The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-08-18
TOW n AND COUNTRY
Circular to School District Clerks.

Circular to School District Clerks.
/ To be Read at the Annual Meeting.
The Convention of County SuperntenG-
enls, at meeting held on the 81 day Of
August, 1865, at Whitewater, requested
the State Superintendent TO prepare a cir.
! GUAR to be read at the mex. annual School
Meeting of your District, containing sug-
! gastions in regard to such educational
matters as deserve specia! consideration
In compliance With this request the fol-
lowing is respectfully pFesen:ed
/ /. In the election OF District Officers
/ for the ensuing year, every effort should
/ be made to secure the services Of men who
have both the inclination and ability to
promote The welfare Of the school. As a
| general rule, those who have children in
the school will feel greater interest iu its
prosperity thsn thosa who Lave not. ii
possible, a Distric. Board should be cho-
sen who will select q good teacher, visit the
school Frequently, and promptly provide
what Is necessary 10 It's success.
2 IL determining the amount of tax
necessary for repairs, The conditions Of The
,tcnce and 0u'houses as well as Of the school
! house ought 10 be considered In some
d sticts Of this state the outhouses are so
| exposed ano inconyenient as to demand i'm
mediate attention. We cannot eynect
/ even dccency, much less purity, If we do
not exercise that care that common sense
requires In regard TO this matter. The
school house ought to be enclosed by a
substantial and tasteful fence. The ward
should be so divided thst the BOYS and
girls may each occupy separate portion
tor play ground, and privv should 6o
provided for each sex III opposite corners
Of The yard This subject is respectfully
urged upon the attention OF tie people as
deserving Of careful consideration.
3. In raising q tax for the payment Of
teachers' wages, i. is well to remember
that"a cheap teacher generally makes dear
school" Economy shurs both niecarali-
ness and prodigality. Our best teachers
are leaving the profession on account Of
poor pay. The average monthly wages
paid, during 1864, TO male teachers was
$32 80, aud TO female teachers SO II
Out OF this amour, they were required to
pay their beard. II we consider the fsct
that the average number Of months schools
were taught was but fraction more than
six, it seems that no other class of persons
is SO poorly paid. The necessary conse
fuonce Of inadequate compensation Of
teachers is poor schools, bu. it costs more
for fuel, repairs, apparatus, board aud
clothing OF pupils, etc., to support poor
school than good enc. Men seem some
times 10 disregard the teachings of com>
mon sense IN managing their educational
affairs.
4. Every school house ought to be pro
vided with comfortable seats and convent
ent desks, blackboard, and such maps,
reference books, etc, as the district may
see fit to purchase. The money paid to a
teacher. who is not furnished with these
things, Is lost. A few dollars iudiciouslv
expended each year will do much to pro-
mote the harmony and welfare of the
schools. If we expect children to love the
school we must do wha. will render il
pleasant and inviting The annual meet
ing is the time to consider these things.
The limits Of this circular will no, admit
Of the discussion Of important questions
that present themselves TO the people as
sembled il District meeting, but the fol.
lowing may be suggestive;
l. Is inconvenience or discomfort suf-
fered from the construction or location Of
the school house Of Jour District9
2. Have the requirements Of law in re.
gard to length Of time a school should be
kept, and the qualifications Of teachers
employed been carefully regarded.
). Does your District Board visit and
examine the schools as required by law ?
4, Are teachers employed in your
school without first obtaining a certificate
from the County Superintendent?
5. Has the DistFic. Board adopted a
uniform series Of Text Books, and has the
teacher been required 10 use the books ap-
proved by the Board
The candid consideration OF the fore.
going suggestions and questions will lead
TO such action as the welfare Of the school
requires. There are few positions Of great
er responsibility than tha, Of voter at a
District meeting. 1t is here that we find
the source Of that influence which deter.
mines the future Of society.
| am, very respectfully,
Your Obediert Sery't
JNO. G McMYNN,