Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-01-20
From the report Of the State Super in,endent)
Schools Of Grant County.

iuCiuu5 oil Tue IdctS lHab WOulu De nap
Ply to present to ol,toucbing our education
al interests. Only such as seem to be the
most important can be noticed.
In conformity to your advisory instruc-
tons, / occupied all the time from the be-
ginning of the present year, when my Off
cial duties commc need, until April, in Wis
ting schools During that time, | visited
over one hundred schools. AS there were
one hundred and sixty nine in session, |
could not visit ALL But such was the va
riety Of those did visit, felt as looked
in my notebook and read the records
which | kept during my visitations, that,
to say the least, was more fully prepared
to enter upon my work which Immediately
followed: the holding of institutes and the
examination Of teachers.
Our county consisting of twenty-nlne
towns, divided into eight inspection dis
tricts. liz each inspection district | first
spent three days; one half Of the time was
devoted to teaching, drilling and lecturing
and the other half to examinations.
| had the aid and cooperation OF the
leading teachers of our county, and, | be-
leve, the countenance and sympathy of
the friends of education and the patrons Of
schools. Really, felt greatly encouraged
and animated by the kindness, hospitality
aud evident iptesest of the people.
AS an expression of my gratitude, take
pleasure in mentioning the names Of j. c..
Cover, ofthe Grant County Herald, Prof.
/. II. Miller Of Hazel Green Collegiate In
stitute; Prof r. a. Donaldson, Of Lancas-
ter Institute; Capt. z. S. Swan, of Potosi;
Levi S. LOOMS, of Hazel Green; Capt
Geo. R. Frank, of Boscobel, and D. Ii.
Patchen Of Lancaster, who have rendered
me special and invaluable aid in the dis
charge of my duties. The services Of Prof.
G. NJ. Guernsey of PiatteSille Academy,
and those Of other educators and friends of
schools, have been rendered; and / hope
soon TO see the cause receive such needed
aid; it will give an additional impulse that
will insure still greater advancement and
success.
AS a majority Of the applicants for GER
tifcates, had only slight experience, if
any, in giving written answers, their sys-
TEN Of solutions was so incomplete, their
demonstrations and explanations, for want
ofaccuracy and thoroughuess in study, so
defective, that | was obliged TO call every
answer correct, that exhibited even glim-
nering Of scholarship. Indeed, more than
this rule was necessary to insure us teach
ers and shield the cause. | resolved to
average the answers and let the extra quail
ifcations in one branch compensate for the
deficiency in another. The result was ia
vorable and highly satisfactory. One huu
dred and sixty-four, out of two hundred
and fifteen applicants, received certificates.
Had not adopted the averaging rule, |
find on looking into my examination book,
that only one hundred and one out of the
two hundred and fifteen applicants could
have received certificates; and that had
disregarded both rules, only seyenty-fve of
that number could have received certificates
to teach the one hundred and fifty schools
which were in session during the summer.
This report having been delayed in con-
sequence Of sickness, until the close Of my
fall examinations, | am prepared to com
pare The results of the spring and fall exam
nations.
AT those Just closed l did not adopt
either of the above named rules. l knew
that the teachers were prepared FOR more
thorough test; and the answers were re-
CURED "to becorrect both in form and fac"
Fifty PEI cent, for the third grade; sixty
for the second, and seventy for the first,
end $40 allowance was made for !. def
cheney in one branch on account Of extra
qualifications in Others" There were one
hundred and lightweight applicants. One
hundred and thirty-two received third, nine
received second, and eight received first
grade certificates. Il is evident then, that
the result of this falls examinations is, by
actual calculation, over two hundred and
twenty per cent, better than that OF the
sprino examinations; and ! think | can
bring figures and facts TO show that the
schools Of last summer were as much su-
perior to those of last winter, as the result
of the latter examinations are superior to
those of the former. From these and 9TH
er facts, am forced to the conclusion that
the present system Of examination, lnclu-
ding graduation, limitation, etc. is, when
modified and handled, the best
that can be devised; and no failures in Su-
periutendents, or want of success IN appll-
cants for certificates, should be made to
testify against it.
1t gives me pleasure to state that, be-
sides ten new school houses, which have
lqen built during the past year, many old
ores have been greatly repaired and made
ID all respects, convenient and comfort
able.
But it is to be regretted that there are
vet many entirely unfit and almost worth
lass. The average sire of fifty school
houses which measured, l find to be 81
feet from fioorsto ceiling. and only Is and
10th by zig. These are expected to
contain 800 pupils, OF BY average 62
pupis each. Such room, containing
5.9l5 cubic feet of atmosphere, will sup