The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-07-12
Annual Report of County Super
intcndcnt.

port, it would be impossible to
give any history of school affairs
during the past 25 years except
what has come under my person
al observation, as not figure,
word, nor line, in the shape of a
record came into my possession,
except the register for annual
district reports for the years
1891 and 1892. Whether my pre-
decessors kept any records or
not / cannot say. My successor,
/ hope, will fare better in this re.
spect
My first attempt in the line of
school work dates from a period
twenty-three years ago, since
which time | have been out of
school work one term.
/ do not think our body of
teachers the past term, number
ed a single individual who was
teaching when the writer began.
Some of my early colleagues
have crossed the silent river;
many have established homes of
their own; not a few have reach
ed high official station here and
elsewhere; but none are doing
more important work than those
who are conscientious teachers in
the school room.
Many of our most progressive
directors were formerly teachers
and their influence is felt in every
district which they serve.
The writer cannot help a feel
ing Of regret that he did not have
the same educational chances pu-
pills have now, nor q feeling of
sorrow when remembering at
least part of the years ne was
trying to teach.
Let us not forget that there
were elements of strength in the
work of the old time teachers
who have taught, and that there
are elements of weakness in the
work of too many of US at this
day. We should aim to cultivate
stability of character and tenacity
of purpose along with intellectual
power. The value of hard, per-
sistent, intelligent drill should
be kept constantly in mind by all
teachers.
We believe that there is on the
part of teachers an increased de-
votion to duty.
Length of term has increased
from five months to seven; the
demand of sensible patrons have
increased several hundred per
cent; the State appropriation has
increased many fold; the tax rate
has been decreased to almost moth
ing in many of our districts; the
qualifications of teachers have in
creased many fold; but to the
everlasting shame of the fair fame
of our county be it said that but
few, if any, districts have in
creased salaries per month, while
some have actually decreased.
This is rank injustice, a burning
shame and financial loss, be-
cause the districts paying the
best salaries in proportion to
their wealth have the greatest
material prosperity.
The county institute has been
changed from a assem- blage of
most of the teachers and a few
friends of education, over whose
heads theorists talked glibly to
the weariness and even positive
disgust of many, into great deal
of the work, tending to develop
self-reliance and expression, and
to broaden their mental and pro
fessional horizon, supplemented
by a few practical instructors,
who are requested to get down
to business from the beginning.
The Institutes are now looked for
ward to as the greatest event of
the year.
During my first five years the
directors association was well at
tended. The last two years it
has been ridiculously small.
In the past ten years the local
institutes have been made astrong
force for the advancement of
school work and the enlightening