Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-05-02
Schools.

sent our readers with a communication
from our worthy and efficient County Su-
perintendent, showing the condition, i'm
provement &c., of the schools in this
county during the past year, but change
in the school law requires him TO make a
detailed report to the County Board of
Supervisors, which is not yet prepared,
but which will be published when present
ed. 1t will cover the ground proposed to
be gone over in communication, and will
do away-with its necessity, We will, how
ever, make few extracts from his report
to the State Superintendent, which have
never appeared in this paper, and may be
of interest to many of our readers. He
says:
think can discover an increased in
terest among the people, in relation to the
cause of education, and the success of our
common schools. But still, am sorry to
saw. the results of the increased interest
are not so manifest as could wish.
There is much to encourage the friends
of education, and there are also many dis
couraging circumstances.
Irregularity of attendance has heretofore
been one of the greatest difficulties with
which we have bad to contend; and from
q careful inspection of the school registers,
I fear there has been but little improve
ment in this direction. i cannot. under.
stand why so many children are permitted
to spend half their time playing in the
streets, within sight of the school house.
And there are great many others who
scarcely attend at ALL And upon investi-
eating the subject, there appears to be,
generally, no reason but want of inclina-
ton, for neglecting to avail themselves of
school privileges within the reach of all.
When [ remember that our almshouses
ard penitentiaries are to be supplied from
this class of children, am persuaded that
some more decisive legislation is needed on
this subject One cause of this state of
things, no doubt, is the great number of
poor, old, dilapidated shells, used for, and
called school houses, without convenient
seats or desks, and nothing inside or out
to make them comfortable, pleasant, or at
tractive; without which children constant
ly seek excuses to keep away.
This subject of building better school
houses, repairing, ,reseating and making COM
Portable old ones, have kept continually
before the district boards, and | am salts
fled nv earnestness in this matter has not
been entirely without good results.
1t is to be regretted that school officers
and parents give so little personal atten-
ton to the schools by visiting and encour-
aging both teachers and scholars. con-
slider this cooperation absolutely necessary
to the prosperity of the schools. think,
however, there is decided improvement
in this matter, and | doubt not its benefi-
cial influence will be seen and felt.
From comparison of the lists of ques-
tions used in the examination of teachers
in seven or eight other counties, | am sat
isfied that the qualifications of our teach
ers will compare favorably with that of
others throughout the state. We have a
number of experienced and skillful teach
ers, who are doing good work, and whose
labors appear to be- appreciated. Many
others are young and inexperienced, but
the energy and industry with which they
enter upon their work gives assurance of
SuCCCSS. bui lhR W. ~ eiiN
business is almost entirely in the hands OF
females.
| have been in the habit of endorsing
certificates from other counties, where they
exhibited good standard of qualifications,
but only for single term in particular
district. have preferred this to special
examination. Perhaps some uniform meth
cd adopted by the county superintendents
in such cases would be beneficial.
Upon the whole, | am satisfied there is
q general advancement in the prosperity
of the schools, the qualifications and faith
fulness of teachers, the understanding and
observance of the law by district officers,
and the tone of public sentiment.
In my visits among the schools, | have
uniformly been heartily welcomed by all /;
and my suggestions to teachers aud dis
trict boards in relation to such improve
ments and changes as deemed essential,
have been kindly received, and general
progressive disposition manifested. And
as | become better acquainted with the
work, the people. the scholars and teachers,
1 cannot help but feel a growing interest
in the prosperity of all.