The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-08-12
Co. Supt. HoGord's Annual Report

tudultu tllS Wtbh w BiNNS'N WI DNi
readers the following Report of the
condition of the Carbon County Schools
for the present year
Prominent among the evidences of
educational progress in our county, may
be noticed the improvement in the new
school houses over those built eight or
ten years ago. Since my last annual
TepUri, four new houses have been built
two in Lower Tuwamensing, one in
TOwamensing, and one at Summit Hill,
in Mauch Chunk township. The latter
deserve, more than a passing notice it
is a handsome, three stO'y frame struc.
ture. 4Sx60 feet, and cost about Sl2, coo;
il contains six school OOms, with the
necessary halls and cuthes-rOoms; four
of the schOOl-rooms are each 24S4S IT.,
ana - feet in the clear from floor to
ceiling; the rooms on the third floor are
each 2lx42 feet, and ~ feet from ilonr
to ceiling. The subject of light, heat,
ventilation and painting were all con
sidered with reference to the health and
comfort of the pupils. The rooms are
all furnished with the latest improved
seats and desks, ample black board sur
face, and all needful apparatus-globes,
outline maps, charts, dictionaries, school
notices, &C., to aid teachers in their
work. The building is surmounted by
a tower, 20 feet high, containing bell
and fine town clock, which adds much
to the appearance of the building as well
as to the convenience of the people. 1t
is an honor to the district to possess so
fine a school house, and reflects great
credit on the Board of Directors, who
deserve the warmest thanks of the peo-
pie for it.
There are still number of school
houses in the county that are unfit for
use-two in Lower TOwamensing, three
in Penn Forest, three in East Penn, and
one in Lehigh township. BY a little
display of energy on the part of the
Directors in these districts these un-
slightly, badly ventilated, and unhealth-
thy substitutes for school houses might
be replaced by good, substantial attrac.
tive and healthy ones, worthy of the
name, which would be an honor to the
Directors and blessing to the children
of the respective districts. Some of the
old houses have b,en repaired, while
many others need it sadly. School
houses, il kept in good repair and well
painted, would be much more attrac-
tive to children and last much longer.
But little has been done during the
past year towards improving school
grounds. with very few exceptions
they remain all untenced aud ungrad-
ed, and some are really III an unslghtly
bad condition. All tie schools are now
provided with outhouses, but some are
put up in such u rough way, that they
hardly deserve the name of clubhouse
In some instances where good outhouSes
are provided, they are so abused by lm>
proper use that they become nuisances.
Directors should SEE that all the school
houses, with their grounds and surround
ings, are put in proper order during
vacation, and then hold their teachers
responsible for the time they have them
in charge for all unreasonable wear ana
abuse. and If inconvenient for Directors
to take charge of them themselves du .
ring vacation, on account OF dista nee
from the houses or for other causes,
they should appoint or authorize some
person living near by to take them III
charge. Much damage has been done
to school property during the time the
schools are closed, so that 1t becomes
necessary for Directors to take stringent
measures to prevent this species oi
vandalism.
The graded schools of Mauch ChunB
borough were very successful under INT
management of an intelligent Board OF
Directors and Prof, Barber, rs principal
A class of eight, after passing thor
ough examination, graduated from the
high school in creditaDle manner.
The graded schools of Lehighton
East Mach Chunk, Weatherly, Weiss
port, Parryville, and Packerton, shov
very satisfactory results, but thei
grades are not so thorough uor tn
standard so high as desired.
The Directors of Mauch Chunk Twp
have taken an advanced step In ap
pointing Prof. S. IL. HOllinger, princl
pal of the graded schools at Sunni
Hill and district superintendent ii
was required to make monthly Visit
to all the schools in the district, eXamIn
schools, when necessary. make sue
suggestions to teachers as he though
proper, in regard to their methods {
teaching and school government, an
report the results Of such visits to tn
, Board of Directors at each MONTH
meeting also to hold semi-monthl
district institutes, and report the resu
, of each institute to the Board of DlreC
tors. By such course of close super
vision, the schools were greatly beneh
ted, and teachers encouraged in sys
: tematic course OF improvement,
t methods of instruction, as well as
> the different branches, required to
b taught in the schools. Teachers wei
e paid the same for attending institute
t for teaching. A central high scho
was also established in this distriC
which places within reach of all u
IS children in the district, who wish
= avail themselves of it, the means OF
K liberal education. The Board OF Il
district is composed Of intelligent, liv
!, active men, who are determined to
10 their whole duty and to make TN