The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-08-28
School Superintendt's Report.


School Superintendt's Report.
According to the requirements of the School
Law present the following report, for the year
ending June, 1873. A marked improvement
in the method of teaching is taking place in
our Schools
One or two Teachers have failed, and few
more have been not many removes from 'very
poor, yet taken as a whole the schools of the
County are showing an encouraging mental
growth. For the past three years have urged
| the moro general introduction of Geography,
Grammar and History, U. S, into the schools
| Two years ago very small proportion of
pupils capable ofstndying these branches were
receiving instructions in them. 1t pleases me
TO report at this time, that each year an increas
ing number is receiving instruction in these
branches. For three years ending June 1871
but twenty-five were reported as studying His
tory, for the year ending June 1878, the num-
Der has increased to one hundred and thirty
seven. The measure is not yet full, but there
is encouragement in the progress made. More
teachers Of an advanced grade are needed. To
supply all the schools with such Teachers
would be difficult, almost impossible. To
remedy this difficulty, Directors should provide
one, two, or three schools according to the
necessity Of the easel in each district, in which
advanced studies should be taught, and to
which all the pupils of the district found
qualified, should have access. Thus with a
few schools Of an advanced grade, with their
teachers at good salaries, and with the remain
ing schools taught as primaries, better instruc-
tion at not much greater expense-ifany-tha
the present system incurs, could be secured.
| Kellerseville, Fennersville, Tannersville
| Brodheadsrille, Kresgeyille, Effort, Craigs
Meadow, Plains, and site, near Stroudsburg
in Stroud township, are among the places that
should be selected for such graded schools
The Directors of Ross and Coolbaugh, have
each built an excellent house during the year,
in Eldred the citizens of Christmans' Sub-dis-
trict built a good substantial house. The fur
niturc of the house in Coolbaugh was procured
of j. A. Bancroft & Co. That of the houses in
Ross and Eldred is Of the "h5me made' pat
! term though convenient and substantial A
lack of apparatus still prevails to great
extent throughout the county. The black
boards viii average less than twenty feet OF
surface to each school, about fifty per cent Of
this is designated in my note book as unfit for
use. In former report the distsicts provided
with outline maps and globe were designated,
the majority of districts are yet without them
No schools are provided with Dictionaries or
Gazetteers. Although, these deficiencies exsist
the attention of Directors have not been called
to them, except in special cases. The majority
Of districts are levying considerably more than
the average school tax and this with the war
taxes not yet disposed of, makes the burden
somewhat onerous, as may be seen by reference
TO the statistical tables. Several of our districts
have taxed themselves TO the limit allowed by
the law, and in one instance beyond this limit
1t is not a matter of surprise then that they
should fail in procuring all the apparatus desir
able. Notwithstanding as the districts get rid
of their bounty taxes" their Directors talk
freely of improvements to be made in the
schools. Better salaries, good teachers more
apparatus, and longer terms. BY the statisti-
cal table accompanying it, will be seen no hou-
ses are reported as 'frst class"
The houses at Tobyhanna Mills, Bushkill, |
East Stroudsburg, Delaware Water Gap, and
Kellersvile are essentially of this class, being
ample, large and warm, having plenty of air
and light, and good furniture and blackboard
surface. The Teachers Annual Institute was
held during the last week in November, 1872,
the instructors were Professors Woodruff, |
Coffin and Baer. The evening Lecturers were
j. Savage, Esqr, Prof. S. ]. Coffin and Hon.
John B. Storm The instruction given by |
these men was not cxcclled at any former insti-
tute. The Institute work was intended to sup
ply instruction in those branches in which
many of the Teachers were found deficient at
the last annual examination. regret TO state
that the list of absentees was made principally
from this very class. l am no great admirer of
compulsory Attendance, but if it is to have
trial in this State | am not sure but it would
be good plan TO apply it first to the attend
ance at Teachers Annual Institutes.
JERE. FRUTCHEY,
Co. Sup't. Monroe.