Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-08-15
Notes on school Matters-NO. L
M rIE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.

The law makes it the Supcrlntend-
cnt's duty to visit the schools under
HIS charge throughout the County
His objects in these visits should he
to notice methods OF teaching and
government, aud TO give suggestions
by which the objects aimed at in the
work of edu cation may best be sc.
cured. He should aim to help and
encourage parents, teachers AMI pu
pills 10 approve what is excellent,an
TO correct what is faulty
" has seemed TO many Superin-
ttndents that these objects could be
still better met by the publication of
notes, brief or extended, OF their
visits to schools. Believing that
good might thus be done, formed
the plan this spring OF giving in the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. columns were
kindly opened to mo for such an OBJ
iect-brief notes Of this sort, spec
tally naming time, place and teacher
But, finding myself quite busy, | let
some time slip by before beginning
to write cut my briet jottings in u
form for publication. The attempt.
With further reflection, led me TO
modify somewhat the original plan.
Instead, therefore, OF special notes
on each school in tho order OF vista
ton, it seemed better, waiting a lit
tie, to prepare a general statement OF
tie work done, together with such
specific statements and suggestions
as may seem desirable. If the ad-
vantage of personal application are
in some measure lost, some objec-
tions to that plan are obviated. Too
sweeping statements may be made
on impressions, which, being neccs-
sarily brief, may be fallacies. When
ono deals thus IN personalities, it is
hard to escape tho charge, just or un.
just, Of favorit'sm and partlality in
melting out praise or blame.
| A word respecting my work last
winter. l had to enter my duties q
stranger to most of the teachers in
the county. l had relied on the op,
por:unity afforded by on Institute to
mako their desired acquaintance
The failure OF this opportunity was
greatly to my disadvantage. I had,
as the event proved, less than two
months in which it was possible to
visit schools before their winter
terms closed. Being thus unable to
do more than make beginning, I
naturally visited those nearest home.
Thus ! visited Sc schools, in As dis
tricts and sub districts. Besides this
1.-TWO local conventions were held, at
Oxford and Chelsea. A third was
appointed Al Buckingham, illness
prevented my attendance, but it was
held, a1d considered successful. W
| Tho creator part Of our Summer
schools did not begin till about the
first Of May, though several, | am
happy to say, began earlier. About
this time began my visits continu
ing them, with some Interruptions,
till tie Friday before tho 1st Of Au-
gust. By that time most OF the
| schools had closed or taken vaca.
ton. In this period OF about three
months, / have visited in 90 districts,
LOT distinct schools. OF these
| schools. 30 had been visited previous.
I ly.
Between 80 and 40 sub districts re.
main yet unvisited. 1t schools are
in session during September, ! shall
be thankful to receive Information Of
tho tastssnd will try to call on them.
During This Summer ! have visited
| ID every township in. the county save
one, -Clark. This ! had plsnned to
visit, but was prevented by rain on
the day Inad purposed to set out in
that direction. r. HuRD. N
T..,r