The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-12-19
Superintendent SChaeffer's Report.

tendent of Public instruction N. G.
Schaeffer t. Governor Stuart is fill
ed with jubilation over the improve
ment in the schools of Pennsylva-
MIA as the result of better treatment
by the Legislature, and DR.. Schaef-
fer gives the Governor some espec-
tally loving pats because he vetoed
other appropriations and let the
schools have their full share.
Under the stimulus of increased
appropriations, the number of the
township schools has Increased to
800, and general increases are re.
ported as follows:
Increase in male teachers pay,
average per month, 81. 80; female
teachers, SO cents; number of pu.
pills, 36sS; school districts, I;
schools, SOL; male teachers, 81;
number of pupils, 365S; school in
crease i'll teachers wages, $685.
3oI 81.
DR.. Schaeffer emphatically rec.
ommends the teaching of hygiene
and morals in the schools, as we'll
as the three RS" The schools
i'll cities, he says, should lay stress
upon domestic science, manual
training and commercial education,
and the country schools should give
instruction suitable to rural talents
which will be devoted to rural pur-
suits He also advocates instrnc-
tion iii husbandry in the township
high schools.
On the subject of the minimum
salary act, DR.. Schaeffer says:
No other legislation has reached
the remotest districts of the State
like the minimum salary act. 1t
will take away from the general
school appropriation $3.50 900. The
effect has been to raise the compen-
sation of teachers more nearly to a
living basis. Said farmer to the
county superintendent: Now that
the teachers are getting increased
wages, we shall, of course, have
much better schools " To this sa:-
casm the superintendent replied:
You used to sell me oats at as
cents per bushel; for the last oats
you charged Inc 70 cents bushel.
| suppose the latter oats were twice
as good as the former" 1t helped
the caviler to realize that the price
of good teaching has gone up like
the prize of cereals and other mar
ketable products
1t is possible that some schools
Will not be better taught by reason
OF the advance of teachers salaries,
but the tonic effect of the increase
will be felt throughout the entire
school system. 1t will netessitate
an advance in districts in which do.
mestics were earning better wages
than those in charge of'the schools.
The Legislatures of all the States
have assumed that education is pri-
marily an affair not of the munich
pality, but of the Commonwealth,
and hence have never hesitated to
enact any legislation which seemed
to improve the public schools. Sal
aries are the last to advance, and
those who live on salary see hard
times when the cost of living ad-
vances with the general prosperity
OF the country. Wages always rise
before salaries. and the State has
right to say how its appropriations
shall be used. If the schools do not
improve under the minimum salary
law the blame must be laid at the
door of those who select the teach
ers. The districts which send an
expert i'll the person of the super
lntendent, or principal, to select
new teachers invariably have the
best schools and get the best return
for the money spent upon the
schools.
HARD TO COMPEL ATTENDANCE.
The Courts of Philadelphia have
declared the most essential features
OF the present Child Labor law un-
constitutional, and the Factory In.
speCtor now issues a working GER
tificate which does not require of
applicant ability to read and write.
1t is. therefore, important that the
attendance officers avail themselves
OF the new power vested in them
by the amendments to the compul-
sorry school law. The amendment
in the act of May 80, 1907, author
lied the attendance officer to enter
any place, wherein any gainful oc-
cupation is carried on, to ascertain
whether any children who should
legally be at school are employed
therein, and prescribes methods of
procedure and penalties in case of