The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-12-21

/ PiOJ Gil DIS teitCuefS, au DtietuS 10 Tile
educational interests Of the county would
be given, that can be equaled in no 9th
er way. In several districts OF the county,
school boards were instructed at the last
annual meeting to hire only those teach
ers obtaining third grade certificates. In
other districts the custom has become
well established that only such teachers
will be employed. If school boards
were generally instructed as those spoken
of above, and if wages we're graded in
the several districts according to the ed
uction Of the person employed, 10 one
can doubt but that the teachers of the
county would set themselves earnestly
at work in the requirement Of knowl-
edge. Let there be general demand
for better qualified teachers, and DO Sc
rious difficulty viii be experienced in
procuring them.
Another popularity presents itself in
comparison OF the past fall with that of
| 1875. In the latter year female teachers
were ia active demand, such q large
number Being wanted, that not few
schools desiring them were compelled
to employ male teachers. The opposite
was true the past fall. Good, efficient
lady teachers were unable to obtain Sit
uaticns while the opposite sex, of what
ever age, experience CT education, were
sure OF position. This change OF
opinion, as to the competency of female
| teachers, results IN measure from the
experience CT districts during the winter
| of 1875 and 1875. I am Il firm believer
in the peculiar adaptation Of woman as
an educator of the young, but believe
that some degree of maturity Of mind,
and proper comprehension Of the
| duties de7oiving on a teacher mTe5 be
| possessed in order TO achieve even mod
crate degree OF success in the calling.
An appearance of working alone for the
monthly salary, and the making Of school
work secondary to personal convenience
| and pleasure seeking, is not q successful
manner of securing permanent positions
or lasting regulations as teachers There
are however, many districts in tie Coun-
ty employing male teachers the present
winter, that might much more ecomoni-
caliy employ females, and reap benefit
| by the change. If care be taken to Sc
cure those 81 the latter sex, Of establish
ed reputation and recognized ability as
teachers, 10 fear need be entertained as
to the government or advancement Of the
pupils.
Were the schools Of the county fully
supplied with the best of material as
teachers, yet they would not be, without
radical changes, in the condition of pros
perity that should distinguish them.-
| There are causes outside of local infiIl-
ences that are answerable ii measure,
but with proper local support the schools
would meet, to far greater extent than
at present, the demands Of the day. I
have made few calculations, based Oh
figures from the able report Of the State
Superintendent for the year ending Aug
81, 1875 which 7 present below. &c.,
| 1865 were spent III this county for
school purposes that year. 1G,191 per-
sons between the ages of 4 and 20 years
! were reported by the town clerks. s.
334 Of this number were il attendance
at public school some portion Of the year.
681 ,094 days were spent in school by
1884 pupils. It viii be seen that but
little over one-hah of the persons of
echool age were II attendance at school
at all. The average number of days at
tendance by each pupil was about 81 or
over four months. 4 large number of
the pupils OF this city and Of Two Riv-
ers attended school 10 months in the year,
also in some of the country schools, long
terms were maintained, which were well
attended these facts together with the
youthfulness of many attendants. render
it very possible that out of the 1884
registered, not above 5000 were appre-
ciably profted. Nor do the private
schools play q very important part, but
602 pupils being reported as having been
registered in them in the year in ques-
ton. This is probably too low, but still it
can be safely affirmed that these schools
did not greatly prosper the 10000 or
over of persons of school age not
benefcially provided for by the common
schools. Referring again to the figures,
each registered pupil will be found to
have cost S7.36 or about 81, "a per month,
being nearly as high as the rate charge
in the preparatory departments OF most
of the colleges Of the state. No greater
total expense would have been incurred
in running the schools had y, coo pupils
fered instead of the 5000, while the
average cost per month would have been
reduced about one-third, No estimate
can be made as to the possible benefit
which could have been conferred on
young men and women, who are ut pres
ent seldom seen in our country schools,
had they seen st to spend the almost
vaLueless time of the winter months in
attendance at school, securing the prac
teal knowledge needed for every day
experience.
The efficiency of tn g schools are also
greatly impaired by the characterize the
attendan ce. \ few examples selected
from notes taken during visits paid
10 schools within the last month, are to
the point. In che district drawing
nnblic money ON 10 rarsnns d rl1lnils