The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-11-26
RrroRr OF SOMERSET scnools.

/
In accordance with time-honored custom,
! once more present report of the condition
of the schools of Somerset Borough. Owing
to circumstances, this report is somewhat
defective.
The gross enrolment of the schools reach
Is about $50 pupils, more than have ever
before been enrolled in them. They are
/ divided among seven teachers, as follows
No. |, Mrs. Connolly, 70; No. ., Miss
I Stutzman, 90 +; No. f. Miss Snyder, S. all in
the lower. or old building No. 4, Miss
Knepper 81; No ), Miss Musselman, 40 /;
No. G. Mr.. Livengood, AZ No. Z, Myself, q.
This makes total of 35s pupils. Out of
the y pupils in Mrs. Connelly's room. only
~ have ever been at school before. In 9TH
er words, Mrs. C. has GO pupils who have
never before been enrolled on the books of
the schools.
All the rooms are too much crowded, and
particularly the higher rooms. Mr.. Liven-
good has too many pupils, and have sey-
eral who, in justice should be denoted, and
would be. were able to see my way clear to
do So | think all the schools are doing
good work this term. The schools in the
lower building. think, are doing better
than have ever seen them. The schools
in the upper building ore making rapid
progress. have introduced two new stud
les into my room. and think my course
fuller than ever before. Next winter
there wIllcertainly have TO be eight
rooms, promotions and demotions will be
necessary, and the teachers are all working
in view of that fact.
have visited every school twice, and
some of them oftener during the past
month. During the present month shall
endeavor to make weekly visits Discipline
| think. has been firmly maintained. Here
tofore the principal inflicted the punish
ments necessary for the whole of the schools,
Il any was necessary. At the beginning of
the present term ! told my assistants to
govern their own rooms, use such reasona-
bic punishments as were necessary, and in
case of emergency l would be on hand.
The result has fully justified my hopes.
Parents have fully and heartily co-operated
with the teachers except in one point. and
that is ritai one. Tardiness is the curse of
the Somerset schools, and parents write ex-
cuses for their children to endeavor to shun
the legitimate result of tardiness. Imagine
a man going to your railway station and
asking the train to be wired to come back
for him and take him on board, disarrang-
ing the whole schedule. because "he was
needed at home" This is done every day
in our schools, and the want of punctuality
is fostered by it. The truth is, that there is
no escuse for hardness. There can be none.
Children are present, or absent. Some of
our rooms have reported to me tardy list
of twenty-six in half day. Something
must be done to break it up and would
recommend parents to stop granting ex-
cuses. as the first step.
There may be one thing said. The upper
building has no bell, hence il may be
pleaded that there is a difference of time
The standard time for the schools is Nc
Dowell's. as shown by the regulator inside
his jewelry store.
may have spoken too plainly herein.
but say just what mean. and l trust that
when another month shall have passed, l
may not have the same complaints.
Yours Truly,
A. c. HoLBERT.
Principal of Schools.
soNERsrr, Pa, November "A, 1884.