The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-07-01
OUR CGNIMeK Schools.
Report of the superintendent Of Gam
hEia county for the year ending
.ffe 0iG DAY OF June, 1871.
I. EDUCATIONAL PRoGRrss IN THE COUNTY

bria County. for the year ending
.tne 9th DAY OF June, ES7I.
l. EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY.
Though our progress in. educational affairs
/ during the School-year just closed has not heen
so marked in all respects as the preceding year
SG1 III Is gfftttylng to be able to make report
moved forward. One of these forward move
| ments has been in the building of school houses
During the year nine houses have been erected
OF these, the one in Millvie is first class house
"a large two-story brick, containing eight
rooms furnished and finished in the best style,
ana costing perhaps $4,000. These new houses
are all improvements on the style of school
house architecture that he's until lately ontain-
1 ca IN our county. There is a promise that in
| inc course Of a reasonable length of time, the
wretched Dotheboys Halls in our midst viii be
among the things that were. We hail the in
character of our school-buldings, as among
| the happiest signs of the times "a weIl-in-
"can be permanently free people :" ana these
are the preparations towards a well-instructed
1t is believed that there has been a slight i'm
Proyement in the average length of schoOl-term
| IN the county, From the data which have at
hand at present learn that there has been an
average of term of 4.S5 months against 48l
SCHOOLS open six months this year.
The wages of teachers have been about the
same as last year From what can learn, am
led TO believe that if there has been any change
at all in this respect, there has been slight fall
:ng-of. If this should be the case, ii would be
matter OF regret; as wages were too low before
Tbsre st h0weWer' nov ever the that t may prove
number of pupils and the average per centage
OF attendance. In lew districts there has been
triting diminution in these respects, owing
to local causes, but this has been about made
mp by an corresponding increase in other dis
/ tricts.
| II. EDUCATIONAL WORK DONE BY SUPERIS-
! TENDENT.
ErdminGtio7ls.-Du the year, s. public
examinations were held. At these, SO directors
! We're present; in many instances large numbers
! of citizens also turned out and much interest
was manifested. In a very few cases, a most
! lamentable indifference existed. There are still
ing and saving money. Of course, they viii
| take it all with them when they die. I also held
great scarcity Of teachers which we every year
! experience in this county, l should decline to
are at present "a necessary evil"
CcIt(fcGtes.-I issued i'll all 1e6 provisional Ger
regret to say, was a little lower than the aver
age grade of last year. Forty-four of those ex
amlned had never tanght school; also reject
/ ed 30 applicants. a few of the best of these 1
! subsequently accepted, in default of better
! teflal. examined 70 male 0ppIlcants OF whom
] rejected l5 or a little over 10 per cent; and
| little over "A per cent. Two examinations for
| professional certificates were held during the
school -year-one in June, 1870 and one in April,
ISL. & the first of these six certificates were
! issued; at the second one four. One certificate
! of this kind was granted without 4 special ex-
! animation, and one from another county was
! endorsed.
Fisits.-I made during the year 1s4 visits to
schools-a number not exceeded in one year by
any gentleman who has been superintendent
was little over one hour. l had the company
of school directors in 46 of these visits. This is
| my impression from these visits is, that our
! schoOls Is a general thing were better conduct
| than in any former year within my knowledge.
! There were many schools, it is true, that were
! not entirely satisfactory, rs will no doubt al
ways be the case; but the average was an i'm
I Other Work DoRe-During the year travelled
in the discharge of my Official duties, 223 miles,
| and wrote 100 Letters: L also edited an educa
! tiOna. periodical during the year. and contri-
buted besides a great many articles bearing
more or less ON educational topics to other pub
icatiOns.
III. EDUCATIONALWO ORK DOEE BY OTHER AGEE-
Several normal classes were formed in the
countytEis year. These continued in each case
/ Tor Several weeks, and performed a good work.
, ing mentioned in former reports are still pros
Cur county institute was held this year in
JohnstOwn, commencing Deccmber 18th. We
mad the valuable ASSISTANCE OF lSeN. - II MlIier
OF the School Department, Rev. b. N. Kerr, of
/ EbenSbLrg. Rev. Joseph Waugh, of Holidays
bHrar, and Miss f. A. >tetson of PhiIadelphia
Besides these, many of our own teachers, too
the eyerrises. for which they have the thanks
of the superintendent. The number of MEM
bcrs was 50; greater number than attended
grand succeSs. The peonle o. Johnstoyyn. with
thor Characteristic generosity, enIerffalned the
of imitation by other towns.
". OBST Giles IN THE WAY OF IMPROVEMENT.
The chief obstacles in the way of improve
ment are tho cOntin ued scarcity of teachers,
the still greater scarcity of tCeu-qGttfed teach
crs, and the apathy of parents. / spoke last
sufficient number of teachers in this county.
Nearly the same observations would be proper
again. Our schools were Al! hIled, but some or
them not until very late, and others for but a
short time. y number OF our teachers taught
1 two terms, and one three nearly fult terms.
1t is not to be wondered at. under these cir
| cumstances, that we experience Il want of lreH-
school Report for 1870, "as we must employ
| teachers who are to acquire their experience in
the service, under full pay with our children,
usually the youngest as subjects for expert
ment, deficiencies and even failures must be
| expected" Only money can ever overcome
The apathy of parents is to be seen in the
fact that; list; they scarcely ever visit the
| schools ID. their children are allowed to alb
sent themselves too much from school ; and,
= | 3D., they fail to provide them with proper
, ! books IT is not necessary to dilate on these
| points" This language 1 used in my last re
port; and am sorry to say it is Us applicable
now as 1t was year ago.
V. MEASURES CALCULATED TO PROMOTE I'M
In the absence of the great lever, money;
but little can be done to promote the improve
l ment of our schools: GOOD salaries and long
! er School-terns would do the work at once, by
| bringing into and retaining in the ranks of the
, profession teachers OF good literary and sclen-
| Iiic requirements and ability to teach. Our
best teachers. ut least seven out of ten, sooner
or later abandon the profession for some more
, | lucrative occupation: No one blauIes or can
! blame them for that. The only way to pre-
vent it is to make teaching, II not lucrative
at least properly paid profession.
: But even in the absence of this great lever.
still hope to be able to do something for the
Improvement of our schools by a closer super
. vision of them more earnest etfOrtto secure
the cooperation of directors and citizens in
the cause of public instruction, and a more
/ devoted attention to the duties of the o ffice.
: | am very far from being discouraged. There
S ward circumstances to overcome, but over all
shines the star of hope md promise.
+ Il look at all things as they are,
But through Kind of glory"
T. ]. CHAPMAN, c. S.
d CoHEN's HAT PARIOR has lost none of its