Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-07-24

considered ont Of place to repor1
fully but briefly the condition o,
schools as we shall find them.
! Careful notes were taken of ths
condition of the school property
location, and entire surroundings
with the view Of future use and
comparison. Depredations in mum
Der Of cases were committed by pu
pills on the school property. Justice
to tax-paying community demand,
that practices so wanton and injur
ious in their tendencies should not
be tolerated, and teachers should be
required to report promptly to the
directors any injury that they may
observe as having been done to the
school property. The absence ofthe
teacher duriug any part of the day
when the pupils are assembled, affords
the opportunity for much mischief
Some of the surroundings were found
III such an undesirable condition as
to leave little room for doubt that the
tastes of the children were not much
improved by them. We believe it
to be as much the duty of the teacher
to see that every part of the school
property il kept in proper condition,
and that every demoralizing influence
or agency be banished from school as
it is to give instruction from books.
Gross improprietics have been
committed against some of the teach.
ers. In Newton township, two fe.
male teachers were obliged to leave
their schools in consequence of the
outrageous conduct of some of the
older male pupils. Lawlessness and
disorder of this kind should not be tol.
Grated for moment in our schools,
and directors should see that teachers
are protected in the lawful discharge
of their duties, or if the faultlics with
the teacher and cannot be corrected,
let the proper steps be taken and the
school closed. It should be the OBJ.
ject Of our schools to train the
youth of the country for useful.
ness and good citizenship.
APPARATUS.
We cannot refrain flom calling at
tention of teachers and directors to
another very important matter we
mean that Of having schools fully
supplied with apparatus. A Web
ster's unabridged dictionary, and a
set of good outline maps, primary
charts, globe, a numerical frame
and suitable register, are among the
things that are indespcnsably nccessa-
ry to well conducted school. And il
affords us pleasure to say that there
are number of districts in the coun.
ty, that have seta commendablc exam
pie, in this particular, for others to
initiate. Whilst we shall ever urge
upon directors the propriety of sup
plying all the schools with the ncccs.
sary apparatus, it is equally as impor-
tant that the teacher should not only
try and use them in such way as will
benefit the pupils, but also to take
proper care of them. Wide awake,
live teachers know how to take care
of, and use them in the right man
ner.
IMPROVEMENTS.
Every school house lot should be
enclosed with good substantial
fence, and trees be planted as pro-
lection against the chilling winds OF
of winter, and also to furnish shade
for summer. This would not ON.
ly add to the beauty Of many a
schoolhouse, but be highly beneficial.
There is great need for improve
ments in the proper arrangement and
construction of the necessary out
buildings, so as to screen them more
from public gaze. In some instances
these buildings were found in a con-
dition absolutely unapproachable and
unfit for occupancy. We should re-
frain from calling public attention to
this matter were we not constrained
to do SO by sense of duty to the
children in our schools. Have not
such things an influence upon the
young? Are they not among the 81
lent teachers? 1t would not only be
a great advantage but saving to the
county were all schools furnished
with good shed in which to keep
the fuel from exposure to
the weather. Every school.
house should also be supplied with a
good we'll and pump. In some in.
stances water has to be carried a mile
for the use Of the school. Most oi
the school-houses recently built are
decidedly better in many respects
than those that were built at an ear.
ller day. All houses should have
curtains and blinds, so as to prevent
the full blaze Of light falling upon the
eyes of the pupils when at work.
Great injury is sometimes done to
the eyes, especially Of young chill
dren, by requiring them to sit for
hours, looking upon books, whilst a
strong, bright light is shining upon
them. We would most respectfully
call the attention of Directors to the
importance of having blackboards in
good working condition. In some
schools we find them almost useless,
being too smooth. In other schools
there was entirely too small All
amount of surface.
SUPERVISION.
The more we become acquainted
with the working of the schools, the
deeper the conviction that one great
agency for the Improvement and
prosperity Of the schools is not prop.
erly employed. We mean the sys.
tematic and faithful visitation of the
schools by Directors. The law spec.
ifics that each Sub-Director shall Wis.
it the school in his charge at least
twice in each term, and as q member
of the Board, he is also required to
visit schools. If the arrangement
could be made, so that each Sub-Di-
rector would visit his school month
~ and report the result of his obser-
vations to the Superintendent, it
would undoubtedly be productive of
much good. This matter has been
suggested to Directors in various
parts Of the county, and received
their appreciation. The State Super
intendent has given.it as his opinion
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