School Report: Clinton, Clinton City, DeWitt

Source: The DeWitt Standard, Mar. 2, 1859

CLINTON

Two schools have been taught in this township the past season.  One of these was not in session when I called; the other, though small, is well conducted, and evidently has made good progress.  The teacher believes that in the school room, as elsewhere, everything should be done decently, and in order.  In some of our schools, I notice that the scholars take the liberty to make any amount of noise when leaving their seats or taking their places to recite; a liberty which the teacher too often seems willing to grant.  The school room is the place to teach the child, not only how to read, but how to be.  All rude and unmannerly behaviour should be corrected, and some of the leading principles of etiquette at least be kept before the mind.

It is a strange scene indeed, too often witnessed about the common school, that, with all the advantages our school system furnishes children and youth, when let out of the school room or even when in it, are permitted to act like savages; it is a fault upon which I trust our teachers will have their eye and by all proper means labor to correct.

CLINTON CITY

In this district two schools have been sustained during the winter.  The schools, for want of a better place, occupy a building erected for a store.  The more advanced pupils occupying the lower and those in the primary classes, the upper story.  This building is rented, at considerable expense and shows the necessity of early action in erecting a good school building.  I am happy to learn that such a work is in contemplation and will be entered upon as soon as practicable.

The primary department in the school is very full, too much so for the good of the pupils and the comfort and health of the teacher.  The school was very noisy, so much so that I could scarcely hear any of the recitations, and the teacher appeared care-worn.

The other department was quite small, a select school taking off a portion of the pupils who had attended here.  The teacher seems to be thorough in his instructions, and the pupils making fair improvement.

DeWITT

Seven schools have been sustained in this district the past season.  Two of these are in the village, and are graded, a male teacher being employed in the more advanced and a female in the primary department.  Thee shools have been very fully attended, too much so to be most profitable; this is especially true of the primary, where from sixty to seventy uneasy little mortals are gathered in one room, under such circumstances no teacher can accomplish much; the teacher, however, succeeds in sustaining a toleranble degree of order and hearing their brief recitations.  The more advanced department is not quite as large, though numbering over fifty.  This school is making fine progress, and is one of the best in the county.  There is order system, and thoroughness in the instruction.  Another commodious school building is much needed and should be erected at an early day.  A large select school has also been sustained in town and has been a success.  One of the schools out of town has numbered about thirty scholars, and though in some respects has advanced, in other points has been unsuccessful.  The teacher failed to secure the confidence of a portion of the scholars and the patrons of the school.  The recitations were likewise, in some points, very faulty.  The house is a good one, and for a small school, is a fair model.

Another school, from some cause, has almost proved a failure, the school is evidently not under the best of discipline, and the teacher has not learned the art of governing, he does not command the respect of his pupils, and it is not strange that there should be but little order.  The instruction was too superficial and there was a manifest want of system.  The room seemed to have been most shamefully mutilated, plaster broken off, desks whittled, and the floor covered with whittlings, refuse paper, and dirt.  I question whether it had been swept during the whole term; any parent should deem it a disgrace to send a child to school in such a room.

One of the other schools was quite small, but doing well; the room occupied was built for a private dwelling and has but poor accomodations for school.

One other school is quite small, and occupies a shanty with only a part of the floor laid.  The teacher is evidently desirous to meet his responsibilities and his pupils are in some points making very good improvement, but there is evidently a lack of energy and adaptation to the work of teaching which must ever be in the way of success.

The other school was closed for a day or two when I called.

SUPERINTENDENT.