USA > Ohio > Annual report of the State Commissioner of Common Schools, to the Governor of the State of Ohio, for the year 1880 > Part 22
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F. M. DEMOTTE, S. MORE SURFACE, OSCAR SHEPPARD,
Examiners.
PUTNAM COUNTY.
In compliance with your circular, I herewith submit a statement of the condition of the schools of Putnam county. At no period in the
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history of the county has the outlook of education been more encouraging . than the present. In almost every district improvements of some kind have been made-some by purchasing apparatus, others by requiring their teacher to attend the County Institute, and still others by seeking more competent teachers.
At New Cleveland, one of the finest brick buildings in the county has recently been completed. Glandorf is preparing to erect a large brick building next year, with appointments sufficient to accommodate all the schools, namely, four, and still leave a few rooms unoccupied. Heretofore, the schools of the village have been in separate buildings.
The Annual Institute was held at Ottawa, and pronounced to be one of the best ever held in the county. The attendance was good through- out. Prof. W. G. Williams, of Delaware, had charge the first week, and conducted the Institute with great profit and delight. Mr. Williams has but few peers in his special work.
We had the great pleasure of the counsel and instruction of our State School Commissioner, the Hon. J. J. Burns, who delivered two very able lectures, and otherwise contributed to the success of the Institute.
More than thirty subscribers were obtained for the different educa- tional papers.
As a board of four, we have some difficulty in providing for the three years' certificate. Let me venture the suggestion that the present Legis- lature make a sufficient knowledge of United States History and Physi- ology as a condition for the three years' certificate. I feel quite confident that such a condition would wonderfully stimulate education in our county. We have held eighteen meetings for the examination of teachers. Cannot something be done to harmonize the grading of certifi- cates in the different counties of the State ? Teachers holding a ten years' certificate in one county, ought not to be rejected in another county. If so, one county is wrong.
Yours, etc.,
S. F. DEFORD, Clerk of the Board.
ROSS COUNTY.
The Board of Examiners have raised the grades in all the branches taught in our common schools, and consequently many old teachers of many years' standing, have yielded their positions to younger and more efficient teachers.
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STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
There is an improvement in the moral standard, and great changes have been made in some parts of the county by the erection of new school- houses, with modern furniture and apparatus.
The schools are in a prosperous condition ; and the mode of teaching and imparting instruction has been greatly improved, on account of closer application to their studies during the summer months.
One great detriment to the schools in this county, is the action of the school boards in the employment of their teachers.
They look more to the cheap man, than they do for one who is qual- ified to fill the place.
In many instances good teachers have been turned out, and one less qualified is selected to fill the place, because he is a cheap man.
There seems to be a growing desire, on the part of teachers, for supervision.
A superintendent, elected by the people, to visit the schools, could find out the needs of the people better than the present Board of Ex- aminers.
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SCIOTO COUNTY.
There has been no rapid or striking advancement in educational matters in this county during the past year, but I am glad to be able to report a regular healthy growth.
Our teachers are making an effort at uniformity of method. They are meeting regularly in their quarterly institutes, where they have full and free discussions on all the teaching topics of education, and the out- growth of this interchange of methods and opinions is tending toward a new and uniform method.
The regular yearly institute is producing great good in this county, not any more from the instruction of those paid for the same, than from the mingling and fellowship of the teachers together.
I still regret to see that some of the local directors persist in chang- ing teachers so frequently; but this evil is not so prevalent as at the time of my last report, owing, in part, to the limited number of six months' certificates issued by the examiners. However, this is still one of our chief evils.
I would suggest an amendment to the law doing away with the six months' certificate entirely ; also, the eighteen months', and make the grade for county certificates uniform with those of cities.
ANNUAL REPORT.
I can conceive of no valid reason why the country schools should be subject to those odd terms.
Unless a six months' certificate is issued on the day of the commence- ment of a term, the same will expire before its close, and the same is true as to the eighteen months', as to the close of the second term.
NOAH J. DEVER, Clerk Board Examiners.
SUMMIT COUNTY.
The general condition of the schools of this county is improving. Teachers are realizing their responsibilities, and are striving for higher attainments, as evidenced by their unusually large attendance at our Teachers' Institute, and the better examination they are passing than heretofore, many receiving certificates for twenty-four and thirty-six months, notwithstanding the standard has been raised within the last year.
A few of our local boards are employing teachers for the school year, instead of by the term. There are a few instances in which teachers have been retained in the same school several years. This, certainly, is a step in the right direction. But our country schools can never compare favor- ably with those of the city, until we have some system of personal supervision.
A. L. CROSIER, Member of Board of Examiners.
TRUMBULL COUNTY.
The schools in this county are in a flourishing condition, more especially those in the village districts.
There is no lack of funds, as our "balance on hand" plainly shows.'
The average daily attendance is generally good, although the com- pulsory process is not enforced to any great extent, yet we do believe our present sytem could be much improved.
That the township districts should be organized similar to the separate districts, each having a superintendent, who should have a general supervision of all the schools, and thus create a uniform system.
R. C. RICE, Auditor.
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STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
While there has been no startling advance in educational matters, yet there have been some things that show a steady growth in the right direction. There has been a voluntary association of teachers for pro- fessional improvement, meeting five times within the year; there has been a fair County Teachers' Institute ; a large number of teachers have made term reports (in our county papers), which indicate greater pains- taking in the conduct of their school work; there have been fewer changes in teachers in the annual school session; and my association with our teachers leads me to believe that greater interest is manifested in the present year's work, than that of any preceding it.
The graded schools of our county have, I think, made commendable progress during the past year.
With regard to means for the improvement of our schools, my obser- vation during the past two years has confirmed my conviction that the most prudent thing for us to do now is to substitute township system of control for our present mongrel township sub-district plan.
I believe that if our Institute fund were expended through a few normal schools in the State, it would accomplish much more for the good of our schools than results from the present expenditure of this income.
Yours, truly,
L. L. CAMPBELL, Clerk.
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.
We believe we have made some improvement in the school system of this county during the past year. We have steadily carried forward the measures referred to in our last report. The evil to be overcome was, that in rural districts, especially, directors seem to have thought it their first duty to engage the teacher who could be hired at the lowest wages, without regard to his qualifications or experience. Of course, the lowest grade of teachers was employed, to the exclusion of the better class, unless the latter came down to the wages of the former. So the process of underbidding went on, to the disgrace of the school system, and the extreme disgust of respectable teachers. The tendency of this practice was to drive out our good teachers, and invite hither in their stead the offcasts of other counties.
We have deemed it our duty to help maintain the dignity and inde- pendence of the calling. We have endeavored to provide the county with teachers who pursue the profession for the love of it, no less than for its emoluments, and whose services are valued and sought; and to
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ANNUAL REPORT.
rid the county of a horde of venal underbidders who huckster their poor talents from district to district, for money only. To this end, we have proceeded upon the principle of supply and demand We have raised the requirements, in order to cut off the cheap teacher; this increases the demand for good teachers, and as the demand increases, the' wages rise.
J. FOSTER WILKIN.
UNION COUNTY.
The close of the school year finds but little change in the schools of this county, since my last report, so far as my personal knowledge goes, but it is evident there is some growth, and a gradual progress to a higher place.
In this county there are many good and competent teachers, but they must compete with as many poorly qualified teachers, who are willing to teach for very low wages, and in many instances these young and inex- perienced teachers are employed by the local directors. This is especially true of our summer schools.
Our schools need more good and efficient school officers, and more earnestness and enthusiasm in all friends of education.
The annual Institute was usually well patronized, nearly all the best teachers of the county being present, as all the older and suc- cessful teachers have come to consider the Institute as one of the indis- pensable educational helps.
The normal class was well attended this year, and ably conducted, and all teachers in attendance expressed themselves as having a pleasant and profitable time.
The educational department introduced last year in our county fair, was a grand success, and this year it was much more interesting, and the display in the scientific and geological collections was much better. The result of the experiment has been highly satisfactory to the projectors and conductors of this department.
The schools of Marysville and Richwood are especially in a highly prosperous condition, and we hope the day may come, not far distant, that our country districts will be properly divided and as competently superintended as our higher and graded schools.
Several good and substantial school buildings have been erected during the year, the most prominent of which is the Union school build- ing at Milford Center.
W. L. CURRY, Auditor.
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STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
VAN WERT COUNTY.
The interest in our public schools is steadily increasing, and they will compare favorably with the public schools of older counties in the State.
Log school-houses and slab-benches are numbered among the things of the past in this county; new and commodious brick and frame structures with mordern improvements have taken their place.
W. T. AXLINE, Auditor.
It is gratifying to us to be able to report improvement in the con- dition of our county schools the present year.
Many of the teachers seem to be manifesting increased zeal in pre- paring for their work, and the patrons of schools are taking a corre- sponding interest in the comfort of both teacher and pupil, in providing more suitable rooms for instruction, as a new and commodious brick or frame structure is now found in nearly every district in the county. These are steps in the right direction ; and an increase in the wages of . the teacher is the next step in order, to make our schools a success, for the teachers, able to teach well, and to properly direct the young idea, can find employment in more lucrative departments of labor; hence, our schools, generally, are managed by teachers who are satisfied with a short-lived certificate, and willing to teach for a "dollar a day", and, per- haps, less.
We trust the time is not far hence, when the true teacher's worth will be properly estimated, and his pay made equal to the importance of the service rendered; then, and not till then, can we reasonably expect our schools to be governed by able instructors. Let, then, the standard of qualification be raised, and the teachers' pay correspondingly elevated, and thus induce our inferior teachers to make adequate prepa- ration for their work, or retire from the profession, and we would soon realize, as the fruits of this change, better scholars, and more general intelligence, where, at present, too much indifferent qualification pre- vails. That this, or some equally beneficial change may soon occur, let us hope. Our schools, however, compare favorably, in excellence, with those of other counties in our State. The march is "onward", but-too -slow.
M. H. TUTTLE, Clerk of Board of Examiners.
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S. C.
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ANNUAL REPORT.
WARREN COUNTY.
Schools are in a prosperous condition.
C. W. RANDALL, Auditor.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
DEAR SIR: While we are unable to report, in response to your circu- lar, any special degree of progress in the schools of this county during the past year, we feel sure they have made no retrograde movement. On the contrary, from personal observation and otherwise, we believe the public schools generally, of the county, are in a very fair condition, and are doing efficient work. The Board of Examiners are endeavoring gradually to elevate the educational standard of the county, and, as a result, the standing of the teachers will compare favorably, we think, with that of our neighboring counties. The demand for better schools is increasing, and the teachers are evidently taking a livelier interest in fitting themselves for their work. They are beginning to realize that preparation is essentially necessary to success. In a number of our rural districts can be found thoroughly alive, earnest, growing teachers, who are doing valuable and valiant service, and who mean that their schools shall challenge comparison with those of the cities and towns. One of our greatest needs is a sufficient amount of money to employ well quali- fied teachers, and to keep them from seeking other and more remunera- tive occupations. The school-houses generally are comfortable, and many of them are supplied with improved furniture.
Respectfully submitted.
JNO. D. PHILLIPS, Clerk.
WILLIAMS COUNTY.
Although we cannot see any great change in the schools of this county since last year. we believe they are slowly improving. We have an active and energetic corps of teachers, who are vying with one another for the highest honors in the profession of teaching.
The Teachers' Institute of this county is usually well attended. Besides the annual institute, there are a great number of teachers' meet- ings held on Saturdays, in various parts of the county.
The enclosed list of examination questions will give an idea of the scholarship, which is required of applicants for teachers' certificates.
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STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
The aim on the part of the examiners is to avoid all puzzles and catch questions, and to make the examinations as practical as possible. Professional knowledge and morality have great weight in determining the grade of a certificate.
Taking all things into consideration, we believe that the educational facilities of this county will compare favorably with those of any county in this part of the State; yet we must confess that our country schools are far below that degree of perfection, which, under proper management, may be reached.
In my opinion, nothing short of some kind of supervision will ac- complish this. There is a lack of system and uniformity, every teacher following his own method, which, perhaps, would do very well, if the same teacher was retained long enough to reap the benefit of any method; but as long as we have a change of teachers almost every term, it amounts to no method at all. There are usually two short disconnected terms, taught by different teachers, in each school year. Another defect is the employment of cheap (?) and unqualified teachers.
Local directors do not, as a rule, make any difference on account of the grade of certificate which a teacher holds, and in many instances employ a teacher before he obtains a certificate, and then, when he fails to reach the required grade, join with the applicant in trying to induce the examiners to disregard their rules, and grant the required document. .
In conclusion, I would say, that I think we are slowly outgrowing these defects. The village schools have already outgrown them, and are well graded and well taught.
CLINTON PAINE, Clerk of Board of Examiners.
WOOD COUNTY.
The teachers of our county have just closed a very interesting insti- tute, and they seem to be alive to the interests of their calling.
As will be seen from this report, there is a tendency to a better class of school-buildings in this county.
Statistical reports are very imperfect.
The general condition of the schools in the county is good.
S. CASE, Auditor.
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS.
STATE AND COUNTY BOARDS OF EXAMINERS. -
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS.
STATE BOARD.
ARITHMETIC.
1. Give and demonstrate the propositions upon which the different operations in fractions depend.
2. Find the g. c. d. of 24 and 66 by the different rules known to you, and give a demonstration of each rule.
3. Extract the square root of 7,396, and give the reason for each step in the process.
4. L. Ford has five pieces of land : the first contains 3 A. 2 R. 1 P .; the second, 5 A. 3 R. 15 P .; the third, 8 A. 29 P .; the fourth, 12 A. 3 R. 17 P .; the fifth, 15 A. 31 P. Required the largest sized house-lots, containing each an exact number of square rods, into which the whole can be divided.
5. If a cloak can be made of 4} yds. of cloth that is 1§ yds. wide, how many yards would it take of cloth that is } of a yard wide ?
6. I have remitted to my correspondent a certain sum of money, which he is to lay out for me in iron, and having reserved for himself 2} per cent. on the purchase, which amounted to $90, he buys for me the iron, at $95 per ton. What was the sum remitted, and the quantity of iron purchased ?
7. If 74 ozs. of bread be bought for 42 d., when corn is 4 s. 2 d. per bushel, what weight of it may be bought for 1 s. 2 d., when the price per bushel is 5 s. 6 d .?
8. Sold a cow that cost me $40 for $45 on a credit of 6 months. What did I gain by the bargain ?
9. Agreed with a farmer for 30 cords of wood at $8 a cord; it was to be cut 4 feet long, but by mistake, it was cut only 45 inches long. How much, in justice, should be deducted from the stipulated price ?
10. How many feet of boards would be required to cover a house that is 40 feet square, and whose height to the top of the plate is 20 feet, the roof projecting 1 foot over the plate, and coming to a point over the center of the house, 15 feet above the garret floor ?
U. S. HISTORY.
1. To what great families did the people belong who occupied the coast of North America when the first European explorers came ?
2. When and by whom was the Pacific Ocean discovered ?
3 Name some of the early explorers who visited America.
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STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
4. When did Wm. Penn come to America ? From whom and how did he ob- tain a grant of territory settled by him ?
5. Why is Virginia called "The Old Dominion ?" When, where, and by whom was the first Virginia settlement made ?
6. What was the "Stamp Act ?" When was it passed? What led to its passage ? Why did the colonies object to it ?
7. Who were the Hessians? Name the first and last engagements of the Revo- lutionary war.
8. When was the Revolutionary army disbanded ? When did our country be- come a nation ?
9. What were the names of the first political parties ? What prominent men belonged to each party ?
10. Since the Revolution, what wars has the United States been engaged in, and what led to each ?
11. What acquisitions of territory have taken place, and under what adminis- trations ?
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
1. What is an atom ? What is elasticity ?
2. In what conditions or forms does matter exist ?
3. Give Newton's laws of motion.
4. A falling body passed over 1029.12 feet ; what was the time required ?
5: What are the general laws of machines ?
6. A beam 24 feet long is suspended at both ends; a weight of 2 tons is sus- pended 4 feet from one end, and a weight of 18 cwt., 6 feet from the other end. Give the pressure at each end.
7. Find the pressure upon the bottom of a conical vessel filled with water 41 cm. in altitude, and whose bottom is 4 cm. in diameter.
8. What is specific gravity ? How is the specific gravity of solids found ?
9. What is magnetic induction ? Give an illustration.
10. Define electrolyte and electrolysis.
11. What is a musical sound ? Give the elements of musical sounds.
12. Explain the intermittent spring by a diagram.
13. Express the temperature 77º F. in the centigrade scale. Express the tem- perature 35° C. in the Fahrenheit scale.
ZOOLOGY.
1. What is Zoology ? What is meant by an organ ? Give an example of an organ, giving its function.
2. 'What are the leading characteristics of vertebrated animals ? What classes compose the branch vertebrata ?
3. How is the circulation of the blood carried on in the class mammalia ?
4. How does the sable differ from other martens ? Where is it found? To what order and family does the dog belong? Does the dog perspire freely ?
5. What are the generic characters of the genus felis? What are the charac- teristics and habits of seals ?
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ANNUAL REPORT.
6. How are beavers distinguished from other rodentia ? What are the general characteristics of the genus elephas ?
7. What is the character of the camel ? How many kinds of horns are possessed by ruminants ? Describe them.
8. What are the peculiarities of the apparatus of respiration in the cetacea ? What is whale bone ? Of what use is it to the whale ?
9 How are birds distinguished from other vertebrated animals ? Upon what is the classification of birds founded ?
10. State the general characteristics of the order of Sauria. What are inverte- brate animals ?
BOOK-KEEPING.
1. What is book-keeping ? How many methods of book-keeping are there, and how are they distinguished ?
2. What are the three main books in double-entry ? What is the ledger ?
3. What are bills receivable ? How many and what forms of written obligations are known as " negotiable paper?" For what is bills receivable account debited ? For what credited ? What does the difference show ?
4. For what is the merchandise account, the cash account, and the personal account debited ? With what credited ? What does the balance of each show ?
5. How can the value of merchandise unsold be found ? How may the gain, or loss on merchandise be ascertained ?
6. Journalize the following items:
(a). Sold on account to A. Harris 6 yds. cloth, at $6 per yd., and 4 doz. handkerchiefs at $3.75 per doz.
(b). Bought of W. N. Holliday 340 fbs. sugar at 8 cts. a Ib., 175 Ibs. coffee at 20 cents a 1b., 25 lbs. tea at 65 cts. a lb., for which I gave him $15, a draft on James Hunt, a banker in New York, for $50, and the balance on account.
(c). Jesse Jones gave me on account $45, and 50 bu. corn at 45 cts. a bu.
(d). I bought of A. Bond, 200 yds. of flannel at $1 per yd., for which I paid $50, and my note for $150, payable in 60 days.
(e). C. Dunn sends me on account, a draft on N. Y. for $200; D. Park allows me 1} per cent premium, and takes the draft in payment of a debt of $125, and gives me sugar at 12} cents a pound for the balance.
GEOLOGY AND. MINERALOGY.
1. Name some of the objects of Geology ?
2. Of what groups of minerals are common rocks composed ?
3. What are igneous rocks ?
4. Name and describe some metamorphic rocks ?
5. Under what conditions do rock masses occur ?
6. What are jasper, asbestos, garnet, talc, graphite, and dolomite ?
7. How were ordinary stratified rocks formed ?
8. What is a fault ? What dip ? How measured ?
9. What agencies have had most to do in bringing about geological changes ?
10. Describe the peat formations ?
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STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
11. What are Artesian wells ? Explain their origin.
12. State the geological effects of ice-bergs.
13. From what sources does the crust of the earth derive its heat ?
14. State some of the reasons in support of the theory of the earth's internal heat.
15. Explain the formation of veins.
16. What are the general characteristics of the Carboniferous age ?
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