The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-03-14


report for February by giving few
statistics from the last annual report
Of the Ex-Superintendent, A. b. Oak
ey, for the year ending Oct. 4, 1871:
Total number of Districts, 131
do School Houses, 1856
No. of male Teachers employed, SO
No. Of female Teachers employed, 173
Average number of months of
School during the year, 10
Average cost per week fos
pupil--winter, RI
.28
Average wages per week for
male teachers, Gil *
Ditto. female do, z Al
Teachers Fund collected and
uncollected, 938,l76 81
Amount paid out, 1868 IL
School House Fund collected
and uncollected, e12, 465 10
Amount paid out, 8,O4O So
Contingent Fund collected and
uncollected, $11.29O "a
Amount paid out, 1888 90
deem it unnecessary for me to say
anything regarding the amount Of
money paid for the support of schools
in the county; what deem necessary
to state is rs to how the schools have
been progressing, or in other words,
what is the nature of the work which
our county schools have accomplished
this winter. The winter term Of most
of the schools has about closed, during
which l have made ninety-two visits,
and my observation has been that the
teachers have generally been putting
forth their best efforts to do their
duty, but in some cases there have
bccn decided failures; and the cause
of these failures in nearly every
instance has been in great part the
fault Of the teacher. The greatest
complaint have to make is that the
teachers fail in their government and
order. Schools can be and are taught
with comparatively little or no noise,
and in such schools the scholars learn
and satisfaction is given to parents
and pupils, while on the other hand
where poor order is kept dissatisfac-
ton exists throughout the school
district, petty difficulties arise in the
school room, and the teacher finds it
an ssuphill'' business. The latter class
Of schools, think, are the majority in
the county and the reason is not in
many cases because the scholars refuse
to be orderly, but because the teacher
fails to require them to be so. The
position the teacher takes the first day
he enters the school room will decide
to a great extent the success of his
school during the term, but many fail
to take the position that demands
order, and the consequence is that
before the term closes the school is
partial if not an entire failure. This
has been the experience in many Of
our schools this winter; but how shall
it be obviated, is the question? There
is no doubt but that recommends
ton with ones certificate that their
success in government and order is
good would be more satisfactory to
sub director than a certificate Of
qualification in text books; and have
seriously thought that hereafter in
issuing certificates would indorse
across their face (where have
knowledge) either government and
order poor" or government and
order good" as the case may be,
Judging from what | have seen in the
school room; for there is no doubt but
that we are wasting money in conse-
quence Of this one failure in teachers.
There is q complaint among teachers
that they are not paid enough.
admit that the best teachers Of the
county are not receiving enough for
their work, but in many instances a
satisfactory amount is raisad nri..'-i--
oy the patrons of the school. In
many cases during the past winter, in
..,iy opinion, teachers have been paid
all they earn. l do not say this with
the sole desire to find fault; far from
that. / do it for the good Of the
schools. In order, however, that a
teacher shall succeed in this one direc-
ton the scholars should understand
that he has the hearty support of the
Sub-Director, otherwise there is
chance Of the school being failure.
find that some Directors are in
the habit Of hiring their teachers
without looking at their certificate. /
hope that no teacher will be hired
this summer until their certificate has
been closely scrutinized.
! find that the School Boards of
some Township Districts fix definite
sum for teachers, leaving the Sub
Directors to hire without regard to
grade Of certificate. In such case the
teacher receives as much for teaching
with second class as first class
certificate, and no effort is made to
obtain a higher grade. ! think
difference of from ten to fifteen dollars
on wages according to the grade
would stimulate the teacher to i'm
prove.
During this month | have held
three local Institutes, at West Branch,
York Prairie and Louden; besides
have prepared for and held an exam
nation Of candidates for the Agricul-
tural College. The Institutes seemed
to awaken the usual interest in school
matters, were very well attended,
both by teachers and patrons of
schools.
In visiting the summer schools
shall make an individual report Of
each school, giving an account Of the
condition of each school house and
grounds, also the progress Of the
school and other matter that comes
under my observation worthy of
notice.
March list, 1917.
G. w. ROLLINS,