Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-11-23
COUNTY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
REPORTS.

1
In giving my Reports this fall, l
propose to give synopsis of the prac-
teal workings of our system, as the
| most efficient method of setting forth
the educational enterprise Of Marion
County.
We have in the County one hundred
and twenty-seven sub-dis tricts, and
six independent districts, making in
the aggregate one hundred and thirty
three schools. Number of persons
between the ages of five and twenty
one, g. GS; number of scholars enrolled
in the districts, 6,117; total average
attendance, 1882; value of school
houses, S92, 267; amount paid teachers
during the year. S27,625.
Eightor ten houses have been erected
during the year, one has been moved
to a more suitable location, and an
other was moved to the Geographical
center Of the sub district. The Geo
graphical centre at present is fiuctua-
ting, and engenders some feeling.
Time, however, to some extent will
remove the cause of these difficulties.
AS the County becomes more densely
populated and the wild land is filled
up, ageneral re-districting, based upon
the principle of justice and equity,
will no doubt, secure permanent
boundaries for each district, and there
by remove the most fruitful source of
discomfort with our Common School
system.
AS general thing our people are
alive upon the subject of education,
and are determined to keep pace with
the spirit of the age, which is pro-
gressive. The fact is apparent that
we live in an age of comparative in
telligence, and to obtain position, and
influence, we must not only avail
ourselves of all our educational re-
sources, but strive to elevate and
perpetuate the highest possible stand
ard of education. And that such a
sentiment exists in the County we are
assured, from the inquiry made by the
proper authority, rs to the grade OF
certificates teachers hold, before they
receive employment. Too many OF
our teachers in the County are young
and inexperienced, and have not that
. thorough scholastic training which
} insures success in the schoolroom.
And we may justly say that the great
desideratum to the permanent inn
provement Of our schools, il teachers
devoted to the cause Of education, and
who look upon teaching as their vo-
cation for life. The American people
have need to be educated on this sub
ject. The teacher is the handspring
of the school-room. The whole move
ment of the machinery is dependent
upon his energy. An Indifferent and
inert instructor begets in his pupils a
corresponding sluggishness; engen-
ders distaste for study, and renders
the performance of duty onerous.
Like begets like"
The slow progress of any school is
chargeable to the inefIiciency Of the
preceptor and not, as many believe,
to the incapacity ofthe pupil. Mental
development is IN effect that has an
immediate cause, and in the applica-
ton of this cause consists the whole
secret Of teaching. The same appli-
ances will not, in every case, be pro-
ductive Of the same results. Therefore
the teacher who has but one uniform
method of instruction, and varies not
to suit the capacity Of his pupil, nee
essarily infiicts on many of them ire
parable injury, and is evidently unac-
quainted with his business. To be a
successful teacher requires not only a
thorough knowledge of the subjects
taught, but also an intimate acouaint-
ance with the mind on which he
operates. His perseverance should be
indefatigable, but subject to the
. guidance of his pupils necessities.
The interest felt in behalf Of tl.eschool
should be constant, and embrace
; equally every individual member
thereof, however perverse or s;apid.
| NO doubt much Of the slow progress
IN our system OF public Instruction IL
occasioncd by the doubtful position OF
the teacher, and the Insufficient sun
port afforded. To make TIE work N
teaching a profession depends npon
the people. II the schools be kept
open eight or ten months os the year.
ara q living suppor, pi@ea, tho pro-
! fes'ioh VIII br estsbiished. Xen and
women Qfsupf wtf3 M trti s,,14 st,S