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

The average per cent. of attendance during
the year was So But It required a great deaf
of effort on the part of the teachers and attend
ance officer to reach this percentage. II is to
be regretted that many of the pupils, when
they reach the age of twelve or thirteen years,
drop school work and seek employment in the
mines, factories, or other places of business.
The great object Of the schools is to prepare
the pupils for the active duties OF life and for
good citizenship. Pupils who leave school at
so early an age have not had this preparation
and as a result crippled in their future use
fulness.
The greatest good to the community, to the
state and 10 the individual be realized only
where the people take advantage of the advanced
grammar aud high school work. The period from
twelve to eighteen is of great importance edu'
catonally.
Competition is now so strong in all branches
OF business that the boy or girl who has not re-
ceivcd AT least a good common school education
Is left behind in the race. Parents should see to
it that their children attend school until they
are at least sixteen.
It is serious state Of affairs when we
| slider that of the number promoted into the high
school each year, not 25 per cent. of them are
| boys and not > per cent of the whole number
Of boys enrolled ever reach that department.
COST Of BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
The law providing for the furnishing of free
text books anl supplies went into effect in 1894.
There were then l,773 pupils enrolled and the
entire cost of purchasing books was S2,
| 10; supplies S734.59. Number OF pupils in
ls05 was l,SGl, cost OF books, S054.s7; supplies,
| $685. Number Of pupils in 1896 was ls5O;
cost OF books, Sl,l59i3; supplies, SG73.s4. En-.
| rollment Of 1897 was l,739, cost Of books, S2,
! O3707; supplies. 81 O6. Number of pupils
| in 1898 $3.50; cost Of books, 81 40 43; sup
| plies, $l,742.O5. Number of pupils in 1876, was
2,2sj cost OF books 81 G5l, -; supplies, Sll7300
The average cost OF books per pupil in 1897
was Sll7 and of supplies, Sl.07. While in ls01
| the average cost of books was 72 cents and Of
| supplies. 80 cents.
This year the average cost Of books is "a cents
and of supplies Al cents. 1t will be seen by these
! figures that the greatest expense for books and
! supplies was in 1897 when there were not by
| 500 as many pupils enrolled as in 1895 or 1899.
| There were 800 more pupils in school this year
| and yet the average cost OF books and supplies
| was less than the preceding year. More supplies
are used each year, but better judgment is used
in purchasing thcn and with careful oversight
| in the use of them the cost is less each year
EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS.
The teachers all attended the county institute
| held in scranton. The local institutes were well
/ attended and the teachers manifested much in
| terest in them.
| The teachers holding provisional certificates
met monthly AMI part OF the time bi.monthly
! with the superintendent and reviewed the
! branches in which they were TO be examined
Much good is done in this way as the teachers
| have an incentive TO study and are constantly
| improving and becoming stronger teachers Not
one OF the teachers who studied and attended
these meetings regularly fell below the standard
| so per cent, as set by the board. This stand.
! ard is each year being raised and the only way
| for a teacher to lie sure Of reaching it is by a
| systematic course Of study
CERTIFICATES.
Twelve teachers hold state normal diplomas
| eighteen hold permanent certificates; four hold
professional and sixteen hold provisional certih.
Gates.
MISCELLANEOUS.
| The progress of our schools during the past
year was good. Eighty pupils from the prepara.
| tory and eighth grade were examined at the
close of school by the superintendent Fifty
| four of them reached the required standard, not
only in the monthly examinations but also in
the final, and will be promoted into the high
school and business department The standard
Of promotion is being raised each year. Ques.
tions were prepared by the superintendent on
| the various branches studied by the eighth
grade and sent out at the close Of each month
The papers examined by the teachers and
sent to my office, where they were reviewed and
|
| In this way a complete e,ord Of the standing
of each pupil was kept 1t required great
| deal of extra labor to carry this plan, but
results show that il was beneficial to the school,
| The commencement exercises were held June
20 in Manleys hall. A class Of twenty-seyen
were graduated. Diplomas were presented by
| A. I. Irwin, president OF the school board.
| Good work done in music under the direc.
| tion OF the musical instructor W. W. Jones.
| Five night schools were in session for a term
Of three months and were fairly well attended.
Arbor Day was observed by appropriate eKer.
cises in connection with planting Of shade trees.
| Eighteen trees were purchased by the board
and planted at Nos, 4, and TO- There have
| been many changes in the teaching force during
| the last two years, mainly on account Of politics
| Nationality, politics, religion and iayoritism
should not enter ineo school affairs as they
always result in injury to the schools.
TOLD IN A FEW LINES.