The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, January 19, 1894
DISTRICT INSTITUTE – The Teachers and Others Meet and Discuss Educational Topics – The ninth annual Teachers’ District Institute, comprising Lititz borough, Warwick, Manheim and Elizabeth townships, was held in the High school building on Saturday, January 13.
President H.A. Bailey was ready for business at 9.30 A.M. Miss Carrie Tshudy was appointed recording secretary, and Miss Kate L. Wertz of the Sunnyside school as organist. The “School Bell” was used.
Mr. Bailey made a few opening remarks. Miss Maud Huebener read a paper on teaching language. A discussion followed by Messrs. A.E. Gehman and J.W.G. Hershey. This was followed by a callisthenic drill by eight pupils of Miss Alice Reinecke’s school. Miss Nellie Eichelberger read a paper on parasites, animal plant and human.
Miss Minnie Erb entertained the institute by a well rendered declamation entitled “Entertaining her sister’s beau.”
J.F. Hoch of Brunnerville opened the discussion on “Moral Training.” This subject elicited quite a lively discussion, which was participated in by Revs. C.L. Moench, J.F. Pilgram and Messrs. I.G. Erb and D.W. Dietrich.
The president appointed J.B. Haag, Kate L. Wertz and H.E. Shertz a committee on resolutions.
“Duties of Directors” was the first discussion for the afternoon, and was participated in by I.M. Weidler, I.G. Erb, E.H. Bomberger, H.R.Gibbel and J.W.G. Hershey.
Hon. A.G. Seyfert was the big card for the afternoon and in his address made an eloquent plea for citizenship.
Miss May Miksch sung an elegant solo.
Mr. I.S. Lausch of Elizabeth opened the question, “What should the community expect from the teacher?” The discussion was continued by Rev. I.W. Bobst.
Several selections were sung by the High and Grammar school, and Miss Beulah Stauffer recited the “Organ Builder.”
Prof. M.J. Brecht, the county superintendent, was absent, and Rev. C.L. Moench consented to make the closing remarks.
The following teachers were present: A.E. Gehman, H.A. Bailey, Estella Clark, Carrie Tshudy, Anna Reinecke, Alice Reinecke, Mary Barr of Lititz; S.G. Hipple, W. Gerhard and I.S. Lausch of Elizabeth township; H.E. Shertz, S.H.Heller, U.G. Fry, W.N. Decker, Anna Hess and Nellie Eichelberger of Manheim township; J.B. Haag, D.W. Dietrich, E.E. Habecker, C.W. Snyder, J.F. Hoch, A.N. Stauter, Christian Zwally, J.J. Biemesderfer, J.W.G. Hershey, H.R. Gibbel, Carrie Weidler, Kate L. Wertz, Maud Huebener and Bertha Forney of Warwick.
The following directors were present: I.M. Weidler, Abner Risser, N.B. Leaman of Warwick; Philip Ruhl, E.H. Bomberger and Menno Brubaker of Elizabeth.
S.G. Serfass of the Hinkletown Secondary school was one of the visitors.
The following resolutions were adopted by the institute:
WHEREAS, it is customary for deliberative bodies to adopt a series of resolutions expressing the sentiments of that body, there, be it
Resolved,
- That we congratulate the committee who had this institute in charge on the excellent programme prepared.
- That the Bible should be used in every school daily, and moral instruction imparted to the pupils which will prepare them for a useful life.
- That the minimum school term should be seven months.
- That a wise step was taken by the Legislature of Pennsylvania in enacting a law making the text books free. The effect has been a better attendance.
- That we express our thanks to the ministers and directors who took part in this institute.
- That the Hon. A.G. Seyfert has the thanks of this institute for his excellent address and the deep interest he takes in the schools of this commonwealth.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, January 26, 1894
PEPPER AND SALT – Superintendent of Public Instruction Schaeffer has declared an opinion that the time has not come in this State for compulsory education. He thinks the large cities are hardly able to house all the school children they have now. He said: “There is no use to talk about compulsory education in the cities until an exact school census is taken and we find out just where we stand. “I shall probably ask the next Legislature to provide the way for such a census to be secured. I am inclined to favor a plan similar to the one in vogue in Massachusetts, which allows the School Directors to provide conveyances to take the children of sparsely settled regions to school.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, February 2, 1894
PEPPER AND SALT – School Directors will do well to look up the law passed and approved last year in reference to school outhouses. It makes it their duty to keep the houses in a “clean, comfortable and healthful condition.” The neglect of these houses in the past has been a great shame upon the public sense, but none seemed to realize it until the agitation of the question brought it to their attention. There is no doubt that the condition of these houses have much influence upon the morals, manners and health of the youth, and therefore upon the whole people. School directors and teachers cannot do better work than pay particular attention to this matter.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, March 16, 1894
A GRAND ENTERTAINMENT – The Kissel Hill Public School Pleases a Large Audience – The Entertainment given by the Kissel Hill public school and the aid society last Saturday evening was a grand success both financially and in furnishing a pleasant evening’s enjoyment to all present. The programme, which last over three hours, was of such a nature as not to tire the audience. The receipts were $19.50, one-half of which goes to the school and the other half to the aid society.
[A complete listing of each and every presentation by each person or group is listed.}
We thank the patrons and neighbors for their kindness in fiving us chairs and benches for the occasion. J.J. BIEMESDERFER, Teacher.
Many Teachers May be Unseated – State Superintendent of Schools Schaeffer has decided that the appointment of teachers by Boards of directors in April and May for the next annual school term, commencing the first Monday of June, is illegal, and that he will insist upon a compliance with the law requiring continuous school terms in every school district of the State without change of teachers, (and) expect to fill vacancies where they occur.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, June 15, 1894
Our Next School Teachers – The Warwick school board met at the Warwick house last Friday afternoon and elected the following teachers.
- Millway D.J. Kemper
- Pleasant View G.R. Pfautz
- Upper Rothsville J.F. Pfautz
- Millport Carrie B. Weidler
- Lookout C.R. Gibbel
- Sunnyside Levi W. Martin
- Hubers’ J.W.G. Hershey
- Lexington Lizzie R. Bricker
- Warwick No. 2 D.W. Dietrich
- Warwick No. 1 Vacant
- Kissel Hill J.J. Biemesderfer
- Brunnerville J.M. Reighter
- Buch’s Vacant
- Union C.S. Garman
- Fairview N.C. Reist
- Lower Rothsville A.N. Stauter
- Rome J.B. Haag
Also in this same paper is a private sale notice for a small lot of ground near the road leading from Kissel Hill to Millport, near Martin’s school house, containing 97 perches, on which are erected a one and a half-story Frame Dwelling, Small Stable, Sty & Etc. For further particulars apply to John Heiserman, Lititz.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, April 6, 1894
APRIL AFFAIRS – D.W. Dietrich will open a subscription school at Warwick next Monday to continue two months.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, April 13, 1894
Annual Teacher’s Examination – County Superintendent M.J. Brecht has fixed the time for holding examinations for applicants for schools in this section of the county as follows:
- For Primary Teachers Only – April 20, districts north and west, Lancaster; April 23, districts east and south, Lancaster.
- For Applicants Who Have Never Taught – June 21, Lititz and Ephrata-Schoeneck section, Lancaster.
- For Applicants of all Provisional Grades – May 14, Penn twp. and Manheim boro, Manheim; May 15, Elizabeth twp., Brickerville; May 16;
- Clay twp., Clay; May 24, Brecknock twp., Bowmansville; May 25, West Cocalico twp., Schoeneck; June 4, Mount Joy; June 7, Manheim twp.,
- Neffsville; June 8, Warwick twp. and Lititz boro, Lititz; June 18, Rapho twp., Sporting Hill; June 20, Ephrata twp., and Ephrata boro, Ephrata.
The examinations will be oral and written. Applicants will come prepared to submit written work in ink.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, June 8, 1894
Warwick’s New School Board – The School Board of Warwick township met at the Warwick House on Monday. The new board was organized by electing Abner Risser president, H.R. Erb secretary, and N.B. Leaman treasurer. The usual term of six months school has been adopted, but salaries have been slightly reduced according to mark, ranging from $30 to $45. The board will meet to-day (Friday) to elect teachers.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, June 15, 1894
FIVE TEACHERS QUERIED – The annual teachers’ examination for Warwick township and Lititz borough was held in the Lititz borough was held in the Lititz High school building. Five applicants presented themselves to go through the ordeal, of which two were successful.
The following work was given to the class: [Listed are the subjects and specific questions given in each. The subjects are Geography, Physiology, History and Constitution, Arithmetic, Theory of Teaching, Orthography, and Mental Arithmetic.]
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, July 13, 1894
PEPPER AND SALT – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has decided that it is a reasonable exercise of authority upon the part of School Boards to insist upon the vaccination of pupils, and to refuse admission to schools of children whose parents object to a compliance with the rules. This settles the question in this State. In New York the Courts have decided against the School Boards in cases in which a similar question has been raised.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, August 17, 1894
Forthcoming Events
- Monday, Sept. 3 – Opening of the Lititz Public Schools.
- Monday, Sept. 17 – Opening of the Warwick township schools.
Organization Record
LITITZ SCHOOL BOARD meets on the first Monday of each month in the High school building.
WARWICK SCHOOL BOARD meets last Saturday afternoon in each month at the Warwick house.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, September 21, 1894
Good Beginning – Warwick school No. 1, taught by Miss Kate L. Wertz, opened on Monday with 31 pupils. No. 2, taught by Dan. Dietrich, had 48 pupils on opening day. J.W.G. Hershey’s school, known as Huber’s, had 26 on the opening day. By October first there will be many accessions, as usual and the teaches will have their hands full governing and teaching these schools of boys and girls.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, November 2, 1894
DON’T WANT IT – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Schaeffer will not recommend the compulsory education system in his forthcoming annual report. His deputy, Henry M. Houck, of Lebanon, so believes, and he no doubt is familiar with the views of his superior. The public will be pleased if the proposition is not made, either by Dr. Schaeffer or by members of the Legislature that will convene in January. Everybody knows that with the inauguration of a compulsory law there would be friction in the conduct of schools, and for another reason there is not room for such a statute. Do not the free book plan and the liberal state appropriation for the maintenance of schools cause increased attendance? The number of pupils in each school in the commonwealth has been increased since the adoption of the law providing for free supplies. The set of Assembly was designed to make it possible for every child, no matter how poor its parents, to receive an education. Through it the number of non-attendants is rapidly growing less, and in a short while the proportion will be at the figure hoped for by the enthusiasts who have persistently clamored for compulsion as the sole effective remedy.
Leave our simple public school system in its present conditions. Radical changes will never be devised that will be improvement. If the sentiment of the people is now misunderstood by the agitators they will learn of their mistake, we hope, before their views are incorporated in the law.
The Lititz Record, Friday Morning, November 16, 1894
Teachers’ Institute – [The whole article is not being copied, just excerpts that might be of interest are included.] The forty-third annual session of the Lancaster County Teachers’ Institute on Monday. The enrollment by noon of that day numbered 678. M.J. Brecht, the county superintendent was chosen president.
[The article goes on to give mention of a teacher legislator of East Earl who has attended every institute for 25 year; of the principal of the Ephrata schools who is an expert short hand writer and is making transcriptions of some of the addresses; and of the odd appearance of two teachers as they walked side by side on North Queen street. General J.B. Haag, the dwarf teacher of the Rome school near Lititz and S.G. Zerfass, the heavy weight of a Lincoln school are noted to be both successful workers.]