The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-06-28
MnaIn.


The success in this department has been most
gratifying. Miss Webster has by her efficient la
bors and unlrlng devotion to the work rendered
this department very effective.
WRITING.
For the Grst time in many years We did not have
a special teacher OF penmanship In our schools
the Board having last year decided that writing
shall be taught by the regular teachers In their
respective departments. All went 10 work with
determination 10 do Justice to this important de.
partment Of school work, and have obtained good
results.
DRAWING.
Nothing has been done in drawing during this
year. suggested TO the Board at the beginning OF
the current school year, that unless provision be
made 10 teach drawing properly, II were better
not to attempt to teach 1t at ALL as the results at
tanned when this branch Is taught by persons who
have not especially prepared themselves for this
work. do not justify the expenditure necessary for
material, and the use Of the time which may be
otherwise employed. Drawing should be taught in
the public schools, but If taught at all 1t should
be taught thoroughly. The value OF instruction
In drawing for builders and mechanics Of all class
esand its importance as means 0fmental discip'
line and esthetic culture is not as fully appreciat
ed as II should be and this subject deserves more
attention than 1t has heretofore received in our
city, where there are 80 many hundreds OF me-
chanics whose children willleave the school room
for the machine shop. Instructions and practice
In drawing would also greatly aid In the teaching
of penmanship would therefore recommend
the employment of special teacher Of drawing,
providlnga competent and practical person can
be secured at a reasonable salary, and that he be
required to meet the teachers once each week To
give them instructions and prepare them to carry
out his directions In the daily exercises in their
schools.
In this way the regular teachers would become
prepared in the course of time, to teach this sub
lect successfully without the aid of special
teacher
THE UNeRADED DEPARTMENT,
This department was organized at the beginning
OF the winter term to accommodate those VINO can
go to school only at irregular intervals those who
have been kept out of school until they have out
grown their grades and consequently rather than
20 in the classes to which they would properly
belong will not go to school at all and others for
whose interest it is to select few studies and de-
vote their entire time to those instead OF taking
the full course. The number Of pupils enrolled
during the Winter Term was slxty'three, during
the Spring Term twenty.nine. The attendance
has been somewhat irregular Twoteachers have
been employed in this department; the school,
however, hls been very small during the latter
part of the Spring Term, and probably 1t never
will be much larger during the fall and spring OF
the year. and therefore 1t will not be necessary to
employ more than one teacher for this school
throughout the entire year. During the winter
season an assistant will undoubtedly be needed.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Atthe opening of the fall term the new South
West Building, containing six rooms was occupied
and an addition of two rooms was put to the South
School, thus making eight more departments than
we had prior to this year, During the year the
old West Building has been repaired. At amode'
rate expense the rooms have been made comfoIta-
Bile and cheerful, the high school room has been
enlarged, and the old furniture in the building
has all been taken out and replaced by the most
improved kind now in use.
The furniture has been the chiefitem ofexpense
and this can at any time be used for new build
ing. During the progress of repairs, the building
was carefully examined and all the defects found
were remedied.
THE COURSE OF STUDY.
would recommend that the study of the natur-
al sciences chemistry, physics and botany be
discontinued in the A and Gram. grades, as the
pupils in those departments have enough to do
with the common branches. If the teachears can
find time to give oral instructions in those matters
1t is desirable that they should do So but the pu-
pills should not be required to get books nor should
A. 1, m examination those
subjects. United States History is now taught two
wears in the Grammar school and one year in the
High school Two years study is amply sufficient
to learn the important facts in the history of our
country, and as this is subject that can be stud
led without the aid ofa teacher more easily than
Others think it would be well to discontinue this
branch in the High school, and in its place con
tinue arithmetic and grammar each half yeal
longer. Pupils need more assistance in these
studies and although they can pass satisfactory
examination, yet many on account Of the lmma'
turity of their minds have notfully mastered them
when they leave the grammar school and would
be greatly benefited by half years additional
! work in each. More attention should be given to
composition throughout all the grades from the
primaries up, and Rhetoric should be taught in
the High school. hope the course will be SO
arranged as to find place for this study.
CONCLUSION.
In this report have endeavored to present a
fair statement of the school work of the year and
the present condition of the schools, and have
made such recommendations and suggested such
changes as In my estimation will be for the bes
interests of the oOlshereafter. Permit me to
assure you that If during the year have failed
In anything 1t was not for want Of interest in the
| good of the schools, and 1t is with no ordinary
feeling Of gratitude that I acknowledge the uni
form support Of the Board of Education, and the
cordial cooperation Of the Principals aud Teach
ers with me in all efforts In behalf of the schools
Respectfully,
JOHN H, LEHMAN, Supt.
CANTON, O.. June 2Sth, 1877.