Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-01-31
OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
LI.WIS COUNTY.

10 The Hon. T'1Tito'io! SnIt. Of Conn,oH >,i,pp's
Sin: | herewith respectfully submit IN,
annual report for the year 1878.
The county of Lewis is now divided into
have been made, and two more district,
formed. District No. II has been disor
giniZcd. Settlements along the line of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. and the rapidly
increasing settlements in the more remote
portions of the county, will necrssitate fur
Their changes i'll the rear future. In fifteen
districts schools have been taught, the terms
varying from three to six months. Teachers
scrN ices, and generally given satisfaction.
We have no uniformity of hooks. Those
recommended by the former Territorial Su.
adopted. We were informed through Gill.
Steel Il Bancroft, of Portland. that books
would he furnished by their depository ut
half prices. Tlcrcsnltsarc anything but salts.
factory. l would recommend that the srhool
board of each district attend to the selection
and purchase of books, paving the usual price
for them. No cheap school books are wanted
are partially supplied with good books of n
series generally approved. of course it is not
best to exchange for those that are in no way
superior.
Four new school houses have been built, at
a cost Of from two hundred to six hundred
and fifty dollars each. District No. 10 built
the previous year a house at a cost of six
hundred dollars. Snd eX pcndcd Sis in beau
tifying the grounds. etc, the past season.
Other districts have expended sums varying
from 500 to Sl5O, in repairs and work, preI,ara-
tory to building this year.
Two thousand dollars have been paid to
the districts from the school fund ana most
of the districts have added to the funds by
subscriptions and special taxes. They or
spring, and built a very neat little house for
5000 and supported a school three months,
drawing but tWenty-six dollars from the
school funds; There are now eighteen hun
| lrp1 l.11nvS IL, thn prtfx- T,pnSrtr%r ctHtn,,,
hundred of which is apportioncd January
4th.
The number of children from four to
~twenty-One years. is 5l2, and increase of III
the past year. Each scholar is entitled to
S3 12s of this appOrtionment, which may be
drawn by the clerks as soon as n three
months. school has been taught. Fifteen
hundred dollars school tax has been collected
and there is now S90S, 20 Of delinquent tax in
the hands OF the sheriff to I've collected. The
sum of two hundred dollars was received
school lands, ten dollars fine through Justices
court, and three hundred dollars on forte tied
bail bond, the past year. There is no general
lack of interest in educational mattcrs; yet
owing to bad roads. often indirect in their
course. impcnctrable forests, the great dis.
lance to be travelled by the majority, not over
one-half of the children receive any real bcnc-
fit from the school funds. To the parents OF
limited means. tho future looks gloomy,
After s~urInOuntinX many difficulties, he looks
upon our school fund asa mere pittancc. l
see but one h%Opc-Our admission nthc Union
as a State. Territoriesarc cheap things; e apital
seeks New States not Territories. Immigra-
ton follows i'm its wake. A State organiZa.
ton would secure to us the usual grants OF
land for an Agricultural College, State Uni
versity and Normal School, with the six
tecnth and ~thirty-sixth sections made avail
able. Then the grant of the proceeds of the
sale of 5OO, WO acres under act rf Congress
1871 for internal improvements, could be iii.
vcrtcd to school purposes. | hope the friends
of education will unite and labor for our ad.
mission at the earliest possibl" hour.
Very respectfully.
CHARLES L. TWISS,
Schoo Superintendent Lewis tuunty.