The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-06-07

spirit at all times in maintaining the
organization of the schools. and in CO.
operating with the principal in carrying
cut the plan of school work and rulcs
aud regulations relating thereto. "A part
Of the teachers meetings is devoted to
business pertaining To the work in the
varioHs rooms, and part to the discus.
sion Vt methods Of teaching
DISCIPLINE.
Discipline is held by many 10 be the
all absorbing question In school work.
While it is impossible to carry on the
worl, Of the school room without good
order and attention. after all the secret
of good discipline is good teaching. The
best Of order attention and discipline
IN general are always found in the
school room where skillful aud thor
Ough teaching is being done. The
methods of discipline practiced are such
rs tend to inspire manliness, honesty,
purity self reliance and nobeness Of
character In the pupil. Such is the
very bcst discipline that can exist in
amy school This represents fairly the
discipline in general in the various
rooms: however. there occurs at times
in our schools. us well rs in all others.
certain misdcmeanors and cases of in
corrigibility that must be met with
proemptoiy measures.
COURSE OF STUDY.
The attention Of the Board has been
called to the fact that not enough time
is allowed by the present length of
schoa term to complete in II satisfac
tory manner the common branches in
eight years OF eight months each. 1t is
recommended that another years work
be added TO the course of study in the
commo0 branches, thus requiring pupils
to spend nine years in the common
branches before entering the high
school. instead of eight as at present.
II Is also recommended that English
Grammar, Arithmetic and U. S. His
tory be completed before entering the
high school. and the numberu uf daily reci-
'atiOns for each class in the high school
be reduced from six to five. This would
permit Of longer study and recitation
periods, and result in still more thor
ough work. This latter change cannot
well be made at the present time, but
ought to become result Of the former
change.
MUSIC.
The general culture Of the community
and the progressiveness of the age have
brought us to that point at which there
is an almost Imperative demand for the
teaching of music rs distinct branch
of study in the public schools. Educa-
tion In any art SO general In use and so
conducive to the public good as is music
can we'll afford to be carried on at the
public expense. Nearly all the larger
towns provide for this by engaging II
special teacher of music. Sometimes
two small towns ia close proximity en-
gage special teacher of music between
them, each payiag for a part of the
teachers time. Pupils ought at least to
be taught the fundamentals of vocal
music.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The work ia the high school during
the past year has been thoroughly and
satisfactorily performed. Nothing need
be said in defense of the high school
plan. The good effects OF high schools
in communities where they are located
are very apparent and fully justify the
cost OF maintaining them. The course
of study for our high school should be
heightened another year as soon as
practicable. This, of course, will add
more branches and recitations and will
require the services OF another teacher.
There have been nineteen graduates
during the past three years as follows:
1897, 8; 1898. :; 1899, I. The High
School Alumni Association has at pre-
sent an active membership of 81. The
registration for the high school for the
ensuing year is as follows: senior class,
IL; junior class, 10; sub-iunior class, "a.
LIBRARY.
The school library contains at present
656 volumes. These together with
about 250 reference books loaned by the
principal gives the pupils of the upper
grades access TO good reading matter.
The library has been increased about
175volumes during the past year through
the kindness OF the stockholders of the
Reynoldsville circulating library, who
donated their books to the schools.
The pupils of the upper grades are per-
mitted to borrow these books out and
take them to their homes to read. A
book may be kept out for period Of
two weeks. Over 300 pupils read books
from the library during the past year.
There are number of duplicate copies
In the library that could well be eX-
changed for other books Some money