The Penn's Grove record., 1884-05-10
through.

In the report af state Superintend-
ent Apgar for 1888, we find the follow
ing rsport of the condition OF Salem
county schools by X. Henry Uolme, Su
perintendent:
In connection with my statistical
report of the public schools, L submit
the following statement Of their gener-
al condition.
Our county is n which changes but
slowly, and therefore we find but
slight variation in the statistics present
ed from year to year. The average
time during which the schools have
been kept open is nine and f0ur-tentha
months, while last year, it was nine
and one-half months; our school popu-
lation has Increased folty-siX, while
the number enrolled in the schools has
deceased thirty-fve. These three itims
represent the amount Of ~fuctuatiOn
from year to year, hut they are not a
satisfactory index to the quality Of
work which we are doing. Two years
ago We began the system of eXamina-
ton in all the schools Of the county,
and Il comparison of the papers sent in
that time with those Of the present
year, shows a marked improvement;
then, but one school attempted the
first grade questions, while last Spring
there were no less than eleven, III
which from n to three pupils took a
part in all of the examinations. The
first year | issued but two first grade
certificates, while this year l granted
twelve. The most gratifying part Of
the work is the fact that seven Of our
ungraded country schools took the y
animation and did the best work. !
can especially commend the work III
Indepenpence and Walnut Grove dist
riots, in each of which three first grade
certificates were granted; yet, in spite
Grove, the patrons of the school were
conte.t to see their teacher leave, rath
er than give her a Slight increase in
salary. 1t is hoped that some day the
people will realiza that good teachers
cannot be had at the beck of the hand,
and that there is just as much differ
nee in the value of teachers as there
is between gold and drosS. A compari
son OF second and third grade examina
tons, shows that there has been d like
progress in our mere elementary work.
The first year we issued lifty-two second
grade certificates, while this year there
were one hundred and two given out:
there were also eighty-three more third
granted this year than when we be-
gan. l started upon this work after
full consultation with the trustees, and
with the understanding that we should
stepif the results did not show a decid
ed improvement in the schools tho al
most universal testimony is that we
cannot afford to give it up. / have al
SO taken pains to get the unbiased and
honest sentiment of our teachers, and
the great mass of them are favorable
to the plan. The general opinion is
best expressed in the words of a lady
teacher who said, cit makes the pupils
work, and it makes the teachers work
too"
Since the late law for raising reye
rue for the schools went into operation
very few Of our districts have had to
resort to special taxes for the payment
of teachers salaries; yet some of our
trustees are still bound to save, with
no other result than TO Increase u use
less balance in the collectors hands.
a law compelling districts to forfeit
all beyond a specified balance might
correct this misery tendency.
Gradually the old houses are being
replaced by new ones. Districts Nos.
y (Manningtonl and 60 (|Pittsgroyel
have built good, substantial, new hous
os. and district No. 1 has so enlarged
.ts ta. uil- cas- to accommodate all the
ga