Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-06-18
SUPERINTEN NDENT'S REPOR7
OF Schools of Butler County.

| 4 l.
OF Schools of Butler County.
To Hon. Z. T. HIGBEE, STATE SUPT
/ have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing annual report of the public
schools of Butler county for the school
year ending June lst, 1884. 1t affords
me pleasure in presenting this report to
be able to say that the past year has
been one of substantial progress in
most particulars. More interest was
manifested by the patrons of the schools
than formerly; directors were general
ly more careful in the selection of
teachers and the attendance of pupils
was better than any previous term.
Notwithstanding these evidences of
progress too little interest is felt and
manifested by patrons in some of the
districts, and some boards allow per-
sonal motives to influence them in the
selection of teachers.
EXAMINATIONS.
Twenty regular and six special ex-
aminations were held during the year.
-Four hundred teachers were examined.
Eighty failed to pass and were not Ii
censed. Most of those failed in arith-
metic and grammar Many of those
who passed had been attending school
and took higher grade of certificate
than formerly. There are still few
teachers who are satisfied with present
attainments and who make no effort to
improve.
Fortunately for some of them, but
not so for the school, they hold per-
manent certificates.
Seven new houses were built during
the year and many more are needed.
Many of the old ones are unfit for use.
The houses are too small, the ceilings
too low and blackboard surface so limit
ed in extent as to be of little use. In
others it is so poor in quality as to be
practically useless. Plenty Of black
board surface is indispensable to sue
cess in teaching. Cranberry district
had it's old boards covered with MANILA
and heavily slated. They are now the
best in the county.
APPARATUS.
A number of schools has been sup
piled during the year with apparatus,
but flew sufficiently. Much of what
has been supplied is in bad conditio !,
and am sorry to say through the care
lessness OF the teacher, in some instan-
ces. Many teachers do not make the use
they should of the apparatus, nor do
they sufficiently encourage the pupils in
the use of it. Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary and a good Encyclopedia
should be found in every school room.
Globes, maps and charts also, but par
ticularly the former Pupils be should
required to make use of them daily.
FURNITURE.
Good furniture is indispensable in
the school room. All the new houses
and few old ones were seated with
improved patented furniture. There
are still several districts that have not
an improved desk in one of their
schools. Strange to say some of these
districts are among the most wealthy
in the county. Care should be exercis-
ed in the seating Of school rooms as
we'll as in the selection of furniture.
In some of those seated with patent
furniture the desks and seats are too
high and the desk 100 far from the seat,
rendering them inconvenient for writ
ing and injurious to the health of the
pupils.
VISITATIONS
were commenced October lst, and con-
tinued to the close of the schools. All
the schools but eight were visited once
and number of them twice
There are now two hundred and
sixty-two schools in the county. The
condition of the roads for part Of the
season retarded visiting somewhat.
Visits averaged fully one hour and q
half. The classification, the course of
study, the grading and the character of
the work were carefully inspected and
such suggestions made as deemed best
calculated to correct existing errors.
The "course of study" prepared for the
ungraded schools was taken up by
many of the teachers and successfully
carried out. The design of the Course"
is to induce pupils to take up and pur-
sue all the studies of the school and
thus systematic school work, by keep
ing all proftably employed. Idleness
is the bane of school. OF the two hun
dred and ninety-four directors in the
county, two hundred and ffty-six ac-
companied me in my visitations. In
many instances these were the only
visits made by directors to the schools.
Much Of the fear and trepidation prev
iously manifested by teachers and pu-
pills, at the approach of the Superin-
tendent, has given way and his visits
are no longer dreaded
INSTITUTES.
The annual session of the County
Institute convened at Butler, Novem-
Der 18th, and continued in session five
days The attendance of teachers was
not as large as that Of last year. This
| is doubtless due to the fact that some
boards of directors would not allow
the teachers their time whilst attend
ing the institute. Directors should al
low the time, but teachers should not
exact the holidays when this is done.
The earnest, enthusiastic teacher
will attend the institute whether time
is allowed or not.
Prof. John Ogden, Of Fayette, Ohio !;
Prof. George Little, of Washington,
D. c., and Deputy State Superintend-