The position of Principal at Edinboro, which he has accepted, came to him unsolicited, The Board of Trustees and patrons of the school are to be congratulated on his appointment.

ITEMS FROM REPORTS.

BEAVER-Supt. Moore: We held an Institute in West Bridgewater, Aug. 24, 25, and 26. Our talks were intended more especially for young teachers. Much interest seemed to be taken in all the sessions. About 150 teachers were enrolled. On Aug. 25th and 26 th about 100 teachers were present, and as they received no pay for this, we feel highly gratified to have had so many in attendance each day.

BEDFORD-Supt. Potts: Bedford Township has decided to build a two-roomed brick cased building to take the place of the oneroomed frame building in the Brush Run district. Cumberland Valley and Londonderry townships will put stone slate boards in all their houses. Liberty, on account of the disagreement of the board as to the location of the house, will not build this year. The house is very much needed, and it is unfortunate that they cannot agree as to location, especially since the ground has been purchased. Providence West thinks of building two new houses. Definite action, at this time has not yet been taken. Saxton has almost completed a two-roomed wing to their brick building. This will give them six rooms for this term instead of four as last year. Many of the houses are now undergoing repairs, and all will be put in good condition before the schools open. Where supplies have been bought, those of a better quality have been secured than in former years. Everything now points to a continuation of the upward move of our schools that has been going on for the past few years. It is unfortunate that some of our poorest districts are the heaviest losers in State aid. There are districts at a twomill rate paying their teachers $35 or $40 per month, and other districts with a ten or twelve mill tax cannot pay their teachers more than $25. Yet these latter districts are the ones that suffer greatest loss in the appropriation. The resolution passed at the State Teachers' Association, is all wrong in reference to the distribution of the State aid. Such a distribution as they would have would simply mean give more to the districts able to pay more, and take from the districts that are least able to pay. There could be no juster way to distribute it than according to the number of schools, or at least one-half of it according to the schools and the other half as it is now. May the day be far distant when it shall be distributed according to the tax raised in the district. There are districts in this county in which a ten mill tax could be more easily paid by the individuals than a two mill tax in other

districts, and yet a two mill tax will run the schools in the former districts, while it takes a ten mill tax in the latter. There are districts in the county at least thirty miles from any market. The land is of a poor quality. The people work hard and make little. Even a few dollars tax is with difficulty raised. A two mill tax on the real value of one farm in Bloomfield township where they pay their teachers $40 per month, would, I dare say, produce more tax than a five-mill tax on the real value of all the land in one district in another section of the county. Yet these persons who think they know much of the conditions of the schools would take part of the appropriation given now to the latter district and give it to the former.

BERKS-Supt. Rapp: Many of the classes in the public examinations of teachers were unusually large, owing to business depression. Many old teachers have returned to the profession. Several districts reduced the salaries, while others increased them. New buildings are being erected in Birdsboro, Cumru, Spring, Richmond, and Robeson.

CAMBRIA-Supt. Gibson; Many of our teachers have been attending State Normal schools during the spring term. Successful local normal schools have been conducted at Ebensburg, Gallitzin, Conemaugh, Elton and Carrolltown. Our teachers are manifesting an interest in broader reading and better preparation for school work. There were 501 applicants for provisional certificates, of which number more than one-third fell below the required standard. The number of teachers in the county holding higher grade certificates is rapidly increasing, about one-third of our schools being served by such teachers. Several new school-houses are being built. A desire for improved rural school-houses is being manifested by our school directors. The law relating to outhouses has set our teachers and directors to thinking along that line, as is shown by the better and cleaner closets.

CLEARFIELD-Supt. Weaver: The examinations have been well attended by directors in all the districts, and so many visitors that not all could be seated. Directors in many places are selecting teachers according to grade of certificate. In a few districts the term has been lengthened, and in others wages raised. Teachers have been found weakest in spelling, mental arithmetic and grammar. Many of the township schools are now being supplied with dictionaries.

DELAWARE-Supt. Smith: The directors of the new borough of Aldan dedicated their new building on Saturday, August 22. Addresses were made by Samuel Haigh, President of the Board, Capt. Albert Maquin, editor of "Daily Progress," Capt. Isaac Johnson, Congressman John B. Robinson, Co. Supt. A. G. C. Smith and others. new flag was run to the top of the pole by Edmund Cooper and N. C. Longmire, Secre

A

tary of the Board; these gentlemen are both veterans of the 124th Reg. Penna. Vols. The building is an unusually fine one, suited exactly to the purposes for which it is intended. It is one of many such school buildings, for which Delaware County is becoming noted. It is fifty feet square, two stories high. It is built of stone up to the first windows, and the balance is brick The first floor is divided into two rooms, with a capacity of fifty scholars each. On the front is a spacious porch, and the front door leads into a 10-foot hallway, which extends across the front of the building. In the rear are two cloak and hat rooms, fitted with double rows of bronze hooks. They are also supplied with stationary washstands. The second floor will be used for a hall until it is required for school purposes. The building will be lighted by electricity, supplied by the Citizens' Electric Light and Power Company, whose plant is located in the Borough of Aldan, near Clifton station. It is also fitted throughout for gas lighting. The structure will be heated by steam, the latest and most improved steam heating apparatus being put in. The school rooms are equipped with modern school furniture. The building is supplied with water by the Springfield Water Company. The cost of the school, including half acre of ground, furniture, books, etc., was $9,617.00.

ELK-Supt. Sweeney: In most cases Directors have selected those teachers who hold the best credentials, regardless of other conditions. Fox township has adopted the district system, and has employed Mr. Ferdinand Dawes, of Lock Haven, as supervising principal. Education's interests are rising in this county, as more than half the schools are under local supervision, which gives unity to the work. The school districts of the county will average eight or more months of school during the coming year. In several of the districts the buildings are being thoroughly repaired, and in Benezette, Highland and Fox each a new house is being built. All districts are taking steps to carry out the recently enacted laws relating to sanitary conditions, vaccination and compulsory attendance. tricts are receiving their appropriations, and so far as learned each has a considerable increase over last year. This speaks well for the condition of Elk county. Towards the end of August all the teachers of the county who have never taught with me assembled at Ridgway, where I gave them two days instruction on school management, including organization, classification and discipline, and method of taking up special branches. I look for good results.

Dis

FOREST-Supt. Stitlinger: A new schoolhouse has been erected in Marionville, with a view to the establishment of a High School. In Tionesta another room has been fitted up and a high school organized, for which a catalogue containing the course of study has been printed. An addition of two

rooms has been made to the East Hickory school. Most of the Boards are purchasing one or more relief maps to be placed in each school, and some schools are supplied with full sets.

FRANKLIN-Supt. Zumbro: New schoolhouses have been built in Hamilton, Fannett, Quincy, and Greene districts. The course of study has now been adopted in every district in the county.

FULTON-Supt. Chestnut: Several flourishing normals are in progress. They are attended by many of the most progressive teachers. They are doing a good work, far better than when the superintendent taught. I am about ready to begin annual examinations, and will continue to raise the standard of qualifications. Perhaps when the teachers become very, very scarce, justice will be done in the matter of salaries. Some of our best teachers leave each year. Todd refuses to give her people the school facilities that justice demands. She has no debt, $600 in her treasury, and a tax of only two mills; yet she presists in making pupils go three or nearly three miles to school. I think the withholding of one year's appropriation would have a salutary effect on several of our townships.

HUNTINGDON-Supt. Rudy: Spruce Creek township is putting up a four-room building. This will enable the Board to grade all the schools but one of the district. Lincoln and Walker townships are each erecting a handsome brick house. Shirley township has completed a new house to take the place of the one burned down last spring. JEFFERSON-Supt. Teitrick: Several new school houses are in process of erection and will be more particularly reported next month. The Punxsutawney Board Directors are establishing a High School with a four years' course, and have elected Prof. M. R. Craig, of Washington & Jefferson College, class of '96, as instructor.

of

LEBANON-Supt. Snoke: Mill Creek, Jackson, and North Lebanon districts are erecting new buildings. The one in Mill Creek at Newmanstown will be among the most substantial and most conveniert houses in the county. Its completeness in every respect reflects credit upon the directors under whose supervision it is erected.

MIFFLIN Supt. Cooper: Our summer Normal has closed and our nine regular examinations have been held. One hundred and four applicants were examined and ninety-four certificates granted, among which number are about thirty young persons who have never taught. In McVeytown a new heating apparatus takes the place of the oldtime coal stoves. Several of our best teachers are looking about for better paying positions, believing that ability and successful experience merit an advance in compensation. Prof. O. P. DeWitt leaves his academic work at Reedsville to become principal of the schools of Newport.

NORTHUMBERLAND-Supt. Shipman : The

introduction of the study of Civil Government in the rural district schools is receiving attention, and several Boards have adopted text-books in that branch. At the twelve examinations held during the month there were fifty-four directors present. The directors of Turbot township have had the interior of every school house painted. Mt. Carmel township has established the position of supervising principal and elected Prof. Wm. H. Bradley to the office for a term of three years. The new two-story frame school-house at Herndon is nearing comple. tion. The contract has been awarded for a new eight-room building in Coal township. Public examinations are over for this year; 200 provisional certificates were issued. There are 225 teachers employed in the county, not including boroughs that have their own Superintendents. Six teachers' meetings have been arranged for, to be held on successive Saturdays, begining September 5th.

PERRY-Supt. Arnold: Eighteen exami nations were held during the month and 197 applicants examined, of whom 136 received certificates. This number, with the professional and permanent certificates and Normal diplomas, will be more than are needed to fill our schools. Wm. H. Hall, esq., one of the most prominent citizens of the county and for many years a school director in Jackson township, died July 12. Mr. Hall took much interest in educational matters, and was active in organizing a Directors' Association at the last triennial convention, of which association he was one of the vice presidents.

SOMERSET Supt. Pritts: Meyersdale borough has begun the erection of an eightroom brick building, which when completed will be one of the finest school buildings in the county. Somerset and Conemaugh townships will each erect a new building during the year. All of the rooms are to be furnished with modern furniture. The directors are making an earnest effort to inform themselves thoroughly in regard to the compulsory education law. No trouble is anticipated in the enforcement of the law, as both parents and directors seem to be working in harmony with a view to the most practicable method of its application.

TIOGA-Supt. Raesly: Wellsboro's new eight-room school building, together with its contents, consisting of furniture, books and supplies, was destroyed by fire of mysterious origin on the night of August 28th. It had been completed about eighteen months, and was in all respects the most convenient graded-school building in the county. The loss, while covered by insurance, was most unfortunate, as it occurred just a few days before the schools were to open. The directors decided to rebuild at once, and also showed commendable zeal in providing accommodations for the schools while the building is being erected.

UNION-Supt. Stapleton: West Buffalo

township has built a new school-house and furnished it with the latest improved furniture. A number of the school buildings have been refitted with slate boards. The public schools of Lewisburg had outgrown their course of study; we recommended a new course, which was adopted. Two new branches, astrouomy and geology, have been placed in the course, and the two years of Latin increased to three. Hartley township is erecting a modern frame school house, which will be supplied with furniture of the latest improved pattern. Great interest was manifested in the examinations held, as shown by the large number of directors and citizens present. The number of applicants examined exceeded the demand. Directors early sought for the best material.

WAYNE-Supt. Hower: The examinations thus far have been somewhat unsatisfactory. The teachers are weak in arithmetic, grammar and history. An effort is being made by the Superintendent to have mental arithmetic taught in every school in the county, and this branch was accordingly introduced in the examinations. Sixty per cent. of the teachers failed in this subject, although the questions were very easy. In Scott township all the directors attended the examination. This spirit is commendable, having a beneficial effect upon both directors and superintendent, Damascus township intends putting new furniture into several of its buildings.

WESTMORELAND-Supt. Ulerich: As usual the conducting of the public examinations in this county was a very arduous task. From first to last 788 applicants were examined. Of this number 546 received certificates. A marked improvement in scholarship was noticed this year, due to the fact that almost every applicant had been attending school at some State or local Normal during the summer. We are glad to report that our teachers are making a most laudable effort to prepare themselves for their work. Our directors, taken as a body, are also worthy of much praise. It is true there are some whose ideas of economy are such as to unfit them for the very important and responsible office they hold; but the great majority of our directors are intelligent and progressive, ever anxious to do that which will be for the highest development of the children and the future good of the Republic, Many improvements are in progress for the coming term. In many places the latest improved apparatus is being bought. Houses are being repaired and refurnished. Quite a number of new houses are being erected. The townships of Mt. Pleasant, E. Huntingdon and Washington are building a number of well appointed houses; whilst Scottdale, Mt. Pleasant, Arnold and Greensburg are each erecting large and handsome buildings. The High School building in Greensburg will be one of the finest and best equipped

in the State.

It

WYOMING-Supt. Jarvis Generally the schools of the county open the first of September; some however began August 31 -those of Tunkhannock borough and township. The tuition for non-resident pupils is $13.50 for the nine months' term. The high school has just issued its first catalogue. contains a fine cut of the two large buildings, a list of the corps of teachers, a detailed course of study for the different grades, and the names of the graduates. The first graduating class was in '82, and had one member, Miss Anna Stanton. The class of '96 had eleven members. The P. O. S. of A. of Nicholson have presented a flag to the School Board. It was unfurled to the breeze August 31, when the schools opened. Prof. Charles Osborne has been retained as principal at a salary of $80 per month. Some of the districts have increased the salaries of their teachers; in only one district, so far as heard from, has the salary been lowered and the school-term shortened, and this was due to extra expense in building. Several districts have lengthened the term and abolished the "boarding round system, which is now practically a thing of the past. The directors of these districts are to be congratulated upon their action in taking this progressive step. Northumberland township has arranged for seven and a half months of school. Windham township has fallen in with the more modern system in the engaging of teachers by raising the salary from $18 to $27 per month, and abolishing the boarding 'round" feature. Monroe township has beautified the grounds of the school buildings at Beaumont by grading and planting trees. The schools also have been regraded. The course of study, as adopted, will entitle the district to receive extra aid from the State under the late Township High School Act. The teachers who passed will, with those holding higher certificates, about fill the schools.

YORK-Supt. Gardner: Yoe borough will have an eight months' term this year. West Manchester township enlarged the school ground at Fairmount and is erecting a handsome two-room brick building. York Haven is remodeling its school house, which when completed will be a handsome four-room building with modern appliances. Wellsville borough has arranged for two schools

the next term.

BRISTOL Supt. Booz: Vertical writing will be introduced in the lower grades in September. A few changes in the teaching force have been made.

HOMESTEAD-Supt. Kendall: Mr. C. M. Schwab, General Superintendent of the Carnegie Steel Works, Homestead, Pa., had three rooms in the Fourth Ward school fitted up for Manual Training. These rooms will be supplied with the best and latest machinery, tools, and other appliances found in such schools. A committee of four members of the School Board and the Superintendent inspected the Manual Train

ing schools of Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, by direction of Mr. Schwab. The officers, teachers and others of those schools took great pains to explain the system of Industrial Education. Mr. Harris W. Moore, of Holden, Mass., has been elected principal of this department. He was educated in the Polytechnic School, Worcester, Mass., and New York City College for teachers. The first session opens September 7th. Pupils of the 6th, 7th and 8th grade, and of the High School, will receive instruction in Manual Training. No more generous offer could have been made in the interest of education by a citizen than that by Mr. Schwab-who bears all expenses of equipment, and who likewise will defray all expenses for conducting the same. He has the thanks of all our citizens, who heartily co-operate with him.

NEWPORT Twp. (Luzerne Co.)-Supt. Dewey Schools opened August, 31st. Teachers met on the preceding Saturday and organized the monthly Institute. A special director of drawing has charge of that branch, as heretofore. A director of vocal music has been elected. Prof. M. C. Ihlseng of State College lectured, September 2-4, to large audiences. His subjects were, "Mine Gases," "Explosives and Explosions," and The Growth of Coal." lectures were all practical rather than theoretical, and the miners who heard them were well pleased. The directors graded three school lots, and otherwise improved the grounds and buildings. Everything is being done to have the school property in good shape when the schools open August 31st. Plans have been selected for a fourroom building at Glen Lyon. We have our

44

These

special director of drawing for the sixth consecutive year. During the last two years we have had no special teacher of music. The Board has now elected a teacher of vocal music; it will be taught in all the grades. The tax levy for the ensuing year includes half-a-mill for library. Some suggestions in The School Journal concerning the establishment of a free library would be appropriate.

N. HUNTINGDON TWP., (Westmoreland Co.)-Supt. Warnock: Twenty-two sets of language charts have been ordered for the schools of this township, and also one Swigert's Lunar Tellurian. Text-books in Algebra and physical geography for use in those schools having more than one room in the ninth year of the course. The teachers employed for the ensuing year hold much better papers than ever before, which we hope will result in better schools.

NORRISTOWN-Supt.

Gotwals: Three rooms have been supplied with new furniture. All the old furniture is gradually being replaced by new and improved Single desks take the place of double desks. Ali the houses have been thoroughly cleaned and put in order for the opening of school.