Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-16

ing out such measures and use them
most proftably. Truly this is one Of
the bost steps to success. To not only
have a good system but to have the
teachers unanimously adhere to this
system. The Importance Of reviews,
the benefits Of programmes, the advant-
ages Of all the studies required by law
being taught to every pupil and many
other subjects laid down in our school
system are no longer subjects to be
disputed but only to be advocated to
be better developed.
lScholars.--The scholars attending
the different schools Of Penn township
held District Institutes during each al
ternate Saturday of their school term,
Their exercises consisted in essays, de-
bates, class drills and orations Their
meetings were well attended by citi-
zens and directors, and their work re-
flected credit upon the teachers who
assisted and instructed them. ] hope
the scholars OF many other schools will
try the same.
OFFICIAL WORK.
During the year held 25 examina-
tions examined 23s applicants; grant
cd 22S Provisional certificates; G Pro
iessional, and rejected 4; made 2l9
visits to schools; visiting all the schools
but two once and those of nine dis
tricts twice; held County Normal
School for term of twelve weeks
with an attendance Of 120 teachers
corrected and forwarded the Annual
Report OF each school district; alsc
one written, one statistical and twelve
monthly reports to the School Depart
ment at Harrisburg; attended 3 insti
tute meetings,h held education meetings
one County Institute, and one Norma
School
SUGGESTIONS.
No. l. A few directors still persist
in dividing the fvc-month term and
having part taught during the summer
months and the remainder during the
winter months This certainly can
not prove of any special benefit to any
parties concerned, but does great in
Justice to the scholars who desire an
education. These terms are generally
taught by two different teachers and
where good teacher has been EN-
ployed for the former term, an inferior
one will be employed for the latter, as
the good teacher will succeed in get
ting five month term, and five months
shool taught by two different teacher
cannot prove Of much benefit Many
other disadvantages are connected
with this that the directors are wei
acquainted with.
No. 2. The directors of few dis
tricts advocate the plan of their keep
ing the schools open only three or ioul
months during the year ON account o
the difficulty Of collecting taxes, claim
ling that they are willing to lose tn,
State appropriation, as it would be lcsi
than the amount necessary to keeI
their schools open one month. Thii
certainly is something that directors
have no power over. With the sam,
propriety that they could take off on,
or two months they could conclude L
have no school during the year. Tn,
State law, and not the directors, fixe,
the time at not less than five months
and the directors, by lessening the
term, would not only be openly violat
ing the laws of the State but cheat
ing the children out of one OF the great
est benefits granted by free State
Directors can economic by getting
good teachers at reduced salaries il
times like these, or by lowering the
other expenses OF the schools, but arC
required by law to keep the school,
open not less than five months. WoulC
not the better plan be to have closer
supervision over the work and max,
the school more profitable for thos,
who attend2
No. 3. We're the School Boards tC
appropriate small amount of money
each year to the Improvement of each
house and supplying apparatus it would
be but a short time until the houses
and grounds would be in good condi
ton and the schools be supplied with
all necessary apparatus But we have
school-rooms that have never received
any paint since they were built, and
the grounds have never been cleared
off nor fenced, being filled with rocks
and stumps. The school grounds
could, with but little expense and labor
be improved some each year. The
rooms, If not painted, could be papered
or whitewashed. One article of ap.
paratus could be supplied each year
and the schools would be made at.
tractive and pleasant for the pupils to
attend and the expense would not be
as great as that incurred through neg
lecting the property and keeping the
children in unhealthy houses, dark,
gloomy and poorly ventilated.
APPENDIX.
GRoUNDs.-Grounds of sufficient size
1859; grounds suitably improved, G.
HOUSES. Es.-Number in district, 1856
No. of frame, 1872; No. of brick, /; No.
Of log 2; No. built during the year, 7;
No. unfit for use, "a; No. badly vcnti.
lated, So; No. without suitable privy,
SO; No. of frstclass school houses, 60.
FURSIrURE.--Number with suitable
furniture, 100; No. with injurious furn.
iturc, 60; No. supplied with furniture
during the year, Q.
Observation-Disclosures well supplied
with apparatus, 43; No. without ap.
paratus worth mentioning, 80 ! No. in
which apparatus was increased during
Al. .,ao,