Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-11-23


Public Instruction is now in the
hands Of the state printer. Advance
sheets have been furnished the press
which contain the principal portions
of the report. DR.. Schaeffer refers
to the operation of the free text
book law and says it has been the
most important step OF progress
since 1867. He says one Of the i'm
mediate effects was largo increase
in the attendance F.; in some districts
from twenty to thirty per cent. The
superintendents almost without eX-
ception. give favorable reports con-
cerning the practical workings of the
law. In but one county did the new
act cause directors to shorten the
school term and reduce the teachers
wages. DR.. Schaeffer declares there
is no justification for the short-sight-
ed policy in view Of the fact that the
Legislature added half a million to
the annual appropriation.
The report states that in spite of
the magnificent appropriation and
her marvellous wealth, Pennsylvania
does not give her children school
facilities equal to those Of adjacent
states. More conditions, the Super
intendent thinks, should be attached
to the distribution of the state ap-
preparation. He is also of the
opinion that some method should be
adopted for ascertaining how many
children of school age are out of
school and suggests the appointment
of truant officers in the various dis
trcts. Manual training in the
schools is recommended and refers
ence is made to the improved school
architecture. An extension of the
high school system to the township
districts is recommended as is also
law authorizing Directors to use a
portion Of the annual appropriation
for the purpose of establishing and
maintaining school libraries. Train.
ing the children to citizenship and
instilling into them love of country
is urged by DR. Schaeffer, who com
mends the patriotic orders for caus-
ing the stars and stripes to be dis
played on school buildings. He says,
however, that the girls and boys
should be taught what the flag stands
for. Great care is urged in the sell
ection Of teachers and also in the
election of School Directors.
One of the dangers to the school
system upon which the report dwells
is the perils of sectarianism. He
says. "it is clearly not the function
of the public schools to give sectarian
instruction. The genius of our state
and national constitutions demands
in all schools supported by taxation
the separation Of secular from secta'
rian instructions. He adds that
''the policy which some Boards ac-
cused OF facility adopting, namely,
to employ only teachers of their own
religious faith or political party OF
secret society, cannot be too strongly
condemned"
The statistical summary shows the
number Of school districts in the
State to be 2,4l3; number OF schools
24,54l number of graded schools
1860; number Of superin tendents,
1879; number Of male teachers. SAGA;
number of female teachers I7,777;
whole number of teachers 26,241
average salaries of male teachers per
month $44.l6; average salaries of
female teachers per month $33. O5 ;
average length of school term in
months, 8; number of pupils 1,O4O,-
679; average number of pupils 759,> :
$50; cost of school houses, purchase
ing buildings, renting etc, $780,
81S.l3; teachers wages $S,99s,343.66
cost of the school text books 81 ,245,'
375.73; cost Of school supplies other
than text books, including maps,
globes. etc, not including Philadel-
phia, 1858, ,23s.42; fuel, contingent
cies, fees of collectors and all other
expenses, 1886, ,975.39; total ex-
penditures $1s,5s6,751.33; state ap-
preparation for school year ending
June 1893, $l5,0Oo,OOO; estimate
value ofschool property not includ-
ing Philadelphia, $42,679,5O4. A
comparison with the previous year
shows All increase Of u districts
529 schools, 565 graded schools,
36,272 pupils and 29,9o6.7S in
wages to teachers.
DA TZDSON ITEMS.
We are having fine weathar and