Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-06-08
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS
REPORT.

Third Annual Report of M. L. Nc.
Quown, Superintendent of the Pub
lie Schools of Clearfield County,
for the year ending June 1,
1881.
The labors OF another school veal
have closed and in accordance with
the law we take pleasure in submit.
ting summary OF what has been &C.
complished, together with such sug.
gestions as seem necessary for the con.
tinued improvement of our schools.
There have been in every department
Of our school work encouraging evi.
dences of progress. In the employment
Of teachers moro than usual care was
exercised by School Boards, and in most
cases teachers were placed in charge
ofschools adapted to their qualifications
and experience. The result was fewer
failures in teaching than during any
preceding year OF my official connec-
tion with the schools. The work of
the earnest and successful teachers
(who were greatly in the majority
this year. was rendered effective and
praiseworthy by the careful training
of their pupils in morals, manners and
general culture, accompanied by ex.
collent methods of instruction and a
commendable system of reviews and
examinations in tho branches studied,
all of which are characteristics in the
work of the thoughtful and well.disoi-
plned teacher. In addition to the
good work accomplished in the school
room by this class Of teachers, their
influence and help were given towards
sustaining good Literary Societies, In.
stitutes and other educational meetings,
thus identifying themselves with all
the agencies that have tendency to
strengthen the profession of teaching
and educate the people to a higher
appreciation Of the true intention of
our public schools. The temporary
and dilatory class Of teachers formed
rather a small fraction of the whole
number employed in thecounty. Most
OF them manifested a desire to ignore
the more important duties of the teach.
er, except that Of drawing their salary.
1t is to be hoped that this class Of
teachers will soon become hopelessly
in the minority yet fears are enter
tanned that we will be compelled to
license more of them the coming year
than formerly, Avenues of trade and
business enterprises are offering such
excellent inducements to talented and
energetic young men that they become
disgusted with the economy of the
average School Board, and seek en-
ployment more lucrative. Many ex-
oellent female teachers are leaving the
profession every year, being pursuaded
by the superior charms of matrimony.
OF the teachers employed in the schools
during the past three years, seventeen
of the gentlemen are now either prac-
ticing or studying a profession, fifty
three have engaged in pursuits more
remunerativo than that of teaching,
while thirty faithful lady teachers have
secured those permanent certificates
which guarantee to them absolute
freedom from the cares Of the school
room, making total Of one hundred
whose places have and will be filled
with inexperienced persons. 1t is ap.
parent from this that it will require
very excellent inducements on the
part Of School Boards, and more than
ordinary effort on the part of the
Superintendent to keep the schools
from falling into the hands of an un-
tried and unframed class Of teachers.
Let School Boards determine at the
beginning OF the present school year
to pay premium on talent, age and
successful experience. Demand the
best teachers regardless of the cost,
aud accept no others.
IN HOUSES, FURNITURE
AND APPARATUS.
The past school year was marked by
he unusual number of new buildings
erected and the Improvements made IN
school houses, furniture and apparatus. !,
seventeen new school houses were
'rected during the year Unsurpassed
n the history of the county,, with
iufliciont capacity for the accommoda.
ion of twenty schools, while q cred. !
table number were improved greatly
n their internal and external appear :
'nce. The new houses are distributed
sfollows: Beccaria,l Bell, / Boggs, l;
3rady, ! Decatur, 1 Ferguson,
iraham, | Huston, | Lawrence, !
lumber City, Morris, Penn, |
'andy, 2 Union, ] and Woodward, 2. !
'pace in this report will not admit of .
detailed description of these build.
ngs. Suffice it to say, that they all, K
n architectural taste, bear the evi. :
cnce of progress. In point of excel II
1nce, however preference must be
.iven to those of Beccaria, Brady, Fer. Y
,uson and Decatur All bave been y
upplied with the best patent furniture, y
xcept those in Bell, Boggs, Union and =
Woodward townships, which were |,
eated with the cold style" furniture. !
Of the grounds belong. y =
'g to these new buildings are neces- : "
nry, but, no doubt, they will be suita. y
ly improved in due time. In all ',
Centy.sepen houses were supplied with !.
improved patent furniture during the [
ear with an aggregate cost of moro =
ban 81 800. The Board of Girard y
ownship supplied all of their houses r
nth the "Triumph Lock Desks"
I a cost Of more than $500. In add. d
on to the furniture placed in the new L
uildings above mentioned, old build. b
lgs were supplied as follows Girard I
'wnship, 8 Lawrence township, 4 &c
ike township, 3 Brady township, 8 81
ullch township, /. The Board Of Il
oshen township furnished each of ol
leir school houses with full set of dI
utlino Maps, a new Wall Map of 81
ennsylvania, and other useful articles in
apparatus. The Board Of Gulich Of
'wnship purchased n new American di
eading Chart for each Of their schools. IA
he Board of Graham township ex. re
,Dded considerable sum of money ar
repairing oil their houses and erect. W
0 tho necaaaarv outhuildinoa We Ell