The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-01-12


are well managed" (Rupp's History q,
Carbon Conty) "The people of M9ucK
Chunk are remarkable for their industry
enterpriSe, intelligence, and hospitality. A
splendid ediiice erected at Muuch Chunk, foi
public school purposes, will vie with any
building of the kind in the State" (Histori-
cdt Collections Of Pennsylvania In the
miningand numbering portions ofthe county
the free system of schools grew rapidly into
public favor In lS43, when the county was
organized, all the townships within itsiimits
had adopted it, and had schools in active
operation. In lSII, there were three schools
IN operation at the mines on Summit Hill.
Nesquehoning, Rockport, Beaver Meadow,
and Weatherly, all had ilourishing schools.
The spirit OF progress seems to have caught
the fire, and began to show signs of educa-
tional life in the agricultural districts, which
are always slow to move. Friends of the
cause were elected for directors. The town
ships were divided into sub-dstricts. Old
Lu".e es were rc-modeled, and new ones built
| where 1t was deemed necessary. As the
| population increased, new sub-districs were
created, and new and improved houses erect
| ed, to meet the growing demands of the
schools. The first tri-ennial convention of
| directors met in Mauch Chunk, on the first
Monday in June, 1854, and elected J. II.
Slewers, gentleman of culture and .experi-
ence in teaceingto the Office of county super
lntendent. Mr.. Sicwers was warm friend
OF the public school system, and bv his in
domltable energy during his term of office,
three years. did much to break down what
ever preludices existed against it, by visiting
schools, giving advice to teachers, holding
public meetings, and addressing the people
ON the Importance of more liberal means for
the education ofthe young. "Wemust have
better houses and better teachers, if we ex-
pect to receive all the benefits contemplated
Dy the law" AT the expiration of the first
tlree years OF the county superintendency
the number of free schools had increasedtfroln
hlty-siX to siXty-tive, an increase of sixteen
per centum for the term. The houses were
greatly improved, and the schools more efli-
cient in every respect. Mr.. Siewers was
succeeded, in 1857, by Thomas l.. Foster,
Esquire, gentleman of excellent literary
attainments, Ia lawyer by profession). Mr.
Foster held the office for two successive
terms. The schools continued to improve
under his supervision. He gave more atten-
ton to Improvement in houses, ventilation.
furniture, methods of instruction, and better
classification of schools. Mr. Foster. after
six years service in the office, retired with
the kindly feelings and good wishes of teach
ers ana directors accompanying him. He
was succeeded, in 1868, by the present in
cumbent, r. +. HOiiord. The number OF
schools had increased from sixty-fye to
ninety-sX, but up to this time no attention
had been given to grading any of them.
Mr.. Foster, in his last annual report. saws =.
There are no graded schools in the county.
The nearest approach to it is in the towns
and villages. Where two or more schools
are required near each other, some effort is
made by directors to distribute the pupils
among the schools according to their ad-
Vahceinent, but regular system of eXamin-
atlons and graduatiOns from a lower to n
higher school has not been adopted. Ad-
missions and advancements are made by
orders from The secretaries, and upon recon-
mendation from the teachers. This system
Is adopted in Mauch Chunk borough, part
ol East Mauch Chunk, at Summit Hill, |
Nesquehonlng Wcatherly,and Beaver Mead |
ow' The other schools are neither graded, |
nor, in the modern sense, classified"
District institutes were held in all the dis |
trlcts where it was practicable. Up to this |
time no effort had been made to organize a |
county institute. In the fall of 1864 a call |
was Issued by the county superintendent to |
the teachers, directors and other friends of J
education TO meet in convention at Mauch |
Chunk, to adopt measures to secure a better
cooperation of the educational forces of the
county which resulted in the permanent
organ izatIon of county teachers's insti-
tute,' hqylng for its object the moral and
intellectual culture of its members, and the
general advancement of the educational in
terests of the county. 1t has continued to
grow IN favor with both teachers and direc-
tors, and has done much towards elevatinr
tle teachers profession and in promoting
the cause of popular education. Among the
noticeable signs of educational progress, may
be mentioned: lSt. Improvement in school
houses, furniture and school-grounds In
1868 there were only two tirst-class school !
houses in the county-One at Mauch Chunk
and one at Rockport. Now we have two i'm
Mauch Chunk, one at Summit Hill, one at
Weatherly, one at East Mauch Chunk, one
at Parryyille, one at ~eissport, and one at
Lehighton. lackerton independent dis
lriet has an excellent new brick school
house, received as present from Honorable
Asa fackerj all furnished with improved
patent furniture. There are also a number
Of very good houses, well furnished. in some
Of the agricultural districts. 2nd. The
schools, in all the districts where it is prac-
lcable, are graded. Mauch Chunk has an
excellent hi IN school, with Professor Barber
rs principal Mauch Chunk township mas n
central hsI school, which is meeting with ,
much favor. Many school-moms have been
adorned with maps, charts, globes, moito,s.
dictionaries, etc, To aid teachers and pupls {
N their work. 3rl. Higher culture in ,
eaehers, with improved methods of instrur- ,
Ion. Lltu"aturc, music aud drawing are !
leginnlng 10 receive considerable attention
n some of the schools. Whatever of prc- !
udicca may have existed in the miHts of /
men m reference to the trac school system.
nave heeu dspollci by the irresistible tidal +
wave of fight and KNOWLEDGE nowin, from ,
ne great Tree salrpul system .. It's fountain /
ouue
This brief anj imperfect sketch would be D.
till more So, ii failed to say that the peo- |
pie of Carbon county owe a debt of lasting [
gratitude To such men os II. q. Butler, Gen.
Ioln D. BcItoleDtc, Fisher Hazard, DR.. n. b. y
7eber, Jud ;e Amer, Charles Mecnd7cn, j. h
J. kemcrer, Paul Krcsge, the late Anthony G
and James Anthony, for the uu- Il
iring zeal in luboring for the good Of the Il
public schools. While the public schools 5
lave had such a grand march Of progress. a
'riyate efforts were made, at different times. h
o establish schools, but have not succeeded v
n making them permanent. la 1892, b
took company was formed for the purpose II
II starting school. The stock was sold, a