The Grange advance., 1873-10-22

important duty to perform, than that Of
employing teachers and fixing their sala-
ries. You would do we'll to consider
whether or not, for special excellence on
the part of teachers, larger outlays of
money might not profitably be made. In
my opinion they must from time to time be
made, if the best teachers are not to be
surrendered to more liberal cities. The
lowest salary is too much to pay poor
teacher; the best teachers are cheapest at
whatever cost. A careful discrimination
must be exercised, the capable rewarded,
and the incompetent and unfaithful unhes-
itatingly dismissed, or good schools cannot
long be sustained
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
The term " statistics" is apt to convey
to the mind only the idea of q confused
mass Of facts represented by figures. And
perhaps it is for this reason that more At
tention has not been given to the educa-
tional lessons of statistics, and that their
Importance in connection with school work
has not been more fully realized. We may
have learned reports by school officials,
wherein ore set forth in high sounding
phrases the brilliant success Of the schools
under their charge during the time which
the report covers, and their superiority of
standing over that Of any preceding stated
period of time, and unless their statements
are substantiated by the stern truths which
figures tell, they are not worth the paper
they are written on. And not only this,
such statements actually hinder the thor
ough work Of the schoolroom. Teachers
soon learn that sho,v and not thorough pro-
gress is most desired, and they will work &C.
cording.
Statistics are the abbreviated formal re-
cords Of 'salities-fects drought into shape
for philosophical inquiry. Said Napolen
l.: Statistics mean the keeping an
exact account Of nations sfairs, and
| without such an account there is no safety"
Goethe the German poet, says: 81 do not
know whether figures govern the world,
but this do know, they show ho~ it is
governed.
What business affords a field for sure
and successful labor without the lessons
that carefully prepared statistics give
He who would divest business life of its
hard arlthr .etic, and attempt to 20 along
without theI knowledge and use of numbers
will spee' dly find himself in trouble will
MS ooo' black, his baker, or, it may chance
tne om Ger of the law.
~ 4, surely: not one whit less impostsn
a1e educational statistics. The lesson
~ ~ teach with regard to the relative an
A6tpal standing of the different schools, i
the attendance, scholarship and deportmen
! Of the pupils, the ability, tact and faithful
ness with which teachers manage and il
struct those under their charge, should b
most carefully studied.
The records and reports must be correct
~ made or their chief value is lost. T
insure accuracy, exp erienoe teaches that
vast deal Of labor is required at the hand
Of Superintendents and Clerks. The re
cords must be carefully examined and re
ports corrected, else errors will be ver,
likely to exist which will materially affec
the general results. .,- IT,
In view of all these facts, your Superin
tendent has given much time and lahor +,
the preparation of the statistics Of OH,
schools. From month to month h. Ia,
carefully examined the reports Of teachers
comparing them with their daily record,
and corrected errors. He has don. ,ha
same with the quarterly and annual re-
ports and now he has the happy assur-
the comparative tables as str ictlv corract
he has given more labor to the preparation
OF the statistics of this report than he IL,
hitherto done. Several items Of intere.t
ana importance have been added and .s
wnole, It is the most complete and care
'ully prepared statistical report that has
yet been '.l submitted for you : consideration.
=! He only regrets that his predecessors have
ie1I no accurate records Of their efforts.
WITH Wltn which to make comparisons, in order
g deduee lessons of.wisdom nd::encour.s.-
ment. - @5zS