The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-08-16
ANOTHER YEARS WORK.
County Superintendent Thomas's Anuu.
al Report TO the Department Of
Public Instruction.

In summarizing the work or the
past school year, / find that sub
stantial improvement has been
made along number Of lines,
and this carries with it pleasant
memories Of duties performed,
although in the performance of
these duties the task may have
been in some cases an un-
pleasant one.
During the entire three years
of my administration. the great
est difficulty has been to get a
sufficient number of teachers of
good intellectual qualifications.
! have passed each year barely
enough applicants to fill the
school; and, Notwithstanding this
fact, | still had to issue some
weak certificates. In order to
obviate this difficulty, to hold our
young people in the schools, and
thus to increase their intellectu-
al qualifications, | have insti-
tuted a series of examinations
for the advanced pupils, given at
regular intervals during the en-
tire term. This seems to be elm
mating the above named difficult
ty. | now have our schools filled
for the ensuing year with a high
er grade material than any of the
three preceding years; and not
only do | not need to search for
material to fill vacancies this
year as in previous years, but |
have a number of we'll qualified
teachers left without schools.
wish to thank the teachers of
the county for their effort to hold
our young people in the schools,
and for encouraging them to take
these examinations. BY so do
ing, teachers are comforting upon
these young people a lasting ben
eft and also greatly increasing
the educational interests OF our
county.
| Notwithstanding the fact that
the corps of teachers elected for
the ensuing year is the "trolgect
yet elected under my super
vision, recognize room for i'm
provement. Under existing high
prices for everything purchased,
a good corps of teacher cannot
be- kept at the present salaries.
Some of the districts seem to be
doing about all they can in the
way of taxation. The school
code imposes upon the districts
certain requirements, such as
length of school term, building
specifications teachers salaries,
etc. These must be complied
with. The executive authority
compels the districts to comply
with these legal requirements;
therefore, the legislative author
ity should come to the assistance
of over-taxed districts with
greater appropriations,
The activity of directors in the
different districts shows evidence
of interest in school work. Some
times there is a tendency to criti-
else and condemn the activities
of public officials in the perform
ance of their duties. This has a
tendency to handicap officials and
to prevent progressive move
ments dependent upon the initia-
tive by them. Notwithstanding
these obstacles, the school direc-
tors have done much to make the
work of the schools more etfec-
tive. .g 81"
The school board of Belfast
district has built a modern up-to-
date ,one-room building. The
directors of this district deserve
much credit for this progressive
and much needed improvement.
The school board of Taylor dis
trict has built a fine one-room
building at Hustontown and has
fitted it up with modern furniture.
: This building also reflects great
credit upon the board of directors
of this district. There are some
old wornout buildings in the
county that should be replaced
by new ones of the above type.
As parents, we try to provide
comfortable cozy homes for our
tuJ L,4 Lo.o o,,. ,,orontal