The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-09-12
ANNUAL REPORT TO STATE SU
PERINTENDENT.

In his annual report TO State Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction,
n. c. SchaefTer, County Superin-
tendent Evans says i'll part as fol-
lows:
In submitting this, my fifth an-
uual statement of educational con
ditions in this county, | am pleased
to report more progress the past
year than during any other period
of my administration.
This is due in great measure to
the following reasons: Persons
concerned in education are coming
to understand each other better; a
greater number of efficient educa-
tional meetings especially in the re-
mote communities; more rational
view of educational questions OH the
part Of the leaders; greater num-
Der of teachers who are genuinely
interested in their work and larg-
er body of progressive citizens who
are helping the cause. This has
been the most peaceabe year we
have had; heretofore we have been
continually confronted by various
forms of new legislation which in
several districts created a condition
of turmoil which often rendered
satisfactory school work impossible;
it has been characterized by a con-
dition of harmony and cooperation
among directors, teachers and pa
| irons.
Responding to the generous invi-
tation OF DR.. Waller, the directors
and their wives were royalty BAN
quoted by the Normal School. The
afterdinner speaking proved most
enjoyable occasion.
Local institutes were held at Bea-
yer, Benton, EIidlay's, Fisherdale,
S. James, Mt. Zion, Buckhorn,
Waller, Numidia, Jerseytown, Main
vile, Mifflinville, Millville, Rupert,
Candy, Orangeville, Center, Pine
and Central. Most of these meet
ings consisted of three sessions,
were held by the teachers and were
we'll attended by the pupils and pa
irons. | was present and took an
active part in nearly all of them.
| During the year seven regular
monthly meetings of the county ed
ucational association were held in
the court house The basis of our
professional discussions was Nc
Murry's method of the Recitation;
the afternoon sessions were devoted
to a study of March's Point OF
View. These latter sessions are de-
signed to be especially interesting
to parents, many of whom attended
and took part. We are much in.
debted to the professors of the Nor
NAL School and Superintendent
Chas. Lose, U. L. Gordy and S. II.
Dean for valuable assistance in
these meetings.
AT the close of the term l con-
| Quoted examinations for the pupils
10 u of the common and high
schools; 2oo seventh grade pupils
were promoted and 124 eighth grade
pupils were granted certificates ad,
mitting them to high schools. OF
the high school pupils examined
from our village and township
schools IoI Juniors and 100 mid
dlers were promoted, while 40 were
found ready to graduate.
| Common school commencements
were held in Beaver, Benton bor-
ough, Briarcreek, Catawissa town.
ship, Centre. Fishingcreek, Frank
lin, Greenwood, Locust, Madison,
Main, Mifflin, Millville, Montour,
Mt. Pleasant, Orangeville, Pine,
Roaringcreek, Scott and Sugarloaf.
High School commencements were
held in Benton borough, Briarcreek,
Fishingcreek. Locust, Mifflin, Or
angeville, Roaringcreek and Scott.
was present and took part in
nearly all of these.
Township high schools were es-
tablished in Madison, Centre and
Beaver townships. We now have
eleven of these schools which are
doing excellent work much to the
delight of the progressive people of
our rural communities. The at
tendance in these schools will ex-
ceed 800 next year. Already a
number of their graduates have en-
tered college and the Normal school,
while several have become excel
lent teachers.
About 100 of our rural schools
are now supplied with travelling Ii
braries consisting of IS volumes of
choice literature especially adapted
to the needs of the children. For
merly the children in these schools
have never had the opportunity to