Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-06-09

OSNo vi huO pubiiS oNhOoic' ihS WV
calumny Of indifference seemed to
pervade every household. My efforts
since then have been directed towards
enlightcning the minds and uniting the
people in the one great struggle for in
telleetual supremacy. ! have endeav-
ored to draw the affections of the peo.
pie nearer the interests of the children,
and in this, ] fiatter myself, have,
in degree, succeeded. At the open
ing of the schools last Fall / distributed
blanks among the teachers for receiv-
ing monthly and term report Of
the condition of their schools. These
| had published in the county papers
giving some intelligence to the people
OF the work in progress. From the
reports received at the close OF the
term | ascertained that more than one
thousand parents had visited the
schools during the term. ! have taken
advantage of the courtesy extended
me by the press Of the county, and
in two years have contributed nearly
two hundred columns of educational
news to the papers and had circulated
over three thousand educational circu-
lars and pamphlets. My great object
in this has been to keep the people
posted upon the value of intelligence
over vice and ignorance, and to I'M
press upon their minds the fact that
the common schools have a just claim
to portion of their sympathies, their
energies and their charity. These
sources of information have had a most
salutary effect in mouldingpublic sentl,
ment, so much so indeed, that have
never regretted the additional labor
and expense they have been to me.
NIGHT SCHOOLS NECESSARY.
/, from recent observations, am
forced to refer to the neglected boys
and girls Of our mining districts. |
visited the schools OF these regions at
time when the boys were out of the
mines and found great numbers,
whose ages ranged from twelve to
eighteen years, absolutely illiterate.
This is indeed q sad reflection. and il
becomes our school authorities toadopt
all available means TO "rescue the per.
ishlng," and care for those whose iu-
turo happiness and usefulness could be
greatly enhanced by, at least, an Gle.
mentary education. Decision 168 of
the Pennsylvania School Law confers
upon Directors the right to establish
night schools for the neglected and un-
employed, where such class is of
number sufficient to warrant the same.
"There is neither law nor reason to
support the idea that boy or girl
whom necessity compels to labor dur
ing the day for sustenance" shall, there
fore, grow up in ignorance-"a curse
to self and a burden on the public"
Directors have the right to have the
sessions of their schools held at such
q time as may meet the wants of the
majority of the children of the dis.
trict, or they may have halftime
schools, legally, if such will meet the
wants of the needy. The adoption of
one or all of the provisions Of the law
to meet the wants Of the needy and
neglected, | must heartily commend
TO the consideration Of those having
supervision of the schools in the min
ing districts.
SUGGESTIONS.
A summary Of the suggestions
needed for the continued improvement
of the schools may be briefly given :
l. A more thorough rudimental
training in the primary departments of
our graded schools.
2. The omission Of the higher
branches Of learning in the common
schools, until the course prescribed by
law is uniformity completed.
3. Due compensation and retention
in Office Of experienced, active and cul-
tured teachers.
4. The establishing Of graded schools
in villages and districts having the
necessary number of pupils,
8. The adoption OF such measures
as will give to erery child, Of the pro-
per age, an elementary education with
out regard to race, condition or servi.
tude.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding this, my Second An.
nual Report, | cheerfully commend to
the good people of the county the in.
terests of the thirteen thousand school
children, and trust the influence and
guidance of the home and the public
school may so cultivate their minds
and purify their hearts as to make
them perfect in oil the graces OF which
human nature Is susceptible,
The usual courtesies and kindnesses
have been literally bestowed upon
me during the year by the people, the
press and the Department, for which
my acknowledgements are most CRATE
fully rendered.