Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-06-23
REPORT OF COUNTY SUPER.
INTENDENT, d. f. M'KEE.

INIE ENDENI, II. r. M 'hEE.
The following report of Mr.. Mckee
County Superintendent, sent to Hon
J. P. Wickersham, State Superintend
ent, will be interesting to our readers
as containing valuable information in
relation to the public schools:
To Hon. IT. p. Wickersham, Superin
tendent of Public Schools Harris
burg, Pa.
SIR School matters in this county
moved along without much friction dur.
ing the past year. A growing feeling
in favor of higher education is notice
able, and directors and teachers are be.
coming more progressive and thorough
in the discharge of their duties.
HOUSES.
The erection of several new houses
indicates progress. All those erected
were frame structures and range in
quality from very good to poor. The
mistake of building them too small,
and the costly economy of constructing
them on very cheap scale is still prac-
ticed If some definite legislation could
be had that would establish the mini
mum of grounds and houses with re-
gard to their size, character and equip
ment, it seems to me that great good
could be effected thereby. 1t would
thus remove the possibility of erecting
new houses entirely inadequate to the
wants of the schools, or of locating
them in some almost inaccessible place
because the ground can be had for moth
ing. Such legislation could be enforced
by making certain requirements in re-
gard to the points mentioned essential
to the securing of the appropriation.
FURNITURE
Modern furniture has been largely
introduced both into old and new hous-
es. The houses of Clinton township
were furnished entirely in the new this
year at a cost of six hundred dollars,
and other districts supplied one or
more.
APPARATUS.
Some of the schools are almost who'll
ly destitute of apparatus, yet the large
majority have more or less while none
can be classed as having a sufficient
supply More attention is being paid
to that now than ever before.
EXAMINATIONS.
The large number of applicants for
examination rendered the work very
laborious, and made it necessary to re-
ject great many. Still with all the
precautions taken, too many reached
the established grade and had to be Ii
censed.
TEACHERS
Our teachers are realizing the neces-
sity of further qualifying themselves
for their duties, and many of them are
utilizing their long vacation by attend
ing a Normal School or some academy.
vIsITATIoNs.
All the schools were visited once
and few of them two or three times.
Five were not in session at the time of
our visit. The very open winter rem
dered the roads almost impossible most
of the time, and much valuable time
was lost in travelling, which, with good
roads, could have been spent in the
schools
DISTRICTS.
About one-half of the districts adhere
to the practice of having their schools
in two, and sometimes in three terms
"a fall and winter term, or spring,
fall and winter term. This system can
not fail to be pernicious, sometimes re-
sulting in the employment of three, and
often of taUo different teachers of total
term of fue and rarely exceeding seUen
months. Short terms induce the pay
ment of low wages and the employ
ment of the poorer grade of teachers.
The borough of Greece City closed up
its affairs as separate school district
with the beginning of this year, and is
now, as it formerly was, part of Con-
cord township. The village of Evans
burg, situated partly in Jackson town.
ship and partly in Forward township,
was erected into an Independent dis
trict last summer to commence opera
tions as such with the next school year
Taking time by the forelock, the citi-
zens erected commodious two-story
school house with the understanding
that the directors to be elected would
assume the debt and provide for it's
payment when they organize. The
old house was located in Jackson, and
the schools were managed by that
board, but the new house is located in
Forward, and the schools were manag-
ed the past year by the board of that
township. The house is creditable in
all respects, and marks the beginning
of a new era in educational affairs for
the people of that village and vicinity.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
There are now five schools in the
county where the academical branches
are taught. Most of them are in -four
ishing condition and in time must make
themselves felt. All the other private
schools, with one exception, are of q
parochial character and connected with
some church. st. Paul's Orphans
Home at Butler, Rev. T. F. Stauffer,
Superintendent, and the Orphans
Home at Zelienople, Rev. J. A. Kribbs,
Superintendent, are both well managed
institutions, and do much good in their
way.
INSTITUTES.
Our county Institute was held DUR
ing the last week in October, and prov
ed a success, although the time was
earlier than heretofore. A strong and
growing in interest was manifested by
the large number present at every ses-
sion. Its meetings are now looked for
ward to annually with more than COM
man interest. Prof j. H Young of In
diana, Pa, and Prof. E. A. Angel, of
A ID. in