The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-13

Jects were taken last year and the re-
mainder have been taken this year.
The people of Jermyn will remember
that l came before the board of edu-
cation last year and asked them IL
should follow the curriculum adopted
by the Jermyn board of education, or
the curriculum adopted by the teachers
and the county superintendent. My
instructions were to follow the course
adopted by the Jermyn board, and this
| am doing. l am not trying to make
the people think that the Jermyn
schools are superior to what they were
during the supervision of Prof. j.. D.
Bovard. / arl only trying to do my
duty and walk in the path marked out
by my predecessor, whom know to be
successful teacher.
[ congratulate the people of Jermyn
on the fact that Superintendent Taylor
has said that "the Jermyn schools were
second to no other in the county" dur
ing the supervision of my friend and
fellow-teacher. Prof. E. n. Bovard.
know that Superintendent Taylor is
competent to judge in this matter. and
| am glad that tho writer OF the article
TO which I am referring has learned to
know that Superintendent Taylor's
| judgment regarding school matters is
| to be relied on by the thinking people
| of LackaWanna county. My wish is
| that he may never have reason to say
| that the school is falling in rank dur
| ing my administration.
When I took charge OF the Jermyn
| schools 7 found pupils enough in the
| primary room Tor two teachers, and
was Informed by the teachers that the
| custom had been for years past to
| move a portion of the children into the
! other rooms to make room for the new
| ones
| / questioned this method, but saw no
| better way. ! spoke to the president
of the board regarding an assistant for
the primary work to remove this diff
| Guilty. / was informed that the school
board was over $4,000 in debt and that
| the people would object to another
| teacher, and that we have no room for
another teacher. At the beginning of
| this year I had 10 follow the same old
| custom; but directed the teachers to do
| the same work in their respective
| rooms that should have been done for
| the pupils before they enter these
| rooms, SO as not to crowd the students
| as far as study was concerned, only to
| place them in another room to do the
| same work.
The people have not forgotten that
last spring the students who attended
the final examination at Archibald all
| passed with credit. Also that two oil
| our students passed the teachers eX-
aminations and received certificates for
| teaching. The local correspondent did
| not know these facts.
Botany, botany, botany" I want to
| say that less time was used on this
subject, during school hours, than or
| any other subject during the years
| work. The specimens were placed in
| the window of DR.. Davis store, and
| our critic could not help coming in con-
| tact with the work of the young people
| in that subject. If the writer had taken
the time to call at the principals office,
| as did the gentlemen who are gather
| ing items from time to time for the
| other papers, we would have mixed the
| botanical dust with an equal portion OF
| arithmetic. geography, history, gram
mar, algebra and philosophy, and would
have taken great pains to explain the
| work.
| We do not work on the principle that
| "If ignorance is bliss. It's folly to be
wise" Some of our boys may argue
! with mules in the mines and some may
| have an occupation where they Will
| have them to contend with all through
| life; but if this should be their lot, we
| want them to study the laws of nature
| and the history of civilized nations of
| the earth, that they may have some
| thing to think about while at their
work that will not only prepare them
| for a better position in life, but will
| make them better citizens better pa
| rents for the coming generations.
| Who dare say thar it is not the duty
of all to improve and develop, as far as
they can, the talents that God has
| given them? w. l.. Rogers,
| Principal of Schools, Jermyn, Pa.
| Sept. TO-