Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-05-31
Butler County Schools.


for the school year ending
May 81. 1900.
This being my first annual report OF
the schools of this county can not just
say what the progress has been this
in comparison with that Of other years,
but from the many warm congratula-
tions received from directors, parents
teachers and pupils, l can say am very |
highly pleased with the work of the
schools during the past year.
held Is regular examinations for |
teachers in which about 4j0 applicants
entered, 262 of whom received provision
al certificates, 149 grades and the re-
mainder dropped ont Of the examln-
alton before il was over.
In selecting my questions L tried TO
use such as were fair, comprehensive
and taken from the work being done IN
the schools of our county.
The manuscripts are all on tlle IN my
Office and each applicant had the prlv1-
Iege of coming in and seeing his papers
after they had been marked
On March 31st examinations for d.
plomas were held in p different places
in the county. in which 240 pupils en-
tered. 163 Of whom passed the required
marks. ian average Of 10 per cent, ana
no mark below so per cent and have
been granted diplomas.
want to say just here that the neces-
sity of refusing either certificate or
diploma to all who apply for same is not
a pleasant task, but IN Justice TO the
schools over which am placed and IN
iustice to the oath of Office l have taken
this unpleasant work must IN some,
cases be done.
We now have in the county 24S school
buildings. 296 school rooms, 10 graded
schools. 135 male teachers, 151 female
teachers, 306 directors, 81 districts and
10. 9Os school children.
Last year 8 new school houses were
built in cOunty-the largest Of which
was Mars borough schOol-a beautiful
brick structure, built for eight rooms
and costing about $4,000
More than 30 school houses of this
county are old buildings and poorly
suited for school work; $50 are good
buildings. well supplied with school ap-
paratus.
We claim that no building can be too
good and too comfortable for a school
room and that many buildings now us
ed in this county are too old, too shah
by, too small and too much un-homellke
for the welfare Of the boys and the girls
now in school.
The total value Of the school property
now in the county is S244, $50 and we
hope that in the next fifty years this
number will be doubled; tor let me as
sure YOU that nation is rich or poor
lust in proportion TO the value 1t places
upon its public schools
Why can we not make Butler county
the banner county Of the stateE
In my regular annual visits | called
at every school house in this county and
spent from one to two hours in each,
excepting two in which, on account OF
sickness. the schools were closed when
/ called
This fact il new in the history Of this
county, and / will here say that 1t IL
more work than any one man can do, or
should do, in one school year, without
injuring his health.
In NV visits tried as best ! could TO
find ont what and where all of the pu-
pills were studying; heard them recite
to their teacher, taught one or two recl-
tations in almost every room myself,
answered as best ] could any desired
question from pupil or teacher. quietly
and kindly advised the teacher along
any line in which ! thought he or she
needed improvement, and closed my yls-
il by Offering few words Of encourage
ment to the pupils and teachers Ana
lust here | want TO thank pupils ana
teachers all over this county for the
kindness shown me when III the several
schools
Desiring to have with me the director
of each school personally called on q
large majority Of the directors, 1l9 Of
whom went with me to his school This
we think good number but hope THAT
it will be twice as large next year
Among the teachers certainly found
quite a variety, but can say that the
very large majority Of them were fonnd
doing good, practical school work.
The advanced age in which we ere
now living demands better schools, and
therefore better teachers, than we nave
ever had in the past.
Nav teachers ever strive to prepare
themselves for this noble work and we
plead in Your behalf for better wages,
better apparatus and more heartfelt CO
operation from the patrons Of our
schools.
The daily attendance Of the several
schools was good, yet in some few dis
tricts it was not what il should have
been.
am fully convinced that no other one
thinz 80 fatally Injuries school az does
poor attendance, and do hope that pa
rents will zee TO il and have their child
rem attend school az regularly as po.si-
| BILE.
The compulsory school law Of our
state il friend and not an enemy "
the boys and girls. and should be thus
held mp before them.
From the final report which gave 70
the teachers / select few facts as fol-
lows:
Average age Of pupils IL years; per
cent Of attendance, boys 80, girls %; am
proud to report that 25O directors visit
| ed their own school one or more times
during the term, but not 80 glad ~ say
| that j6 did not
In 80 different schools not one visitor,
excepting the County Superintendent,
called during the whole year, whilst in
the other 236 schools 267S visitors were
reported; the largest number in any one
| room being 80.
think / voice the sentiment Of teach
ers everywhere when ] say, parents and
| friends Of education you are welcome III
our schools any time. Come aud see
| what we are doing and by this interest
| you will encourage us.
| In my official work during the past
| year mailed 27s9 letters and cards,
drove 4, ,915 miles, and Travelled by rail
952 miles.
| attended institute at two different
times in Allegheny county, attended
| the Round Table Convention Of Princi-
pals and Superintendents OF Pennsylva-
mia held in Greenville. assisted in the
State Board Examination at the Clarion
Normal, and spoke at several local in
| stitutes held in Butler county.
| Thanking directors, teachers, parents
and pupils Of this county for the many
kind actions shown me during the past
school year and asking for your contin-
ued cooperation and helpin this respon-
| sibe work which am trying to do, ]