Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-08-09

June s, 1882.
Hon. Z. Z. H,ge~, Srpginfesdext Of
Public Instrctioa:
DEAR SIR lin compliance with the re-
quirements of Law, 1 submit the following
report Of the schools of Juniata county.
The report embraces statistics for the year
ending June, IsS., and suggestions and re-
marks covering 1881 and 1882.
We have un,nistakable evidence of prog
ress in school ~erk in the better attendance
at school, tendency to increase the length
of the schoo! term in nunrher of districts,
building first-class houses and furnishing
them with rene but themost improved fur
niture and raising the salary of teachers
generally over the county. The number of
children Of school age not attending school
Is growing less, and directors and parents
visit the teacher and 'pspils more frequent
ly than selore. Better care is taken in the
choice of text books and the selection of
school SITES and the health, comfort and
happiness of the child are made matters of
first importance.
Directors are learning that thore is no
economy in repairing old buildings that
have lew ceilings aad are not adapted TO
purpose in size or plan. Good houses how
ever, suitable in size or plan should not be
allowed to moulder and spoil. In this. case
theYeis economy'ic pstcking painting and
white-washing. Before the session begins
every house shouidbe thoroughly eYamin-
eG, cad defective hoers and tues, Iaarred
walls and damaged windows and shutters
repaired. Everyone will see the wisdom
in this. Quite a number of houses were
thoroughly renovated and made almost
yoe6 a. new. Il can mention Union and
Oakland, in Fayette, which were both re
painted, papered and reseated with that el-
.egsnt desk the Triumph Lock folding.
'Gesolanlus was also papered. So vas
Pert Royal in Turbe:t- Mexico in Walker,
Eden and Prosperity IN Susquehanns, Pert
Royal in Tur beu, and Red Bank in Milford,
were sil reseated with the best desk in the
market. Eight new houses were erected.
The fraNe in Fermanssh is 40 feet by 80,
with sceiling IL feet high, and contains
the; Loc.-folGing desk. The room is vain
scoted has plenty of good black board sur
face, no platform nor vestibule to annoy
the teacher and, all considered, is beauti-
fnl, caanon-sense bu;king, and those in
tending 20 build will do well by going and
examining it. Superior frame houses were
also erected in Tuscarsra, Susquehanna.
Monroe, Greenwood and Spruce Hill
These Esa.es were all hG;lt by contract and
at moderate cost, and Gsr good workman
ship reflect great credit gpon the contract
ors-1hree,brick houses ~ere erected, one
in Walker,4S feet by 81, enc in Delaware,
&c feet or 3, and another in Milford of the
came SIZE. These are fine structures and
in ioc atio:- cannot be exceeded if they can
be equaled. il the county no comment is
necessary. Che one in Walker was built to
Answer for s graded school when necessary
or engage an assistant for part Of the term,
and il meets these wants quite well. We
Sare now all b.ick honses in Walker but
r1ns, and nj D4 aware all but tgo. In none
of these eight new houses, however, was
ahere any provision made for ventilation,
and the ai-! is. &c be kept pure fer the forty
10 ninety chid=en that attend the several
schools, by tho Ssry imperfect means of
treDsoms and -shifting Windows. With
...l Co.. Ean n DIV
the ,stlillful teseaer may, and sometimes
does, cegnlate the condition of the atmos-
ptlere comparatively well but in large
nrmGe. Of rooMs / sind the air snti<ely IN
fit for.ohildren to-bzeathe. Some age filled
will gcs, which is, TO great extent, the
faux OF she teacter. Some rooms are filled
with sIcske arising Grom defective dIes or
pipes. Where a teacher is in earnest, has
tact, and IS not too lazy, such Shortcomings
do not issg continue, for he will like S man
of business, correct the evil himse!f or
promptly iaorm his nearest director Of the
matter The teacher is supposed TO k1ow
his immediate and ahsol,te wants. iif his
his own tset cannot readily contrive to sep
ply these he should go st once apptsse
the director sg his district and not in a
complaining stain tell il ts every body hut
him. "The OK" if is said, ssknoweth his
masters crib" and if heis not possessed
of less knowlodee than the OK he will know
where to 20 aud eken TO make known his
wants. Ii is NO unusual thing to find a
school room freezing cold on a cold day
the whole of the morning session. In some
the fire is not made right or in good time
Sometimes the stove is at fault, the pipe or
the fine. In all these instances parties
ouost 10 mutually inform each otter and
am assured great deal OF anf9rmation
vork be the result. A very inferior quail
;,x ot ru.l i. sometimes furnished. In one
Save noticed that the wood ior the
.,,;re term of five months was supplied for
Che low cum of two dollars and ninety
cents. she wood was of saplings, green
and wet. Sy putting it into the drsia OF
the stove aad first cooking and then trying
n. II would surn, and in ono case, whiie
driving wa. going on at night on the ish
,f January, 1881, the house at Straight
Water, in Crossword, was burned down.
S.,eraI houses lave been burned in this
.o.uuty in the sane way. Directors shonid
h.v the best fuel that can be obtained.
Dr,w in your Imagination the following
,,.,.re. The wood at the school house Is
gree, and wet, the aEs is dull and on 'no
vood uile somewhere. not in the sneo'
Tb. snow on the grouad is fifteen inches
aeep. IT Is Monday morning and the cold Is
,;,,sr and the wind wild. Children are
,,t,ny sheis.r behind trees and the corner
80 hou.s while the teacher comes down