The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-01-05
THE SCHOOLS OF WAPELLO
COUNTY.

THE SCHOOLS OF WAPELLO
COUNTY.
Annual Report Of the County Superinten'
dent.
To the Board Of Supervisors Of
Wapello Co. and other citizens.
At the close of one years service as Su.
perintendent of Common Schools for Wa
pello Co., the undersigned would offer a
brief statement of his labors and of the con.
dition of our public schools.
The examination of teachers, one of the
most important and delicate duties devolv.
ing upon the Superintendent. has beer con.
Quoted in. writing. My printed list contains
46 questions. Those answering correctly
90 per cent of these questions receive certi.
ficates for, one gear those answering IS per
cent for eight months; and in few instan-
ces "a, persons answering less than seventy.
five per cent certificates have been given for
| fur months. -. =. 49,. --,.-.
| Whole number of. Teachers examined 181
Males SO, Females =" '"'4'S " 1922
Number rejected 1'h"' h'o' ~ 'rf %
Number who received certificates for q;
T. T7o5> asa CO ss2HIasf four months III IA
tHC.)@"gg ha" Y95I" eight months ~ sc
- eli 'l' sff'' one year, ,,qg' 70
Two Teachers Institutes have been held
daring the year, one in February in ottum-
wa one in October at Agency City. The
attendance of teachers was quite respecta-
BILE, at the former about one hnndsed names
being enrolled, and at the latter near seven
ty. There are few teachers in the county
who have yet TO learn the value of Instit-
utes, and that the law requires their attend
ance. rhe next Institute will probably De
held in the month of April, and all who
propose teaching within the year 1865 will
do we'll to be in attendance. am.-.
In two instances have, at the request of
the proper Board Of Directors, selected sites
for building school houses In some twelve
to twenty instances have been consulted,
as required by law, by School Directors in
reference to plans for School houses. Sew.
eral good houses have been crested during
the year. In this respect rRichlanf; town
ship leads the van. The Board of Directors
of that township are entitled to !credit for
their energy and good judgment; and the
tax payers of the township will find their
school house tax paying Investment. The
five school houses built durin 5 the past sum
mer in tina, township are not. equalled BY
any ether five country school houses in the
county. r;t!39ac bns gaiad aHruA oa din
Some. progress has been made in visiting
the schools. of the, county. Twenty-Five
DAYS have been spentl in this work, reaching
about one halfthe sub-districts. aim to
spend half day in each school. observing
how it is cond ucted the order that pre-
walls; the intelligence, skill, and faithfulness
of the teacher; and the department and
progress of the scholars; making such sug-
gestions to pupils, teacher, and sub direc-
tor, as seem to be called for. A number Of
the schouls are so crowded that the teacher
cannot possibly do justiceseither to self OF
the school. Some of the houses are open
and uncomfortable in cold weather. And
some of them are furnished, as to, seats
desks &C., in about the worst way possible
The mass Of the teachers seem to be com.
petept and faithful. The most general fault
I find with them (noted in my memoran.
dam hook at the time of visiting each
SCHOOL, is failure to teach the ordinary
branches, spelling and reaaisg. in the best
way. No other branches are SO fundament.
ally important, no others are, so poorly
taught. The lessons assigned are too long,
and pupils are allowed to read in books too
far advanced for their attainments. A les
son should be no longer than the pupil can
read Wel, naturally, spiritedly, and under.
standingy. .,,. .,of, vs. ga aa,e I.
This statementsis made for the special
benefit Of teachers, From, nay memoranda
| select few of the instances lin which
met with things specially pleasing. to me
when visiting schools. ...;r,s;-rt ri sh-et~1
n Columbia township sub-dstrict No. five
Thomas Hill teacher. Reading taught we'll.
Position OF pupils in reading fine. Y
Center township sub-dhtrict No. l. EN-
:ly NJ. Wilson teacher. Unusual interest
and promptness in the Friday afternoon lit
erary exercses-not one failure in eleven
weeks. ., aa s-aF .fi5rn
Richland township subrdistrict No. g.
Mary s. Shaw teacher. Good order
Quiet reigns. r
Pleasant township sub-district No. 5
George w. Nimocks teacher. Reading
taught welL. ,riEtar.
Pleasant township sub-district No. l.
Fannie Moffet teacher. Excelsin the mod.
ern. I'm proved methods of teaching.
Dahlonega township sub. district No. 8
Reuben Weaver teacher. Pupils, speak on,
distinctly, and come to recitation with un.
usual promptpess. "a. ...r
Upon the whole I regard the state Of OH,
schools as improving. They are now Of al
most priceless value There is yet room
for Improvement, and, With teachers, school
officers, and citizens generally : doing thei,
duty that Improvement with not fail to b
! made. Ds''A R'1 j. M. McELROY,' ~
go -" County Superintendent,
Ottumwa, Jan. End. 1865. =