Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-03-08

WIZ h-Aa 49,
Per cent. OF attendance. ninetv-,br,s
and q fraction.
The average daily attendance IN I..s
this month than for January. owing n
sickness in part, and in part to some
The North and South school houses
are in a UeTy bad condition. Parents
complain justly OF being compelled 10
send their children to such places. Yet
nothing q be done for the buildings
that will pay for the expense OF repair
ing. l hope the day Is not far distant
when we shall have two new houses
IN their stead, that, like the two lately
erected, Will be an honor to your citizens
and 3 comfort 20 their children.
would like to call your attention 70
the High School building and grounds.
The grounds are by far too small for the
number Of pupils in the building.
There are also many objections to the
present arrangement Of the Intermedi-
ate and Grammar school departments.
In the intermediate there are two, and
in the Grammar school three distinct
grades, and each grade has its own
teacher. In each Of these departments
the pupils are seated in one large room.
and recite to their respective teachers
either in the large OOm or in an adioin-
Ing room.
Governing a school OF forty or nfty
pupils seated in a room OF Ordinary size,
and under the exclusive control of the
teacher In charge, Is by no means an
easy task but 70 hear the recitation Of
n class and at the same time to manage
sections Of two or three other classes,
exclusively under tho instruction or
others, il a task beyond the ability Of
most teachers, even the ablest. Again,
the pupils OF one section Of a class be-
ing seated In the main room while the
teacher is giving instruction to the other
section in q recitation room, are beyond
the immediate control Of the teacher 10
whom they are solely responsible for
their work. The natural result is that
their studies are neglected, and they
give the teacher in charge, and fire.
quently even the Principal Of the school,
effect upon the pupil who is inclined 70
be indolent Is very bad. He fails to do
the work OF his class; falls out OF the
school to run the streets; or II he re-
mains In the school, is . continual an
noyance to all about him. There is also
. loss Of room in the present arrange
menE In Cleveland, where the same
plan prevailed for a long time, il has
been abandoned. and the Superintendent
speaks In the very highest terms Of the
Of the change. In Akron they
have the same arrangement. The Su-
perintendent there finding the same
difficulties l have mentioned, urges a
change.
The present plan OF heating with
stoves IS a very bad me-. Il is impossi-
bic 70 get q regular temperature in all
parts Of the room, especially when thee
are 50 large. Those sitting near
the stove are rendered exceedingly I'M
comfortable when those at q distances are
made psssably comfortable. Again, hav-
ing no better mean Of v~entilAting, we
compelled 20 heat and reheat the
air, IS well As all the impurities
thrown of by from eighty to one hun
dred and twenty persons, and they must
breathe and rsbreaths this foul air, and
repeat the process six hours per day.
That is, 70 say the least, Uery bad. It
blunts the faculties, renders the duties
Of the school room irkEome, and i'm
plants the seeds Of disease, which hasten
our children 70 the grave, or compel
them to drag out q miserable existence.
My predecessor, Nj. FurneSs, COM
planned OF the same difficulties / have
and urged your Honorable Body
70 make a change in the arrangement Of
house. In behalf OF the children
and teachers who are now occupying the
house, and OF those who are 70 occupy
il, 1 would urge . candid consideration
Of the matter.
Respectfully submitted,
J. c. BARNEY,
superintendent OF Schools.