The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-12

Following is the annual report Of
Professor J. G. Taylor, county super
intendent of schools, which has been
| forwarded to DR.. N. G. Schaeffer state
superintendent OF public instructions:
August 2j, 1900.
DR.. ~ c. shaefer, Superintendent Of Public
Instruction, Harrisburg, Pa.
Dear Sir have the honor to submit my
seventh annual report for the year ending June
4. 1900
We believe that our schools are improving.
| Advancement is not rapid, but steady. The
! study of professional books Is bearing fruit In
our schoolroom practice. In a few districts di.
| rectors have made the governors action in
vetoiug a part of the appropriation an excuse
for lowering salaries or shortening the school
| term, but in the majority OF our districts no
| backward step has been taken. We are earn
! estly hoping that our next legislature will re-
store the appropriation by means of which The
| School journal may lie sent free 10 all secre.
| taries Of school boards.
| As shown by my statistical report, the mum.
| bcr Of pupils in our schools has increased from
12,S7S to l3,OIs during the past year. am
| sorry to say that the compulsory attendance
| law has not been enforced in all our districts.
| There are still many children Of legal age in
! this county who do not attend school, as the
| law requires Nearly all mining districts
have night schools open three or four months
, in the year But these schools are a poor
substitute for the regular and systematic In.
| struction given in day schools, and, in some
| cases, encourage the people to send boys and
| girls to work in coal Mines breakers and
| mills several years sooner than they would il
| these night schools did not exist The work
! in rural schools is greatly hindered on account
Of the older pupils being kept out of schools
| to work on the farms in September and Octo
/ I,r 81, IL - tI,n in Anri
| and NAV.
| A permanent organization Of these schools Il
| not possible before the first Of November and
| they can not be brought to a successful ter
mination in the spring. II some method could
| be found to secure the enforcement Of the
attendance law, it would be a great blessing tc
many children in this county.
COUNTY INSTITUTE.
Our annual teachers institute was neld dur
| ing the week of October 30th. The regular in
stuctors were DR.. y. c. Schaeifer, Dr. william
| A .Mowry, DIR. S. G. Schmucker, Miss Margaret
| McCloskey, and Professor J. I. Watkins Ad
dresses were made by Rev. Elkanah lIullcy
| principal OF Keystone academy, and Professo
| W. W. Grant, principal of the Scranton Higl
school. Our evening entertainments included
lecture by Dr. Mowry on "Napoleons Faster
1903, and What Came of It," concert giver
under the direction Of Professor John 7. Wat
kns, and lecture on "The American Boy" BY
DIR. John B. Denote Many favorable com
ments on the work Of the institute were mad
by the teachers and the representatives OF tn
daily papers
On Thursday. Nov 2, was held the annua
meeting Of the Directors association. Thi
meeting was well attended, &c directors beinl
present The subject for general discussion wa
The Selection Of Text Books. Mr.. Charles
Decker read his report Of the State Directors
association, and an address was made by Super
intendent Taylor upon County Directors Asso
Citations Mr.. Taylor advocated such Legislation
as would secure the attendance at the Count.
Directors associations of all the directors il
the county
lie argued that the school directors havnl
almost absolute power over the schools, shoul
keep posted the latest and best methods q
school administration, and need the advantage
Of an annual institute just as much as tn
teachers do
LOCAL INSTITUTES.
Local institutes were held in Benton, Blake
ly, Carbondale, Dickson, Elmhurst, Old Forge
Olyphant, Ransom Scott, Taylor, Greenfield an,
Winton. In addition TO local talent, we ha
the help in these meetings OF Superintendent
Bovard of Dunmore: Superintendent Howell, 0
scranton; DIR. 7. J. McConnon, of Wilkes. Barr
High school; Miss May Black, Of Wilkes.Barre
Professor IIockenberry, Of Carbondale, and Pro
fesSor Bible, of Stroudsburg State Normal school
All Of these meetings well attended, bu
the one at Oyphant led in numbers. About so
persons listened to Professor Bibles lecture i
the evening.
NEW BUILDINGS.
Blakely built handsome fourroom fran
house with Smead system OF heating and ver
| tilating TO take the place Of similar buildin
destroyed by hre. Cost, about S9,4OO. Dickso
1