The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-24

Whilst tsrdnesS has greatly decreased In most
Of the schools the average attendance reaches
only about the same per cent, as last year. There
was considerable improvement in the attendance
of the higher grades which will average about 90
ner cent. for the year, but the extremely cold
weather of the last winter interfered very serious.
ly with the attendance in the primaries, and thus
brought down the total per centage. Absence ia,
Of course sometimes unavoidable, but If parents
would rightly estimate the importance of having
children punctual and regular at school, and
would more generally cooperate with the teach.
era in securing punctuality and regularity, II
would soon be reduced to minimum. We have
had very little trouble with truancy during the
past year. The few cases occurring have readily
yielded by promptly applying the natural and ne.
cessary correCtives.
The discipline of the schools, while mostly of
the milder forms, has secured remarkably good
order. In so far as the good OF the schools and Of
individual pupils allows II ls always best to teach
pupils to govern themselves under the influence
of sound principles and wise suggestions and di.
rections by parents and teachers but in the school,
as in the State there are always those who need
and require at times the strong arm Of authority
to keep them in subsection to the demands of pro.
priety and order, and to prevent, from evil exam
ples the ruin Of the entire school, We have not
found 1t possible to do away with corporal punish
ment entirely nor would we think II advisable to
do so; but our best teachers find comparatively
little necessity for the rod and the improvement
in this respect has been general in our schools II
gives me especial qualification to report that there
has not been single suspension or expulsion for
serious misconduct during the year, That, with
good order, the pupils have almost without excep-
ton, been making commendable progress In study.
can readily be seen from their written and oral
examinations, which, throughout the entire year
have been eminently satisfactory to the teachers
and to myself Copies Of the papers made out by
the pupils in answer to questions prepared by me,
and by the teachers in the High School, at the last
examination. will be preserved and opened to the
INSPECTION of members of the Board and parents
during the ensuing year, and hope that many
will avail themselves ofthe opportunity ofsatisfy-
ing themselves that our work has been well and
thoroughly done. Very mnch of this is due to the
ability and interest of the teachers in the several
grades of schools. No city in the State, l am
proud TO say, can show corps of teachers better
prepared for the intelligent discharge Of the
weighty and important duties and responsibilities
ofthe school work, or more conscientious in meet.
ing the requirements Of their position than can
be found at this time in the Canton Union School,
The expense Of maintaining our public schools
Is sometimes a matter Of grave complaint with
some people who, perhaps, do not take the trouble
to estimate the corresponding good accomplished
by them. After having given the matter great
amount of time and investigation, find that
while few schools like ours have been maintain.
ed at a very little less cost to the people most Of
them have for years required more money than
has been expended upon the school work In Can
ton. Indeed. all things considered the schools of
this city are among the most economical In the
State The teachers and superintendent are re.
Ceiying less amount for the same services than
those of Salem in Columbiana county; of Youngs.
town, In Mahoning county; Of Akron, In Summit
county, and of Wooster, in Wayne county, and
yetsome unreasonable people complain Of the ex.
orbitant salaries that are paid in Canton. For in
stance, the superintendents salary in the several
places named, are this year. Salem, 49, $50; Youngs
town, $500; Akron, $780, Wooster, 81 SOO Canton
81 800 and in nearly every case the othert in
proportion five ewantg good schools we must have
intelligent and efficient supervision and able and
experienced instructors and If Canton is not will
ng to pay Just and remunerative price for these
Just as skilled labor demands fair remuneration
in other departments Of service, there Is always
darnand for thaun alcaNuhaRo and VA tyiu Iora
them. There are those who may be willing TO
take the schools and work on lower salaries, but
will 1t be really cheaper to employ them in the
end? Lack Of experience and skill Is nowhere
more seriously felt than in the school work. Most
other labor concerns only material things and ma
terial interests the teachers work is TO train good
citizens, worthy members Of society, and moral
men and women in community; it deals with the
immortal minds and souls Of men, as well as with
their mortal bodies Better far better to get the
best teachers and pay them literally than 10 sup
port paupers and criminals, whose number would
be much greater but for the work accomplished
In our schools
Thanking you, gentlemen, for the kind consid-
Grafton with which you have ever treated me in
our long connection, respectfully submit this re-
port for such action as you may deem best
DANIEL WORLEY, Superintendent
CANTON, June II, 1875.
The following comparative table Is appended at
the request of the Board of Education. The cities
taken are presented only because they are the
ones most nearly related to us in school matters.
SALARIES PAID
q I'll nI Z ID ID