The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-03

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This IMPORT has been delayed. list on &C
count u the independent spirit Of :
few Independent District Officers cd,
The heavy work Of our overcrowded Nor
NAL Institute, has prevented its earlier
completion.
Ientered upon the duties Of my office
on the 9th day Of January 1874, and visit
ed Eighty Schools during the remaining
part Of the winter term. Have visited
one hundred and forty live Schools during
the spring and summer term. So there
are not over dozen Schools Of the one
hundred and fifty-six in the County, but
what Ihave visited once, andmany OF them
two or more times. At all Of these vista
tions, / have endeavored to awaken spirit
of more earnest work on the part Of teach
ers and pupils, and correct abuses OF all
kinds wherever found. These visitations
have enabled me to weed out the inefiici-
ent and non progressive teachers. At
present, the supply Of successful teachers
does not equal the demand.
am pleased to state that over one hun
dred copies Of some Educational Journal,
are now regularly taken in this County,
and many teachers are providing them
selves with one or more works on the sub
ject OF teaching. do not intend, here
after, to grant First Grade Certificate, to
any one who has failed to read some work
of this character; for the helpful hints
which may be gained from any profess
sional work, are factors Of too great i'm
portance to be lightly ignored.
Large numbers Of our teachers have At
tended preparatory, and Higher Schools
outside the County, for the purpose OF re-
ceiying a more thorough preparation for
their work.
A County High School, thoroughly man
ned and equipped should furnish the very
training needed by our teachers and more
advanced scholars; such a school is now
talked of hopefully.
In Justice to the Higher Department OF
our Graded Schools, would say that they
are doing good work in preparing limi-
ted number Of teachers.
Our month of Normal Institute is voted
. grand success by all, and has proved to
be time of Educational refreshing to the
teachers of the County.
Our Board Of Supervisors merit and re-
ceive the heartfelt thanks of the teachers,
for their liberal appropriation of $l25 90
towards defraying the expenses. This,
with the State Appropriation Of $50, and
the Registration Fee of One Dollar from
each OF the One Hundred and Seventy
Teachers enrolled, placed the Institute on
solid financial basis. We were fortu-
nate, too, in securing as instructors, Mrs.
Nellie NJ Rich, of Vinton, a lady of thor
ough culture, and one Of 1owa's most ac-
complished teachers, and Mr.. Charles
Robinson, one Of the most efficient Public
School men in the State. The home In
structors engaged, were teachers Of known
ability.
The lecturers and their several subjects
were as follows: Rev. w. 8. Messmer,
Toledo, "Relation of our Community to
the Public Schools" Our State Superin-
tendent, True Source Mental Culture
Rev. ]. W. Clinton, Marshalltown, ''Edu-
cation, Physical, Mental ana Moral
Rev. F. Hurd, Montour. Character Build
ing;" Prof. s. n. Fellows, Iowa State
University, five lectures: "School Gov
ernment," Hints on Teaching" "Attcn.
ton" Graded Schools" and "Teach.
| ing a means of Self-Culture.'
| A regret was expressed by many teach
ers that the Institute did not continue
longer. The educational outlook fol-
lama County is truly encouraging.
| SCHOOLS.