Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-06-20

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this is perhaps due to the fact that most
of our teachers are either teaching or
attending school. There are at present
eight private schools in the county. In
four of these the academical branches
are taught and students prepared for
college, viz, Witherspoon Institute,
West Sunburv, North Washington and
Prospect Academies. These institu.
tions are all doing good ,cork, are so
situated as to be within easy reach OF
nearly all parts of the county and it is
expected that teachers will avail them
selves of these advantages and prepare
themselves for better work in tie school
room. The other schools are with one
exception parochial.
An obstacle in the way of progress
is the want of system in taking up and
pursuing the branches of study in our
ungraded schools. In too many
schools pupils take up only such
studies as they prefer This is mis-
take. Pupils should take up all the
common school studies as fast as they
are capable, and pursue them until
they have finished the course. A COM
mittee composed of four leading teach
ers and the County Superintendent
prepared "Course of Study" for the
the ungraded schools, which we trust
will remedy this difficulty. We conf
IDENTIFY hope the several Boards of Di-
rectors will adopt it and assist the
teachers introducing it into the schools.
The course is flexible but we hope it
will be followed as closely as possible
and that teachers will remember that
the responsible duty of adapting it to
surrounding circumstances will depend
upon them more than upon any one
else. Should there be any thing in
it not clearly understood it is expected
that no time will be lost in obtaining a
complete understanding of it. Algebra,
Drawing and Physiology may be omit
ted unless directed by the Board
All the schools in the county were
visited once except six. Some were
visited twice and few three times.
The schools not visited are situated in
the following districts: Allegheny, i;
Buffalo, 1; Mercer, /; Middlesex, l.;
and Worth, 2. These schools were
temporarily closed at time of visitation
in these districts, excepting the one in
Buffalo. The number ofschools, short
ness of term, and the loss of time in
travelling from one school to another
will not allow q visit of any great
length. / endeavored as far as possi-
BILE to acquaint myself with the classi-
fication of the schools, the methods of
instruction used by the teacher and the
interest taken by the pupils l made
such suggestions to both teacher and
pupils as | deemed necessary and en-
deavored to make both teacher and
pupil feel that the visits of the County
Superintendent are not for the purpose
of criticism or fault-fnding but to as
sist and encourage them in the import
ant work of education. / was accom-
panied by one hundred and nineteen
directors and met ffty-four patrons in
the schools.
The outlook for our schools is prom
Using. The people are becoming more
interested in them, fact due largely
to the interest and enthusiasm mani
tested by the teachers themselves
Much work yet remains to be done and
requires earnest, faithful and united
effort on the part of all concerned. In
conclusion thank the directors and
teachers for their earnest cooperation,
the patrons and pupils of the schools
for the many favors, kndnesses and
hospitalities enjoyed at their hands ;
the Department of public Instruction
for advice so kindly and promptly given;
publicly acknowledge the value and in
huence Of the press as an educational
agency, and thank the editors for their
generous favors and encouragements.
JAMES III. MURTLAND,
Sup't of Schools.
RutIor Iuno Ia 1899