Our County Schools

Sin: - In complianee with the requireinents of your department I respootfnlly submit the snbjoincd statement of the; condition of tho public schools uu supsrvi-sion. Theyoaras a vrhoie lw been one -i' harraony and success. As a rule both the teachers and scholirs havo oo-operated withtho Superintendent. Oitizenshave manifestod an inoreased interest in omschools and a hearty approval of their general management. I think we can safely say that, in oomparing the resulta achievcd during the pasi year with those of former j ars, our schools havo been steadily advaneing, and give gratifying assurance that the new i' wüL beniarked with still further progress. The ovidouce of actual progrosK is indicatod in many wnys. lJy tho tact that tho work of teachers, as a class, has I more judicious, energotic and efficiënt ; by an increasod entïiusiasm, visible in the studious hablts aud correct depovtuient of their pupils, giving tho snroat aud mo9t satisfactory evidencié that a good work is being performed ; by un incroased vigor and watehfulness on tho part of school boards. Thoro is a greatef aemand tor first-cliiss teachers than heretofore. The oíd inquirios, "Whero can I tinl teacher for a small school at a low priee'r' IIow cheap will yon teach Wht is your lowestprice? We can't afford to pay much ; our school is baokworJ and taxes high," is muoh loss frequently heard. " Whora can yon v rwiüinend to toach a good school? How much can you oamf How weíl can you teach ? Do you love tho work?" has becomc more frequently tho inspiring and business Hkc inqöiry. The people have boguu to leai 11, noxt to having the necessary literary qualitications, the teachor should bo apt to teach, oarnostly dovoted to his calling, love liis pupils, sympathize with thciü in their sorrows and trials, at all tinus b lating in rniml that ho stands in tho placo of uu intelligent and anzioTia parei filling ono of the most important and responsiblo stations that society oan confer orman ocenpy, and should be impelí, dby ft higli-reaching ambition to excell; that he should not only bo prepared upon entering his calling, bnt he should I to maku a yeailv growth so long as ho pursues il ; that when ho falls into old mts, oron the tread-wheel of routdn, and goes on term aftcr term reppa tin same thing in the same way ; that when he reaches thia state of stagnation, howovor tNcellent the fornffl into whioh he hi.s boen petriiied, ho ceases to be an excellent teacher, and in li is 110 longoreven a good ono : thai when a te:cher neglects todiBoasaquestionsof teaohing, to attend teachers' oonventione, institutea, and associatiotm, to read educational journals and publicatious, and to make Borne regular preparation out of school for the duties in it, it is high time that bis name ghould be Stncken irom the ediicationul pay-roll, ;uid ho retiro to a more congenial calling. I do not asscrt, neither nan it bc roaSonably expected, that failurcs have not occurwf, that n the sehoois haro dom; equally well or even held their oun, where 49 teachers, or 22 per cent. of tb:educational foroe of tii ■ ■■ ounty, ;iniü into the field without experienoo andtanght their firet school as was the ca Yot I foei that the many healthy and progressive advancos wfiioh have been accomplishcd within thu last year, by th;: aid and effoits of tho earnest, devoted and eelf-sacrificing; band of teachers in tfcn county, should go tur to oblitérate frora view many shortoomings, whioh undor other cireumstanees might appear as glaring dufects. EXAMI.VATIOXS. Four hundred and thhtoou applioanta have been examiaed during the year. Of this number 4 received Jst grade certiticates; 101, 2d grado ; 257, M grade; 51 ■wore rtjected. Thirty-two public inations weie held in different parta of the coanty, beaides many ezamim in my oliice. Ciindidatcs havo b quired to submit, to li-th an or;il and w ritten examiiuition. Certifieates issned have b;en carefully marked, and eacb boars ugonits face thfi per cent. of questions answt!B6l in cach branch as v.-.li aa the average markiagseoiired. All . scripts funiished by the writtcn examinations are kept ou file subject to inspection. Whilo all our examinations have b en rigid and exuctiiu::, the standaid of qulification has been slowly but steadily raised and tho results ou the vhole have been highly satisfactory. SCHOOL VISITA I hav.j visitud daríng the year 222 schools, spending witb a fcw oxooptions OtVihnlf nnyin nntth Thi naed in visiting theso schools has Tañed with their vurying oomditíoiM - lliat of arousihg both to koher mid pupil to a inore viroruus and healthy work. lt has ranged froiu warm words of hoartj approval and oncouraeemont, spol.cn to the cara st and solf-saorifieing laboro.-, down throiigh 11 thc vnrious forms of cuil remeiied, to tho fow instanocs, wliert! the school has been taken in hand, thoroughly reconstructud and startod anew. Everywhere in tho prosoeiition of this work I have been ruceivcd with gonial oourtesy on the part of teachers and pupjls, and ray suggestions and advice, with a few exceptions, have been taken in a spirit so kind - ly that it has rendered the work of neverfailing interest and encouragement. Oar uchoolá noed moro frequent vit.itinjr. Inspectioii, intelligent oversight and dircction, ia :i3 aeödful tot the school as for the LtbCTOf the factoryoi' the farm. School offiyers and parcuits should visit their schools moro frequently. Whilo our school repoits show the wholo number of visits mad' by directois last year to hr. 451, there were 34 distiicts thvt wero wholly unvisitcd, exoept by the S perintendent. Want wonld Ie thought of a merchant who emp'oycd a olerk or a salesraan, sent him to Lis storo and never so much as looked in upon him for weeks and months, and only sent in agent to visit him for a few hours once or twiee a year? What woull be thought of a farmer who sent his hired man into the field to labor and bestowed no further attention or thought on him for ïnonths 'i Would you tx; surprised if such &■ merchant or farmer f ailed in business? Nay ! rather surpriaed if he did not fail. Aro yon noí thua treating our public schools, the pooplo8 collegt, the dcarest interest of yonr ohildren, the great hope of the future, the support of republicuii institutions ' And nc-vor for a moment dream but tírnt yon have done your duty to your ohildren and the world ? With all tuis ftpathy on your part, can you evr woidér that thoro are ïoilures in nor schools ? You act more wisely in othc-sthinga; yourinfluenoeovOT . your ohildren i parauicrunt. Vii; your' schools, not to deuounco or find fanlt, but to timyhit.' tho fMoUei snd enoetovge your childrcn. They always imbibe tli(interost luanlfested by parenta in themelyuii and becomc stiruulatüd to increasud éïertions. JJUMBEK OF TEACHERS, "XVSVf. TAUGI1T, A 1 1 AMOUNT ' Tho wholo number of ohildren in the county liutween the ages of and 20 years is 13,003. Üf tliis number 10,001 were tuught some portion of the year by tho educational force of the county, whioh consists of 233 teachers, one bundred and ieronty-nine of whom como undet the jurisdiction of tho iJtmnty Superintendont. Tho wiiolo number of teachers at the present tiuio bolding Ist grade certiricates is 12; number holuinfí 2d grade number holding :d grade, H8, Total of all gradee, 22-1, of whom 103 are males and 123 femalcs. The wintor 'jnr. of ■chooU in the rural distiii-l.s was taugljt by 80 males and IS lemals. The suinnior term was taught by 1 malos and 14 t females. Two listrícts in the winter and twi Ive in ülo lumsaerJiad no schools. The eduoational force oí the Union Schools in tho county consists of 73 teachers- 14 males and 69 feïuiik's. TI Mi: TAUG1IT. Th total muiibcT of snonths taught in tho county duiMig the ygar was l71 1-4; taiijjht by N amber of ni rural districta by males, 52 by 6 males, ht in tlio i Schools iy m iles, 1 12 '. 2 : by fe. 584 1 2. Thi ttumbei of nniiiilis tattghi In tho rural districta duriiig the year, 7 1 5; in the I ihools, 10.' IES I'All). Tho total amount paid teachers v. during th1,76 I ; amoun ; male i ■ 35,26Ö. Total paid males in the rnrul districi oíales, Í1 ',7 IS. I . $16,125; pui I f aialès, $19,518. Theaverage ïuonthly wages paid malea in fcha rural diatriota, inc 1,18 ; paid females, ini :rd, $10,20. Average weeklj d teníales for Bummer term, including board, (3.33. A i oionthly wa.es paid malt in th,e i oion Schools, exoíuMVtí ol board, (1 1". ' 1 teníales, :;:j.37. The total amouni raised in the ooouty fox all a during th i. !,'.!',', Bi ing : ' oflasi 21,570. ííakiují ' pur capita forcach chikt of school age in tlie coimty. Tho I figures abovö do uot show any matorial ohange frotn thoae of lastycar. The average time taiighï in eaoh ii; reasc i onl While th.' average monthly trages paid males in Ui ; - ''■■ n iiorea&d su.')1, ihat of (- ichérs has been iccroased onlyï.50. The-ovérmthly wagespaid male and femalc nets has 1 i Blightly diininighed, the former -i7 and the bitter 87 Cents per ïuonth. MISi ELLA STEOU8. Of tho 168 whotaught thowinter term in tho rural districts, 06 bo i aróund, 59 read the üiMf in school, 21 opened school wiih prs-ycr, 48 praol swging i). - ■ d for and Ú Journals, and -■' taught :heir first term. Of the I4ö i aohera who taught tho suuijnei term, 103 boarded around, 71 praotioed ainging, 96 read the , and7 opened schools with prayer; 'M subscribed for and rand 12 lucationaJ Jouraals, and - taugbt theii tirst term. Av.ruyu number oí teems taught, r. r as hcretoforo have a?ai'ded to scbolard for punotual and ,v rtti o I i ■■■ , aud have uad u ten to greatly iinprove sohoole in tuis raspeoti Ï1IE NOEMAI. CLASS, Organizod in connectl m frith tho fall tenu of tlte Anu Arbor Union School and conduoted by Professor Waltei S. Pony, Dccessful in prcpai ii i tbe literory an ! n oti■;■.[ work ol tu.' Echool-rooói, i me thttt thif is ouo cf the most availablo and profitable souroos lor teachers tovprepare for their pp and that I classes gh uld bomoro numi rou3 and generally patn TEST B00K3 AXD S.IUOL AITAEATTS. i Under our prossnt law oik uï tho moit important duties of tho distriqt board is to determine a d i(i ■■■■'- m ii'ies of text bookd '. ■ h oscd in I over whiuE thej ■■■ ■■ ise o utr?L viiilo thore ia do1 q vú 'iiibi r of tl man d . the coünty ght of folij au o ■ u i.. t'arpersist ia drawiug hiscropo glu ijuslüi, yu( o i iiv'j majoriiy of theso sanie meo adtnit, in their actiosa, th&t they oannot seo any iuipropriety, wasto of time ór monoy, iw tVvui .i want "i anifi i'tnity of texts-books, to teooh bis Büliool oí' forty pupila iu forWith all re&pi ol for tho integriry of in:hool boards of the uotmty, 1 mus! sa] ; :' noe of tho past has convinced ino ihat bo loiifi as t!)': remedy oï this great cvil remai'is with them, book agciits will do as they please, nSor, aud t ii law in relation to I -h as aow, ncarly or q on our statutea. ïhus b lieving, 1 can but fee] that tho defcat of the Ëousebül introI by Hon. C. B. Grant, ohairmau of Cúmmittco ou Ëducation in the State ature, last winter, providing tur a oounty uniformitv, wan a aad ..;alamity to tho best Lntereste of onr public schools. Ton niay havo tho bost of school-hous- in ïnonoy, the best of ira; but wOÊhuUnevtr have, in a truc SL'iiae ot' the term, profioient acholara until we a ■ polioy thai hall rèduco the number of classes iu our schools. Our toaob is. without uniformity of book?, that they may 8yBtiaiitieö and olasaify their solioola, are many ot' tlicm i t. bear (they can make no attiimpt ch) thirt) ; ■ itations in about six hours each day. They are obmpelledto wade thxough as many rocitatious in a sinK; day, wi'.li OUT p] olaesiflcations, as would be foundin a well regulatod, gT ded school, from tho ])tiiiia:y to lho most advanoed class. - Tuero is no nocoüsity t'or half a dozen different readers, aritiunetics, gramntars, and geographios iu a school of thirty ::. nt. only tho best intcrests of our schools, but the tbe people dein nul thut aontetbing be dono to relieve t'ucir schools of this buiden of books, and their pockets trom the px'eseut extortion of monoy. fcichool apparatua hus beeome a neoeaaity of the age. We should as sooa look for sucoess in the maiiner ou tho trackless ooean without a coinpastj, oí i;: farmer who uóüs the WQOuan plow and sickle, as to ezpeotthe teacher tobo thorOUghly sueti'ssl'ul in the sehool-room without scliool apparatus. AVliili) there has b.en a gratiiying increaso in the amount purchasod last year, the i in tho rural di.-: : lili deplorably deficiënt in, apparatus. While school-room in tho county should be supplicd with a school register, class-oook, Df li, dictionary, elook, glob.-, and a set of outline maps, there are at the present time in tho lö'J rural districts but 10 globes, 3ü clocks, 72 dietionaries, " sets of outline maps, and 123 school registers. Binoe our distri(;t libraides are aïmost unanimouslypronounced a failure, should thoro not bo a provisión of law requiring that the h'no money apportioned to the several districts 1; nsed in puxchasing suitable school apparatus. NOUMA!, AND UXION SCHOOLS. Ten graduates from the State Normal School havo taught in the eounty during year. Forty-soven teachers who taught tho winter, imd 40 teachers who taught the BUmraer term in t!n rural districte had been students of tho Normal School. AVo are now reaping a rich harvest from ihis source. The répresentativcs from this school whose servi been able to secure, hu ve, ns a olass, credit to tho instruotion and training they have recsivcd, by the careful and economioal arrangementa of ihc exeroisea of their several schools ; by their ability to preseni sulij:cts of study in an attractive mannbX; by numeróos and i piiato illustrations ; by the thorouf completencss and proroptness which acterized the class reoitatiens of their pupils. I do not claim that a Normal School will necessarily make ohor, or that allhavesucceeAedwell. A Normal training muinot give a young bat wisdom whichiscnly had through ezperience. Nor can H supply i lack. which nature has withheld in force ui' ohtsracter or aptitude to teach. Tt does not profes to impartanynew faculties, orto grind out teachers irrefpoctive of material furnished. Nor do I claim that re nol lupsrior teachers who have never enjoyed the privileges of a Normal coursc, teachers yolthy of apxfroval aud public confidence, any more than I claim that we havo not good luwyers and divines who have never studied their ptofessions in the schools. Uut I do v Normal course is tho easfest, the „ st and most complete method of training tea ' their work. It usuilly greater efficiency than the r woulii Qtherwwe possess, The oyri'uctness of this claiiu is attcsted by a oonip irisou 'f t'ie intoruat mul vv -h'k ■ at ioho 1 1 in the oounty d Uring tha i lí:st three yoars. Our Union nd Gradcd Schools wercf ni:ir in a more proaperouj nnd flourishadition thau ut the prosont timo. l'iny re fiUed to overflowiiij, and without n single esoeption ure orsauized wit') au ublo, thorough, aud caruusÉ oorps of teachers. rroot-Housès. Waole namber in th! county 181 - u last year. The numberoonstructod of stone, 0 ; ofbriok, 01, - aui. of two : of frame, 110 : of loga, 5 13stiiimIu viilu.ition of school-housea and grounds, $372,000 - nn increascd vnlua tion over Lastyearöf $46,883. Estima■ : of the L'inon Bchool build■ i lot i-i : mi es in roral !l;-Liits, Sjlil,'Hhf - itu (ivjiago cost of fli. Five soho l-hoú.i, two oí' l'i'ink and lineo of wood, h.ivn boen built during the yoar, beideaan addition Aun Arbor Union School building, at a oost of $30,000, inakingit, ifnot mosi eostly nad iinposin..' school gtructuxo in bbe sí ■'.'.■; one of üw uost convenioat nnd best arr.ir.ged. 'I hc poople of Waahtcnaw aio beginning to roali.e that as " tho stylo of uhorindicate the spiritual oondiUon of tho conimunily, so surciy do Bohooi-hoU es indi' :i ■■ i .. ■■ '■ilui'iitional prosperity of the people" ;that ohildnn love mul properly ippruuiutc thuir school only v4ien th( scliool-Lousc.i present soino attractions ; that at BO panodm lifc do extern il mirngi imd aaaaoiationt exurt so powerful an inlluciico and lastingimpr ■ on the mind asdunngthc iioriod of e'..ildhood ; that alm os t our iirst impre: aro derived froni tho school-rooa and its surrouadinpis and thattheir influunces, be thoy refiniug and elovatinr, or dobasing and dëgrading, will bo freah and viviii long after tho objects causing the improssions hiVopassedaway, Thusfeeling, the peo.'.u iiro showing a disposition to mal." thoir school-houses more attn.ctive, coninjodious and comfortable. CORl'OKAL FITNieHlCfSrr. Hasbecome one of the practical educa - Mona! (piostions of the hour. Public sentiinoiit is divided in 'ospect to its aboliahnient dr oontimtaóto in ■ ur public school'. ' 8ome teté pOMtíreJy oppose! to it,. others ! 'liove in it, and approve of it whrn np o their neigatMjrs' childrcn ; others tlie opinión th;vt scha 1 training is of but litUu account viniess a Oí amonnt of judioioua wkipping is osed m a stinmlaut to hard and successful study. . lenced observors agroe in this, that in families and schools thero is too much lunisiimoiit and too littlö discipine Any one of fair phyeieal strength can punish, but to be able to sustam disciplino requires armnesa, pradence, tact, patii :;'.■■■. and u hcarty iutörost in the pupil's wellfare. As a general íict in the poorest managed scliool there is tho grc.itcst amount of corporal punishinent, andthose pnnishod y meetta of physical pain are seMom mude botter. The best g-overned schools aro thoso in which corporal punishnients are seldom, ii' ever, used. In.noil goTemment is impossiblu in :i schooi where the rod is held in tenor over tho schoVars. Tbereniay bc order there, - the ordor that comes f rom fear - butnot (journmeni, in the sonso in which governiiiciit is desirablnin tho school. Fear, as a gqvorning motivo of action, .i iiiur, aud any puuishinent which tends to degrade a ohild in his own cstii.ition, or iu the ostimation of other?, is demoralizingi If jou wish to mako a brnto of a boy treat dim like a brute. Kü-k and cufï' liim whencveran opportunity ofiers. If yon wigh to reclaiin'him and mate him botter, appeal to h;s botter ■, Ir.ii, him with kindnoss and lovo. ■ iabetter than fear and wisdom better than ihe rod." It is affiimcd by somo that there ars boys and girls in our schools who are uttfrly lost to all sense of dooency and propriety, who aro beyond the reach or kindm sa :md love, and that all of our teachers are not lion-tamors, and have not the power to qnoll, sulidu(, and restrain the s, wiiit'ul spirits of tlioso who have no home, culture, or discipline. This, to soino extent, is undoubtedly true, and siuco disorder and confusión must be driven from our schoul-room at all hazards, ;inil n its pbee order and quiet made to rein supreme, I would uot, perhaps, banish corpora! punishment from our schools, but believeit should hc. used only in estreufl oases, with great caution and d; liberation, nevei in tho excitement of passion. Eeports from teachers show that in the winter term 79 teachers inilicted corporal punishmi nt, 121 cases occurring ; in the summet term 65 toaohers used it, 180 e;ises occurring. IX CONCLUSIÓN permit rne to say : if errors havo bo.en committed in tu discharge of my duties, they hare been errors of the mind and nöt of the heart. All of my offorts havo been diotated by love for the causo which, in tho higheigt and best sense, is truly the of the pcople. I have striven to bring about a hnalthy stato of thought in cduciition:il miitters, to tlie end that with the inculcation of knowledge there might also bo implantad in tho minds ot' the young a high senso of honor, manly solfrolianco and magnanimity of soul. At the present time, perhaps, moro than at any previons period of our history, the tion of the young claims tho attontion and demande the best efforts of everytrue friend of humanity and freo institutions. Urent dangerfl and suvore trials lie in our pathway as a nation. Ainbitious and deaigning men are grasping Lbi pover and defyingthe will of the people. Eribery and corruption are rite in higb ]laces of trust and honor. Even grave and reverend Senators and Jndges aro found willing to betray tho sacred trusts cuiumittüd to thoir hands for p.-iltry gold. ïho people can look nowhere else than to the public schools for tho redeeming infloeüces that shall grow um beat back this tide of injustico and eorruption that surrounds us on evcry side. Let us then cheerfully iuake every saorifioe and labor with uutiring zeal, in order that tho rising generation may secure such moral and intellectual culture as shall prepare tlicm to maintain a freo governmeiit and preservo our Union. GEü. B. WHEELER, County Superintendent of Schook.