The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-06-28

| ing from high schools, without any pre-
fessional training whatever, as teachers
of primary schools, on the assumption
that il is easiest for them to begin there,
has been the bane Of graded schools all
over our country. 1t is bad economy to
employ poor teachers at low salaries for
the primary schools when high salaries
are paid to the teachers Of tho higher
grades. Tho best teaching in the high
school can npver Undo the harm that was
done in the primary school. If the
foundation has been poorly laid, there is
little gained, except in outward show, by
putting French roof on tho building
We take no little pride in being able 10
say that intelligent directors all over tho
county are beginning to realize this and
are taking steps to institute reform
which has not yet been made even in tic
schools OF many Of our large cities.
otR HIGH SCHOOLS.
There are but few schools in the ooun-
ty that can, with any propriety, be called
high schools, yet IL number that are
properly grammar schools bear that
mime in the community. These schools,
with rare exceptions, have been in tho
| hands of teachers Of thorough culture
and training, and have done excellent
work. To secure better attendance, und
to induce pupils TO remain u few years
longer at school than had been custom
airy, we prepared, Il few years ago, with
the assistance Of the principals Of these
schools, q course of study for them, at the
completion of which a diploma, or cer-
tifcate was to be awarded. This has
had the effect of building up these
schools and raising the standard OF
scholarship IN them. Glasses have fin
ished the course this year at Lchighton,
East Mauch Chunk, Weatherly, Auden-
ried and Tresc!iow.
The high schools at Lehighton, East
Mauch Chunk and Weatherly have Il
very promising future. The high school
at Weatherly has, within the last two
: years, gained the first rank in the coun'
ty. The schools of Lansford are also
rapidly coming to the front. The higl
, school at Mauch Chunk has been seri
ously crippled by the consolidation O
the grammar schools with it and requir
ing one teacher to attempt to do tht
, work of two This was very unwis
2 step on the part of the board of director
, and was entirely unnecessary. The mcr
saving of money in school matters, as il
private business, is often poor economy.
/ EVENING SCHOOLS.
a Evening schools were open part OF til
It year in Mauch Chunk and Banks town
i ships, and were largely attended. Tho
c we're in charge of the teachers of the da
+ schools.
If PRIVATE SCHOOLS
d There are two private summer school
d in the county, whose object is to prcpai
]. teachers for the public schools. I'll
Sc one is located at WeissPott, the other {
rs New Mahoning. Both have been doin
" excellent work and deserve large pa
j, r,nagc. The school at Centre Square
rs OF high grade, and offers facilities e
IN the study Of the Classics and Mathema
" is sufficient to prepare students for Il
Of sophomore class in College. 1t was c
IN t,blishci in 1877 and has been in ST.
er cessful operation ever since.
'K IMPROVED METHODS or TEACHING.
" There is, perhaps, no part of OF
school work in which More marked pr
gress has BEEN made, within the last fc
- years, than in the careful study and q
- plication Of more natural and ration
!, methods of teaching by our teacher
- Three years ago, on visiting the schoc
" for the first time we found in very mai
of the schools in the rural districts, al
in many of the primary schools in o
towns, antiquatel traditional methods
Ic teaching that are now universally co
III dcmneI by advanced educators. '
e' found it necessary not only to expla
ni the new methods to teachers but also
ne illustrate them in many instances
III teaching classes in their presence.
Ps first teachers experienced some oppo
III ton to the change from parents W
ng failed to see the possibility of improvi
on the methods by which they themscl,
Id had been taught. This opposition !
nd nearly all passed away, and our teach,
re- are allowed perfect freedom in the NJ
-er ter. The influence of our Local Ins
m tutes hndother educational meetings HI
rye had a very wholesome effect in this
spect.
lry But methods alone, however good, {
ing not do the teaching. We need skill
ave teachers behind the methods. The 4"
ich cratic Method" is of little account fifth
in is not also Socrates to ask the questiC
on The teachers of Carbon compare fay
be ably with the teachers Of other coun
t of in the State. Yet in 4 number of H,
nee tricts salaries are too low 10 comm;
the services of teachers Of culture
her experience, and in others where 81
YER teachers are found, they leave as soor
ave better positions are offered elsewh,
The In this way We lose some of our !
ing teachers every year. In order to ret
iore good teachers where VIC have them
her secure them where We have them not,
by need higher salaries and, in numbe
Ian districts longer school terms.
few Here we meet with difficulty.
/ or rate of tax "for school purposes" is
1t tied by law 10 thirteen mills. In n
ath- Der of districts this limit has been re;