The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-17
HOUSEHOLD AND FARM.


4 suggestions 10 county Schooi ohcers.
l. Let your deliberations be friendly, and
keep your thoughts constantly on the success
OfyOur school.
8 To make your school success, furnish
a suitable place, and suitable and sufficient ma
terial to work with.
g. Divide the school year so ms to have no
school during July and August. \ few dis
triCts still follow the practice of having school
during these months, but in nearly every IN
stance it is failure.
4. Employ your teacher by the year. or for
the year. giving him "A contract each term If
satisfactory. Twenty.eght districts employed
in that manner last year, and with scarcely an
exception the schools made more and better
progress than any others in the county.
5. Get the best qualified teacher that your
means will command. One that has not got
to the top of the ladder IN his own estimation,
but one that is still advancing. You cannot
afford to employ the same teacher to teach the
same lesson in the same manner term after
term rs the pupils would soon tire of such
mOnOtony If you desire "a female teacher get
one that will not devote her whole time to
making tides crochetlng or gosslping. II
you desire a male, get one that will not spend
his time in loafing or idleness; and in either
case obtain one that is capable, from his own
eXcrtlOns, 10 teach the same lesson more prac-
tically and more thoroughly than he ever
taught them before. 1t is your privilege and
your duty to know what the person has been
doing, that you intend to employ. The person
that cannot get Il better certificate now than
when he was last examined Is not the person
you want to teach your school. The person
who does not attend any of the places for self
improvement is not the teacher you are look
ing for. The person that is actively engaged
IN other business, and imaglncs he can make
a few dollars out of you besides is not the per
son to create and maintain "a thorough interest
in your school and therefore do not employ
him.
6. Select the best man you have in the dis
triCt to perform the arduous duties which nat
urally belong 20 school board. Elect persons
that will be above partisan interest, favortism ;
persons that are good judges of what school
is and ought to be; persons that will not hest
tate to act justly and promptly in all cases of
emergency.
7. Secure "A uniformity and sutficlency Of
books. Deal directly with the publishers to
secure cheapness. No pupil has any right to
attend school and waste his own time, other
pupils time, and the teachers time; and yet
that Is just what occurs when pupils have not
the necessary books. If you don't want your
children to grow up IN ignorance, and be VI
cous, dlsorderly citizens, give them the neces
Sdry DOOhS. IL you 10 nOI WISH youi CHllOitA
to beg or borrow when grown, destroy the
habit now and establish one of independence
by furnishing them with books, pens, ink, pen
ellis, states, etc.
8. Supply the school with plenty Of black.
board. There Is no school in the county so
small but what it is absolutely necessary to
have board completely across one end of the
house. Your school yard should be supplied
with two good out-houses, and If possible
make arrangements to enclose it so that your
summer teacher may be able to improve 1t.
O. Have as much school as possible, and ltI
possible divide into three terms, with short va
cations. Have uniformity of books. Cheap
teachers generally make dear schools. Thor
ough teaching can only be done by persons
who thoroughly understand the subjects to bel
taught. Labor for regular attendance and the
least possible amount of hardness. See that
the property Is taken care Of Do not hcsitateI
to dismiss teacher when he ceases to labor
in your interest. VISIT your schools as fire.
quently as possible The Superintendent isl
willing to assist you in any manner at all
times. Consult him especially with reterenceI
to the employment of your teachers ID. u. !
Pa1Sons, Co. SHpt. Of Rjchland Center, Wis.