Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-01-10

w the same number of actual teach
ers 10 have been present. The follow |
ing year it was held in Mexico and
convened January 26th 1857, this
year was the first of my official con-
nection with the schools of the coun-
ty; the number of actual teachers
present this year was ffty-fve. The |
following year the first County Teach |
ers Institute was organized in accord
ance with the provisions of the law
of April 9th 1867, it convened at Mif-
fintOwn, fifty-seven actual teachers
were in attendance. The Institute
held in Perrysville January 1869, .
eighty-six actual teachers were pres
ent, and in December following the
same year, eighty-fve falling off of
one; this was no doubt owing to bad
reads and inclement weather, and last
year the Institute that convened in
December in this place our fondest
hopes were nearly realized, ninety
three of the actual teachers of the
county were present, one hundred and
twenty-one in all were enrolled during
the session, the largest number of
teachers ever convened at any one
time and place in the county. During
the last six years the attendance of
teachers at the County Institute shows
a constant increase in number except
the one year, until the former num-
ber has been more than double, this
indication is not easily mistaken and
will be received as positive evidence
of gradual progress in the county in
the interest of education. As it is
source of lively satisfaction to be able j
to communicate facts so encouraging,
it will doubtless awaken feeling of
commendable pride in you who have
by your labors and the conscientious
discharge of duty contributed largely
to this result. 1t is hoped that this
increasing manifestation on the part
of popular education will not cease
until we can number every actual
teacher in the county at the Institute,
this has been accomplished in other
counties, and what can be done in one
county can be done also in another
l feel confident, that l only express
the sentiments of the teachers of Ju-
niata county when say, that they are
not willing to be behind any of their
sister counties in their attendance at
their County Institute, and devotion
to their noble calling and the cause of
education. Upon you much Of the re-
sponsibility in regard to the proper
direction Of public sentiment will de-
pend, your examples, your sentiments,
in shortssyour whole weight and infu-
encc will have much to do in shaping
and directing this sentiment. You
are the persons, or at least those sup
posed to be most interested in public
education, and if you do not take the
lead, or are not willing TO become the
leaders who else can be expected to
assume this position as the teacher
is so will be the school, and as the
school is SO will be the public senti-
ment to a very great extent. If the
teacher is skeptical, negligent and in
different, this influence will be felt in
the school, and it will be felt outside
of it, school directors and parents will
not escape the contagion, but on the
contrary if the teacher is earnest, con-
scientious and devoted to his calling
he can soon call to his earnest support
all opposing elements and mould them
to his wishes. Teachers, you can do
more than many of you are willing
to admit, you can by your industry,
zeal and example infuse into the minds
of your pupils deeper interest in
study, a greater desire for intel
lectual improvement, your enthu-
siasm in your work will awaken in
them corresponding sentiment and
it is here ever true, that like feelings
awaken similar ones in those by whom
we are surrounded, children are imita-
tive beings, they will be inspired by
you devotion and will endeavor to i'm
itate your example.
Your assembling thus annually is
for the purpose of intensifying your
interest in your work, to stimulate
you to greater exertions for your own
intellectual improvement and to af-
ford you the means for improving your
professional knowledge, which will
the better qualify you for the dis
charge of your arduous duties, and to
deepen the conviction of the great re-
sponsibili:y resting upon you as edu-
Gators, as directors and guides of the
young and rising generation, the fu-
ture man and woman of this repub-
lie who are to WELD in future, the des-
tinies of this nation. 1t is expected
and desired that no oppol tunity will
be permitted to go unimproved. Last
year we furnished at the expense of
the county pass-book to each teacher,
this was suggestive of its importance
and was intended so to be understood.
1t was not thought necessary the pres
ent year to repeat this, feeling assured
that every teacher would come fully
prepared and equipped to make the
very most of the advantages offered I;
then punctual attendance at each Of
the sessions, taking notes of lectures
and instructions which will be given
during the week, will it is believed
more than compensate for time, labor,
and expense.
A few instances have occurred dur
ing my experience in holding County
Institutes, where teachers closed their
schools, came to the place of holding
the Institute and spent from two to
five days at the expense of the district
that employed them, and during the
whole time were seldom seen inside
of the Institute, or if they did make
their appearance, they were generally
tardy and then left before the Institute
closed, manifesting little or no interest