The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-12-25

perhaps it may not be improper to take
a short review Of the past two wears.
Tn The fall OF 1877, there were only
1--WE districts In the county which bad
adopted 4 series Of text books III rs,
there were sixteen, and on September
asst 1St, 10, there were thirty-tW0.
Several districts have made adoptions
since September, 50 that the number Of
schools which have uniformity Of
books is not far from forty
Three new school houses have been
built within the two years, and eleven
others repaired SO as to be almost as
good as new. There are now only four
or FIVE districts which really need new
school houses There has been a
marked improvement, also, in the sur
roundngs Of the school houses larger,
and better school yards, new fences
and outhujdings, the removal Of
StumpS and rubbish, in fact q general
"tOning up in and about our school
houses have made them appear more
home-like.
There is, as in everything else, q
continual change going on III the teach
Cr5' profession. Very few OF the teach
ers who gathered at 0ul institutes five
OF X years ago can now be founG III
the ranks
"Ail are scattered now, and fed
Some are married. some are dead.
Some Of The teachers Of two years ago
have left the ranks and settled i'll
other business; others have gone
hig Ipr in he profession and are teach
ing graded schools IN different parts OF
the state. Deaths Angel stopped IL
our midst, and called three Of our
number home However, each VaCan
cy has been promptly filled by new APP
Dlcuts for pedagogical hOnOrs. The
large number OF those who attend the
normal schools, academies, and high
schools, and thus prepare for the work
of teaching, keeps our schools sup-I
Dli"d with live, energetic, and earnest
teachers.
The superintendent came into office
on the first Monday Of January, 1878.
The mud embargo of that winter
(Which we pre- ume no resident Of The
county has fcrgotten) made itaimost
impossible for him to travel, and heI
visit. d only fOrty-fVe schools. The
bad roads last through early part Of
the next summer, and there were two
schools which he did net visit.
In the winter OF 1850, he visited
each school in the county twice, and
about a third of them the third time.
During the summer Cf 70, each school
was visited at least once. and many of
them twice.
He has everywhere been treated
with kindness and respect 10y teachers
and parents. That lie has made some
mistakes. and done some hing which
under like circumstances, lie would
not do again, is undoubtedly true. It'll
is probable that he mas made some enc
mics: he knows that he has made
friends. A straight line cannot bel
drawn through a forest without strik-
me- some trees. A superintendent
might, perhaps, by trimming his sails
to suit the breeze in each particular
diotric,, curry favor, and make people
believe that he was a wonderful man,
but the schools Would suffer.
lie good OF our schools demands
tilat a superintendent Shall have d Well
defined line OF conduct, and that it be
carried out !" The greatest good fOrl
the greatest number" should be thel
motto Of our schools, and individual
iuterest-Whether it he that OF patron,
6upt., VI teacher-0ught to go down be-
fore the interests Of the school. There
is mulch work which the supt. wishes
to do i'll the next two years, but he cali-
not do it alone. One man cannot RUM
the schools o. this county, and the man
who tries it will find himself W0fuliy
behind.
The supt must have the assistance
of the parents in his work lie feels
that he Will have the help Of the each
er8 and pupils, but he asks The parents
to take hold Of this matter with him.
Much work has been done in the past
two years, but m0le must be done inI
the next Two. Kenosha county has
for years been in the 'front.' rank of the
counties of the state i'm educational
matters, and it must be kept there.
Thanking teachers, patrons and pl.-
pills for the kindness shown me iii the
past two years, and asking a continue
auce Of the same, | wish them Merry
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