notice to each
teacher, that at second visit l would
then remain half a day in each, and
at that time would either make or
have made an examination of the
school. The above course proved to
be quite satisfactory. Some teachers,
however, were pretty well convinced
that they had made too great haste to
get through the books, and in some
instances such Acknowledgements were
made, but generally both teachers and
pupils had anticipated our coming to
some purpose, and many of the exam
nations were very creditable indeed
to pupils and teachers and would have
done no discredit to higher institutions
of learning. LtHs-4 5Lti- ID
l travelled 1859 miles in the perfor-
nance of official duties, was occu-
pied 1SO days and wrote 1877 official
letters. ~ ts sfrt
The County Institute convened at
Mifflintown, Tuesday, December 18th,
1870, and continued in session five
days. 1t was the most successful In
stitute ever held in the county, and
was attended by 90 of the actual
teachers, 91.17dths. of the whole en-
gagged at the time, 81 honorary mem
bers about 20 of which were school
directors. Lectures were delivered
and instruction given by Hon. ]. P.
Wiekersham, Superintendent Of Com
mon Schools, Profs. Henry Carver,