The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-22
fLgLit <, PEgN'A..
May 31ss. 1851.

EA1lic K, PENN'A..
May 5Iss, ISL.
cgEslass.sDgSrs HgfogT.--In submit.
ting thisrly last report 10 the Department,
I am grailiied stu to he able 10 rrpoft prog
res-. Although our schools III many r..
-lrcis are not what si,ey ioud be, sc. II is
evident that they are intproyins. Il i
especially gratifying 70 beablc to report that
the year Just closed Vas inari,ca By more
interest manifested IN the welfare Of or
public schools tl.an The preceding year, and
that in many eases teachers salaries were
increased.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
Ten good, substantial houses were erected
during The year. Greater eaIe was exercised
in thcir location than formerly; but while
the grounds are generally large enough. in
a number of instances they are not improved
as they should be- The new houses have a
good blackboard surface and suitable furni-
ture. and in some instances old houses have
been remodeled and fitted up with desks OF
the most approved style. The plan already
adopted in some townships of furnishing
one house every year until all are supplied,
should be speedily followed by all the dis
tricts still in need Of better furniture. There
are stiIl some houses IN which may be found
the long desk against the wall and buckles
banch Of the olden tirse bnt happily these
are rapidly disappearing.
TEACHERS.
am glad 10 state that the great majority
OF our teachers are morally, intellectually
and socially vel qualified, tha, they have
labored faithfully to promote the best in
terost Of the cause which they have espous-
Cd. They do not generally receive com
pensation commensurate with their fidelity,
but we feel certain from present indications
that better day IS rapidly dawning for
these worthy pcdasosucs. As have before
indmated, there are, aud always viii be
some who shirk the labor Of the school
room, simply putting in time for money.
Should such be renunerated as they ought,
they would receive less compensation than
the teams.er or the servant girl.
EXAMINATIONS.
Fifteen public examinations were held
during the year. Two hundred and sixty
two provisional and five professional Ger
tificates were issued Forty-seyen appli
canis were rejected The majority of The
applicants this year were Older and better
qualified than those Of the two preceding
years.
TIIE COUNTY INSTITUTE
was held at Somerset, commencing Deem
Der e7,h, and continuing five days. 1t was
in many respects great success. more so
than usual. ReY. Charles Steck, Of Homer
City, Rev. Reynolds Of Mt. Pleasant. Profs
T. b. Moss and D. C. Murphy, of "Califor-
MIA State Normal SCHOOL, were the instruct
ors from abroad. Several local institutes
were held at different points in the county,
which gave general satisfaction, and am
convinced that such institutes can be made
a most effective aid in awakening good
educational sentiment.
ooScLrsIoN.
Sixteen years Of my life have been dcyot-
cd to the cause Of common schools, six of
which Ihave onicisted as Superintendent
In laying aside my responsibilities, I wish
to say that have endeavored to do my
duty without fear Or favor. am fully con-
scious that many Of my duties have been
imperiecay performed, chat 1 have made
many mistakes; but ask that these failures
be attributed TO the head rather than the
heart. Tie schools Of our boyhood are not
the schools for the present. This progress
i've age demands higher nobler, broader
education than they afIored. American
education ought to be the best in the world.
It ought to train our boys and girls to be
the wisest, noblest and most yirtuos men
and women on earth such an education
can only be guaranteed 10 the youth of our
beloved land through the agency Of live
schools, taught by 1--we teachers. In all our
schools the tendency or the teachers in
structions and example should be to give
pupils just views Of the real dignity of
labor, Of the infini.c superiority of virtue,
and the unspealable worth Of life. and the
spirit which should control It's conduct.
- TIC 1-iloIto dttil tLt Ditat - ttilu III
hand, and when they shall have lighted up
the minds ard warmed the hearts Of our
people injustice shall forever cease, and our
nation viii Tail the glorious dawn Of
brighter and better dag.
For SIX. years have been the recipient Of
many acts Of kindness from directors,
teachers and citizens throughout the county,
year after year as travelled and labored
among them, ] universally received their
aid AMI support in advancing the educa-
tional interests Of the county; for all OF this
I tender them my sincere and heartfelt
thanks and with the request that the same
kindness be shown my successor, / leave
the Office without any regret except that
which IS naturally felt on parting with
many long-:ried and true friends.
J. b. WmrEEy,
County Superintendent.