The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-06-25
Miscellaneous.
COLUMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT W, II. SNYDER.
To tie ,Satc Superintendent of Common Schools:
In submitting this, my second annual
report, accompanying my statistical to the de-
partment it is encouraging to be able to re-
port that there has been some educational
progress in the county during the year. We
have gain since last year of Is per cent.
in geography, II per cent. in grammar, per
cent. in history, II per cent. in mental arith-
metic, and l2 per cent. in written arithmetic.
The study of geography is too much neglect
! ed in many of our schools.
NeD H0useS.-Nine new houses were
| erected this year; in Benton, l in Catawis-
sa, 8 in Locust, in Main, in Madison and
. in Mt. Pleasant. The one in Benton is
two-story frame house, and the rest are good
one-story frame houses, They are all fur
Doubtless when those interested discover
that patent furniture, on account of its dura-
bility, if for nothing else, is much cheaper in
the end they will prefer it,
Hopses.-Ihere are in the county 1873
school buildings, 130 frame, q brick and
stone. The number reported unfit for use
are II frame and brick. We hope these
unfit buildings will soon give way to good
| new ones with necessary Cut-buildings and
grounds of sufficient size suitably improved.
Schoob.-There are 179 schools, Al of
which are graded, graded~during the year
at Benton these schools are scattered over
344 square miles Of territory, portion of
which is spar8ely settled, making long dis
tance for these scholars to attend school /;
Notwithstanding the long distance, deep
SHOWS, swollen streams and inclement wealth
er, the reports from Il majority of these
schools show better percentage of att md
ance than some in towns and villages.
| Apparatus-But little has been accom-
plished during the year in supplying the
schools with appropriate apparatus. Its i'm
portance has been overlooked by those whose
duty it is to provide these indispensable
aids. Following the especial instructions"
in the statistical note book, we are unable to
report any school well supplied with appa-
ratus. Thirteen possess all but few APP
propriate engravings and a gazetteer, The
majority Of the schools are supplied with
some outline maps, charts and notices, but
not sufficiently to avoid being reported
"without apparatus worth mentioning"
! C2eaaLaess.-I find quite an improvement
on this topic, We are keeping cleaner school
houses. Heretofore many teachers were
Indifferent to this matter, hence ! frequently
found the school-room very dirty. Last win
ter | found but few that did not receive fre
ouent application of the broom,and were
to record the apologies of the teachers VIII,
had these in charge it would require mucl
space The use of tobacco was found il
very few rooms. We hope this nuisance
viii be entirely dispensed with at school.
Teachers. We have some excellent teach
ers-tcachers that have done honor to tn
profession, in accomplishing a good work i
the field of education. Such teachers ar
cheap at any price; yet truth constrains Il
to say that we have some eschool-keepers VIII
keep for mere pay. The whole number q
teachers employed, 1S2-male 40; female
-; aycrageage of male 80 years female, ,
years. Average grade of certihcates-mal'
u; female, q. Number who hold proie'
sonal ertifcates-male, u; female
Number who hold permanent certificates
, male, 3 female, /.
J ,Saluies.-Teachers' salaries were increase
I in the following districts: Benton, Centralii
Conyngham, Centre, Fishingcreek, Franklin
+ IIemlock, Mitllin, Mt, Pleasant, Montou
Pine and Sugarloaf Highest salaries pal
to male, $50; lowest, S25; highest salari'
paid to female, 500; lowest, 10. Teacher
should be paid according to their qualities
/, tions, experience and success.
y County hstitWe,-The County lnstitu
convened in the academy at Orangeyill
y and continued five days with evening sc
sions. There were 1873 actual teachers
the county present, most of them during Il
entire week, besides "a number of director
; retired teachers and visitors from the yicin
ty of Orangeyille, The instructors prese
/. were Professors Griswold, Barrett and Nj
Dent, Of Dioomsburg State NoWal scho'