The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-06


were almost as many classes in each bsacch
pursued as pupils in the branch. Two or
three authorities in each reader or grammar
were no strange occurrence. until our board
adopted, and we introduced,
A UNIFORM SERIES
in every subject. 1t is. perhaps. our great
est achievements, TO have reduced our text
took chaos to order, and to completely
suspend the hearing of two or more classes
in the same grade Of given
branch. But it is done: and the
children have thereby secured to them the
benefits of time saved and teaching conoen-
trated. 3. Notwithstanding the sad mis-
take made by the county commkcsiorers in
1873 by cutting down the trustees s>eess--
menus SO as to almost deplete the towns 10
treasures, constant Improvement n
school property has been progressing. Fullv
third OF our school houses have reoent.v
been re-sested. The old back breaking box
nas given way to the elegant and decentiv
finished school desk. New floors. new roots
new stoves, new fences, new gates are rather
plentiful now in regions where two years
ago they were sadly needed. There must
have been hundred blsckboarCis in tht,
county where our duties commenced which
were unns for use. To-day there is not one
10 a totally ruined condition. The chill
drens' private accommodations have
always been so meager and in 81
filthy state that coarseness OF
habit, thought and ex preston was in fear
fully dangerous state OF cultivation. Msnv
new privies have been built ana the oid
have mostly been repaired and c!eanssd-
C-llinEs and inner walls have boez White-
washed and the WOOD work has been
painted. Many houses have been Handsomely
ornamented by hanging pictures and wresths
OF evergreen ana polishing the stoves.
From reports received st the hand OF ak
trustees this year and Of all the trustees last
year, we estimate that a very considers 5le
gain has been made in the school eu.on-
rent, Perry township shows an increase OF.
l23 per cent. in be= school enrolment and
one OF 13 5 per cent in her average attend
area. This Is not because the to6nshio ASS
more children, she has not so nsnv
"a last year by twentv-l,s5
Try the multiplication table on this and sse
whether 1t is worth anything. As We found
last fall, tho
COST OF EDUCATING A CHILD
is about IS per annum. sx47--ss76 "a aee
township. The paper showing tho gain OF
this township last year is lost. Bat in
Lawrence township the gain was
80 per cent, and in Decatur over IS.
This interest on the peoples part il 40 &C
cident. 1t is one legitimate result OF the
active operation of our law, and it is aas
whose good can not be estimated in dollars.
We may see how, in our first year. we u
duced tho psople to utilizs - 4,O0s, aud, n
our second, more than s6 600 or their tuition
money, and that there are yet Gvvo
such sums annually wasted by
irregular attendance. But If we could utii-
iZe the entire forty thousand and multipIy
our gain By one hundred, we should net
arrive at the value of the real gsin. The
beneht is thing not susceptible OF calcasa-
ton. 5. Our teachers do not punish much
now. The CAD is barbarism.
of the past. Of the five and a half score
teachers Ia this county, scarcely q score fE-
dulge in recourse to the rod. We msY szy
none az all have bsen guilty OF violence,
though one did report thirty-five cases
WITHIN two months. From the records
which have been carefully kept during the
entire year nov closing, We
determine that only four hun
dred and fourteen cases of punishment
have been reported. The monthly reports
are certified TO by the teachers iD language
as sacred as the language of an oath, ard We
believe them mainly truthful. More tban
four hundred and fifty such reports have
been received mentioning no punishnsentS.
Those who cid report cases did not always
mean whipping. But we "guess" the whip
was used ireQuently by psrhaps fifteen .-
twenty teachers and almost or entirely il.-
nored by the others. This We consider
greet improvement in
THE ELEMENT OF HUMANITY,
and much of it is due to our system OF re-
porting. 1t is worth something to know
that 500 months teaching can be done in =
year in one county with no stroke Of the
cruel switch. We have but four or I've
,eachers now who are sufficiently 6lshyto
use tobacco about the school house, ,azd osaer
styles of fiithiness haYe almost disappeared.
rne General Assembly seemed TO fancy the
work worth about 50 a dayl III q suDerfn-
-endent is not worth more money than East
70 IS not a mt man Tor such a load OF re-
sponsibiiity as the Office entails on its
holder. Ii he travels among the schools lis
horse and buggy are worth 50 day. If ha
writes letters and receives reports his
postage, printing and stsligaery
win swallow up the half OF fx
IL is miserable and costly ostch-psnny for
soms man who is wholly sngrossed in ether
business. 1t is a bait for some young and
mex perienced tyro who Graves the small in
iueement TO help him into business. Many
IF our teachers receive more money than
nat. There is mockery about
three dollars day, which secures to the in
cumbent of such post the disrsspect OF his
He's nobodyi make
more money myself than he makes" The
nc wspapers make sport Of him for scUeptIng
Z post so humilisting. "Wby does he n0t
yet better posiiion?" "What is the
real value OF a mans talent when ne will
assume the responsibility for 100000
worth of tuition and school property a.
three hundred dollars year," In our fore
going report We have sketcbed only q few
things, whereas many more as worthy OF
note could be cited. And yet it must not be
Ioferred that we regard our system per
Iectly successful. Our schools are not
perfect. But few Of them are
sven good. None OF them are sufficient for
ha QhitOr rams, neadQ HOn naJnfuliF
minded of this in your present enumeration,
wherein you see in most of the townships
falling short" This as you have already
observed, is because men of spirit, craving
good schools tor their chiidre1,
Unless the Supreme Court can determias
hat the new law is uncons.ituliOnal las Ne
mink il isl we shall be com ne,lai I, lnoN