Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-06-14


t Grafton OF the two methods, perhaps, III
written is the more satisfactory to the appli
cants All members of the class having tn
same list of questions furnishes means OF as
eertaining the relative qualifications OF app!i
cants as well as determining their individual
, mental status. In addition, the manuscflp'
can be fled TO: reference if necessary. For q
oral method this, at least, may be said 1h'
manner and style of expression OF the aPpI
cant may be taken as test and details glyer
which, when written, are often ambiguous oil
so abridged as to create doubt of the appli
cant's Knowledge.
| TEACHERS.
Onr teachers are generally conscientious and
ernest | doubt whether larger percentas &c
of the members of other professions Offering
no greater inducements than The profession OF
teaching does-manifest the desire to improve
aad succeed that our teachers do StiIl, too
many are found Who make nothing but te-ct
book preparations, teach nothing but what the
text book in hand contains and barely pass ex-
animation. This fault, if it may be called
such, is perhaps the dregS of the old system
which prevailed in the schOol-coOm before our
public schools had advanced in general culture
| as far as they have done in latter years-TheTe
are few others who fail to accomplish any
thing for lack of that disc pline, systematic az
rangement and classification which VIII secure
| good order and promote studlousness. These
| difficulties, however, WI be eventually over
| come as teachers and school officers are grad
ualiy coming into the nowledgement that
| teaching is profession and not mere tenn
| porarv expedient,
| HOUSES.
! Eleven new houses were built duriag the
year and few of the old ones enlarged or
otherwise repaired. Tne new building are all
| frame except one, which Is brick; all are OF
sufficient size for present purposes, are well
lighted and, with few exception, better locat-
| ed than many of the OiG ones. Better means of
| ventilation than that of lowering the upper
sashes of the windows is needed to tecure proper
| temperature and pure air. Most of the school
houses have some play ground, but only few
| have grounds of sufficient size and a very few
| have grounds enclosed. The directors of Cen
| treville built a twostory house containing four
| rooms, three of which are in use. The school
has been graded, and, instead of two schools as
| heretofore, three were in operation during the
| year. The fact that all the new houses built
| during the year, aud a goodlv number of the
| old ones, were seated with improved patent
furniture indicates progre. in that direction at
| least Much of the old style furniture in
Is most certainly injurious to the proper physi.
| Cal development OF the pupils. Desks and
seats are too high and TOO far apart. To use
| them especially for wfiong, requires an un-
natural and injurious position of the body.
APPARATUS.
But few schools are well supplied with APP
paratus Some have been pretty well sapplied,
but for want of care and su table place t.
keep it, much Oft is comparatively worthless.
There ought to be IN every school-room book
case so constructed that globes, maps, charts
and other apparatus could be stored when not
| in use. Many houses are extremely deficient
in quality If not in quantity of blackboard
surface Whether board or plaster it should
be large enough to accommodate class o. class
medium size and by all means, should have a
al af ord int
so frequently used. 1t may not be the province
of teacher to cali attention to these deficiencies,
but that it is Their right to do is obv Gus, and
/ am inclined to think that if teachers would
call the attention of directors to them, they
would be promptly remedied.
TEXT BOOKS.
Whether or not directors have the right to
furnish text books with the public funds, seems
to be an unsettled question. However, two of
our Boards did it and find it matter of
economy as well as very great aid to the
teacher in classifying his school and to the
pupils in theIf advancement, Want of uni,
formity and of books suited to the capacities of
the pupils is a hindrauce to progress in some
districts. Directors in these dist lets would
find It advantageous TO their school TO adopt
uniform system.
COUNTY INSTITUTE.
The annual institate convened at Butler,
of the weather the attendance at each session
was large. Much interest was man Tested by
the people. As a means Of securing better
work in the school-room and of elevating pub
lie sentiment in favor of better schools the ELI.
cheney OF the annual institute is not questioned.
During each session time was given the teach
ers for discussion of various topics many took
an active part-Chose to whom duties were
assigned responded promptly and greatly ex
ceeded expectation. Informal meetings were
held by the teachers from eight to nine, A. NJ.
More work was done by our teachers than at
any previons institute aud their efforts and
abilities were highly spoken of by many.
District institutes are kept up with good sue
cess in a few Dissatisfaction properly con-
Quoted they are not only means of self cuI-
ture to the teacher but secure better and more
regular attendance at school, reach aud inte
est parents that cannot be reached by means Of
the county institute.
TEACHER's ASSOCIATION.
The Butler County Teache s. Association or
ganized one year ago under the direction of
Rev. I. +. Staufer, of st. Paul's Orphan
Home, and PROS. Bancroft and Tinstman, Of
the Witherspoon Institute The second session
was held at Butler, May 25th and 26tb.
Although the enrolment of teachers was not
large, the association was a success. The pa
pers read and instructions given were of high
order Col. J.. F. Copeland lectured during
the evening. His day talk, "The Office and
Work of the Teacher" was fine. The record
of the association, thus far, has been a han mo.
nious aud prosperous one. We trust as the
years go by that the association may continue
to prosper and to increase in numbers and in
influence.
DISTRICTS.
Many districts divide the school year into
two and some into three terms of from two to
four months each, employing in some instances
three different teachers during the year.
I r I.ts t.aa
| schools are too frequently taught by inexperi-
enced teachers. Teachers beg inning for a term
| Of two months lay plans for only two months,
and IN sons cases have no definite plan IN
view. 1t would improve schools where the
| term does not exceed six months, to have one
continuous term taught by well qualified
| teacher
| YtsI ATOMS
OF the two hundred and sixty schools In the
county, two hundred and forty-two We're visit
| ed once and some of them twice. OF the elgh-
teen not visited, eight were closed at the tine
of visitation in those districts. The schools OF
| Marion district were all closed before they
could be visited. Most of the houses were
! found in as clean and tidy a condition as the
surroundings will admit. The walls OF some
were nicely decorated with pictures. or forest
leaves, adding much to their appearance and
making them apiie attractive. These schools
| were generally tau sht bv ladies. Tho c0ndi-
ton Of the roads and the ;nclemeDcy of the
weather for the greater part of the season re.
| tarded visiting to some eNtept VISITS aver
aged fully one hour. During this time eu-
deavored as much as possible to ascertain the
teachers method Of teaching mode of disci.
pline and classfcations, and to offer sugges-
tions where | deemed it necessary.-Was ac-
oompauied by one hundred aud nine directors
and met fl fly one patrons in the schools.
OBSTACLES.
few of the obstacles in the way of NOR G
rapid improvement are the too frequent
change of teachers, low salaries, short terms
teachers who resort to teaching as a temporary
eYpedient rather than a profession. Want o
compensation for services Of directors, irregu-
lar attendance and tardiness of pupils, tex
books unsuitod TO their capacities, parenta
cooperation and closer local supervision.
IL MEMOE,A.
Death invaded our ranks and took two of ou