The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-04-18
WEDNESDAY, APRIL. 1S, 1866.
THE SCHOOLS OrTAMA COUN.
tn.
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DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS.

II the 10 District Townships com.
prising this County there were, at the
time the District Secretaries made their
reports in September last, 1O2 sub
districts. As the law provides that
new districts can ts formed only bet
ween The third Monday in September
and the first Monday in March, / pre-
sumo, during that time, several more
have been added, though the number ]
am unable to report.
In addition to these. there is one in
dependent District (Toledo) having .
good, substantial, two-story, brick
school, house, ard in most respects well
adapted to the purposes for which il
was designed. Yet, such has been the
increase in population since its erection
that its rooms are now insufficient to
conveniently accommodate all that attend
for instruction. The school is divided
into four departments, viz: Primary,
Secondary, intermediate, and High
School It is not the intention in these
reporls, to single out teachers or schools,
bnt [ cannot forbear to mike mention
Of one thing that has forced Itself upon
my observation, and that is, that the
High Department of this School turns
out scholars more thorough and efficient
in the common branches, than most oi
the higher institutions Of learning whose
students have applied to ne for examl
nation. The Institution at Grinneii
however, is an exception to this class.
In the sab Districts, IS Of the schools
are Of creai,a!,!e ze aud M my ct then
large. Fifteen more are small, bu
nevertheless sh ,uld be kept up at leas
during the time required BY laT. Thes'
together with tue schools in Toledo
make the total number of schools taugh
in the county du,in. the last year 81
which is considerable increase oyc
those Of the preceding year. AG
cortlng to the same ratio Of increase, i,
is safe % estimate their number the en-
suing year, at net less than los, which
is certsin!y credit to county Of So
recent an organization. There are aiso
several other districts, whose population
is sutfi i.ieEs Is sustain a good school,
but are deprived of having one on &C.
count Of not having any school house.
These however, sre ,aising the means
as fast as the law will permit them, to
supply themselves with this ind,spensa.
bic aprendagc to every community.
Of the sub districts, there are quite a
number that are too weak, both in tax
able property and children of school
age. Such districts must necessarily
maintain small schools, in which no
teacher can awaken that interes. and
emulation so essential to the most salts
factory results.
Yet, there is great diversity Of
opinion in regard to tire extent Of terri
tory each sub.district should embrace.
Some are in fasor Of large districts,
maintaining that such can support bet
ter schools and continue them longer
each year. Others, on the contrary,
lain that when the district il large i.
is difficult, and even impossible,
especially on the prairies for those who
live at the most distant parts Of the
district from the school house, to send
70 school.
II lcsa,inr their school house sites,
some districts have paid but little at
tcu,ion 10 their future wants a..i now
find their schoo. houses just where they
are tho least accommodating. Many Of
them are entirely at ono side Of the
district, aud most necessarily be moved
as the district becomes more settled.
There are oss Or two matters that
ought to demand the impartial consid
Grafton OF every Board Of Directors.
First, is your district township divided
into permanent sub dis'ricts-sIch as
xill msc: the wants Of future as well
as present settlers? If It is not. now
is the time for you TO begin ta think
about it, preparatory t. making your
district boundaries permanent at your
meeting in September. Undoubtedly