The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-11-13
Educational,

To the Editor OF CAMBRIA Freeman;
quite number of your resdres have I
written to me inquiring the facts relating
to several new school laws. With your per
mission, will reply through the columns
Of your paper.
1st. Number of fdayscOGstituting school
month:
Twenty days actual tsachine must now
constitute school month. Schools must
be closed on legal holidays. and during the
tune of holding the County institute For
FIVE mcuti's term, one hundred days
SaGst be tGuQ6g. Directors have 90 Iight
whatever. to make any special agreemenS
with teachers that wiI conflict with the gea-
eTal school lava.
2nd. Is. the teaehjng Of Physiology sad
Hygiene compulsory with all pupils, cad
what are the best methods OF teaching Il 70
pupils of all grades?
The State Superintendent of Pubic In
struction, Mr. Htssee, has given his opinion
in the Penna School Journal Nov. number
page POS, at CONSIDERS oie length. He de
cides that the terms OF the law are SPECIFIC
and mandatory. II is the imperative duty
of al school grades TO Introduce the study
of PhysoloeI aud Hygiene in al their
lar instruction. That the refusal of pupil
/ to study the new branch is sufficient cause
| for suspens ion from schools. Directors or
teachers haveas authority to excuse any
pupil from studying aud receiving IRstruc-
tion ir Physiology and Hygiene. 1t IS now
! q legal branch of school study and GusL be
/ sustained.
3rd. What are the best methods OF &c ach-
ing Physiology aud Hygiene?
Text books must be provided Ter and
used by pupils who are competent to study
lessons from books. 1t is the duty of di-
rectors to adopt text books and it thus be-
BONES the duty of parents to provide pupils
with the necessary books. Lessons should
he assigned, studied and recited a. IN other
branches. / rec0Mmend. however. to ouI
teachers, that lessons be read over in ad.
vance OF study; DIFFICULT words and phrases
explained. There are necessarily, many
scienthc terms used and they are new alike
to many teachers and pupils. Teachers
should be able to add instruction and iDfOr
nation not found ja the books u>ed. The
study of Hypiene-the laws of health
should be Taught in a practical manner.
The majority Of text books published or
the subject and adopted thrOughoUt the
connty, are well adaSted to class instEuc-
tinn
Primary pupils must. OF course. reeeiYt
oral Instructions, without using text hooks
Teachers will present the subject about a
they shouId teach the elements ~ othe
branches such as arithmetic. language. etc
Teachers should have fixed time on thei
program for Physiology and teach the sub
ject daily in or der to confirm to the law.
Methods Of teaching this branch will b
presented to our teachers during the Count
institute. In few districts. teachers hav
reported that their pupils are not provided
with tNs necessary books, and in visitin
. Z the schools, found several schools not puI
suing tiss study in the proper manner.
becomes my duty to report to the State de
= partment where schools are not sustaine
= according To law. Districts will forfeit tn
!, State appr opriation to their schools whe
n they are not graduated properly. aud tn
Z branches taught which the law requires
p We hope that directors and teachers wi
: cheertnlly assist to carry out the prOvisior
Il Of the ia~s gnverHinR our schools, and tbs
u all be found working in harmony to mat
:. public schools more successful than heret'
fore. LEWIS STRAYER
It County Superintendent.