The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-03-11

The condition OF our schools warrants
us 10 report year OF steady progress.
No special features In regard 10 methods
of instruction were introduced, no changes
deemed wise In the administration Of the
schools. With the exception OF a few de,
partments the discipline and progress OF
the schools during the past year has been
satisfactory, We have labored under dis
advantages for want OF auflicient and suit
able school accommodations in some parts
OF the city. In consequence OF this II was
necessary 10 divide several departments
into two sections, giving each division
only half day sessions.
In our last report we recommended
that n portion Of the library fund be ex-
pended for choice current literature for
children, for supplemt ntary reading in
school and home reading for the pupils,
giving our rensons for such recommenda-
ton. One hundred dollars was appropri-
ated for this purpose, and with this sum
about sixty Thousand pages OF the beat,
most entertaining aud instructive juvenile
literature obtainable was furnished the
schools, The following are names OF the
publications used: The School World,
Youths Companion, Our Little Ones aud
the Nursery, Pansy, The Picture Gallery,
Tue Weeks Current, Young Wide Awake,
Fresh Leaves, and Easy Lines. -
These periodicals we're used for class
reading supplementary 10 the text book
thus giving freshness, additional interest
and instruction In the reading exercises.
Pnpils we're allowed 10 take the papers
home for evening reading, and we're also
permitted TO use them during eohool hours
providing they had any spare time after
the preparation OF their lessons. The
teachers find this school literature q val
liable help in moral instruction aud the
intellectual advancement OF the pupils.
Providing reading matter 10 elevatiDg In
tone and 30 attractive in form 10 the best
and surett way OF overcoming the habit
OF reading the trashy, demorrlizing liter
ature OF the day. There Ia marked inn
provement In taste for reading noticeable
in many instancte, Some pupils who
we're formerly addicted 10 dime novels
and other sensational reading have vol
unfairly abandoned that since we arc fur.
nishing them something better. A knowl.
edge OF history, OF current events, OF fa-
miliar facts in science and language cul-
ture are some OF the beneiite resulting
from this work.
We respectfully recommend that the
Board consider the advisability OF max.
ing some provision In the near future for
the special training OF teachers for our
schools. We now have corps OF more
thau sixty teachers. Numerous changes
occur every year. Very properly, tho
yaoa cies occurring arc generally filled
by the election Of young ladies who have
graduatrd d from our High School. These
young teachers have the required echol
arship but have no special preparation
for teaohing aud training little children.
Learning by experience, moat OF them bo.
come suoceasful teaohers IN the course OF
time, but they might do better aud moro
intelligent work from the first II they had
received the benefit OF u practical normal
course or teacher OF undoubted ability
aud skill as q primary instructor were
employed 10 direct and train them In tho
actual work OF the school room. In most
Of the large cities in our State and In
some towns smaller than Canton, provi-
sion has beeu made for training teachers
for the public schools Cleveland, Gin
cinnati and Columbus have established
normal schoola Some OF the smaller
cities employ an expert training teacher,
who devotes her time wholly 10 directing
and overseeing the work OF the young
teachers In the primary schools. We be
lieve that our city school system has
attained such proportions M
10 justify tho establishment OF q normal
class In connection with the High School.
or the employment Of training teacher.
We shall not at this time speak o; the
inertia Of these plans, and suggest that
measures DO taken 10 aoquaint Ourselves
fully with the workings OF the difcrout
methods employed elsewhere, before TAX
ing any definite aotion In this matter.
In conclusion We make grateful no.
Acknowledgement 10 tho Board for contin-
ued confidence aud support; TO the prin
cipals aud teachers for earnoet eo'opora-
ton In the school work, aud TO the oiti-
zens who have 90 operated with no in the
maintenance OF school regulations.
Respectfully submitted,
j ii. LEHMAN, bupt
Naninn n Nnvan,har OA 1904