The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-06-08
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
Year Ending June 8, 1904, Shows Salts.
factory Progress.
INTEREST IN POPULAR EDUCATION.
Better Houses, Better Teachers, Better EQUIP.
ments, Higher Courses Of Study,
are Among Evidences.

made in the work of education,
though the year has not been free
from discouragements.
Not all of our teachers proved
satisfactory; we had a few "time
servers" and few "mis-fts," but
we shall hope to see these eIiminat-
ed from our ranks in the near fu-
ture. Most of our teachers did
fine work work that compares
very favorably with that done in
neighboring counties.
The attendance was very much
broken in all but two districts dur
ing the latter half of the term, ow-
ing to the prevalence of measles,
scarlet fever, whooping cough and
diphtheria. Some of the schools
were closed from two to six weeks,
and the attendance in many others
was reduced to Il minimum. Great
er prccaution on the part of ply
slcians and directors could have
prevented much of this trouble.
Wells township established the
first Township High School in the
county. The progressive citizens
of the district heartily indorsed
this move; but 1t, like all other
advances in education, had its enc
mics. Two good buildings were
destroyed by fire; but through the
efforts of a fearless and progress
sive board, third building was
soon erected, and the high school
completed its first years work.
The school was literally patron
lied, and the work done was ex-
cellent.
Ayr township erected new
house ut Back Run to replace an
old one unfit for use; Thompson
built new house ut Oak Dale to
replace one destroyed by fire early
in the term; Licking Creek was
compelled 10 open a now ssheAl
and good house was erected
Belfast put new furniture in two
houses, and all the districts did
more or less toward the improve
ment of buildings and apparatus.
On both of my visits, special at
tention was given to the attendance
and | am convinced that a closer
observance of the compulsory law
is necessary in many districts
Too much valuable time is need.
lessly lost from school, and, il
very many instances, it is by thu
ones who can least afford the loss
If parents are not sufficiently in
terested in the welfare of theil
children to give them what tht
public schools offer, then it is sure
ly time that our school boards SCI
to this woeful waste of youths op
portunities.
The minimum salary law SHOULD
encourage all to greater efforts
and should result in better schools
The new law will necessitate th'
closing of few smaller schools
| in some of our poorer and more
sparssly settled districts. The
pupils from these schools will b,
provided for otherwise.
The Annual Institute, which il
the educational rally of the year
was held in the Court House De
cember I'll. All teachers, bu
one, were present. Friends of ed
ucation from all parts of the Coun
ty were in attendance. So grea
was the interest manifested by ou
people that we were unable to ac
commodate all who desired to ut
tend the meetings. The house wa
: crowded at every session. Stat,
, Superintendent Scheffer was witt
us and did much toward the sue
cess of the institute.
b Many local institutes and educa
tional meetings were held durin;
: the winter. 1t was my pleasur
, to be present at fourteen of thes
meetings. Wherever local insti
tute work is successfully conduct
: ed, a corresponding interest in tn
' work of education is to be found
. Our Directors Convention me
I in McConnellsburg February 20
i. Notwithstanding the bad roads
more than half of the directors j
the County were present, and tn