The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-12-25

The annHai report Of The late saperintend-
eut Of Public lnstrnetiou. Professor /. Z
HigEee, which was submitted 70 The Cow
ernor on Dzcenber 4th. has Just been made
public Il is very briei IS compared With
previous reports. made 80. as DR.. Hiebee ex-
pIaiuel. bscaase the I.egisla.nre viii not be
in session. and ti,efe is no need 10 make
suggestions for lzislaiion In his rep1st
Superintendent Iiighee says
rHE PEEsESF NUaBEK OF SCHOOLS
The schools nov number 2lss9. an IN
crease since last year Of 5s7. The increase
OF the previous year was only 80.
The increase in number Of pupils is 1s,17G
differing little from the increase oftbe pre-
sious year.
To meet this increase Of pupils wc have as
Just stated 5s7 additional schools This
shows tendency toward better school &C
oommodaiions, for 1t gives 70 each additional
school only twenty-four pupils, while the
general average Of pEpils per school i slight
" heyond forty.thre- This average. how
ever. Is far too high and there must be many
crowded schools IN the Stale. but Il Is en-
couraging TO know.thst the movement IS in
the right direction.
There has been very large increase in
the number OF graded schools during the
year. viz: 54e.
The whole number Of graded schools Is
now lo.ll7. nearly one Laifofail our schools.
This rspia Increase Of graded schools de-
msnds most careful xatehiuIness upon the
part Of superinteBdeDis and ieschsrs. While
we have tie gFsai gain derived IRON such
division Of labor as the graded school Sc
cures. we must seek to avoid the serious
dangers involved
PEoNorIox soT EuE 0sJElT.
Teachers confined 10 one line os studies
and those that are suited only to . certain
age are apt 10 take into view only the small
section Of chisd-s life belonging TO that sge.
ard this weakens The great incentive to work
which comes from the clear vision Of the
end Of education in the beginning. The
end * not the examination for promotion TO
another grade. The solid culture Of tlecllild
toward welI-fnrnished personally. devei
opcd. fnfelli gent life OF thought and act must
De The main sim OF ali teaching aud this
should ncs be broken in upon by any inter
ruption Of artificial grades. Hence. great
caution is inquired in graded schools. lest,
through anxiety to promote fron grade to
grade, the child be fitted more sor exanina-
ton than for life
Teaef4rF,s SAL sETrg yrRY SNAIL
Tie increase in the salary o: teachers has
BEEN very snail Vow tina, the smount ap-
proPlia,ed BY the State Is two millions
doa5le what il wus four years ago-ii is TO
be hoped tha, the average salary OF teachers
will be greatly enlarged. Il is now for male
teachers only So Per month and for female
teashers only little over 50. This want
Of propei remuneration IS injuring the status
of our schools. It Is retsrding the whole
educational work Of the State. ard every ex-
ertion should be made to remedy this detect
Direct legislation can effect but little. Pablic
sentiment must be aroused. Directors and
Parents mus; realize the vast importance Of
our schools and he great responsibility OF
our teachers. and refuse 10 make the matter
Of selecting them nothing more than the
employ merit Of the cheapest candidates in
the market.
s our suPerintendeuts also must make the
provisional certificates fever and fewer, de-
nanding biga grades and insisting On more
thorough examinations. BY eonceriei ac-
son she way may be opened for 5e',sr con
di,ion OF affairs as regards salaries and tenure
Of ofice. While thankful for The legislation
secured in behalf Of the schools. we regret
very much that the blll for closer super
vision Of our schools IN raral Districts failed
Of passage.
CLOSER sgFERyEsIoN SDcExsART.
Closer Supervision is SO necessary that il
hlust soon come. The need of il becomes
more apparent every day, and very many
directors are oniy waiting for authority to
oresnine the work There are many ad-
vancss yet 10 be made before the full eifeien- (
cy Of our system of FIRE public schools can
be secured. to which We shall have occasion /
Ia refer hereafter