The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-05-28
FROM LAKE SUPERIOR.


EDITOR True NoRIHERNER:
Being ofteu in receipt OF letters from teach
els IN Van Buren, county making inquiry con-
corning the schools OF this country, venture
a few words on that subject, thinking 1t may
iptcres, some one. OF course the same laws
govern here as below, yet the system is some
what differently managed. What are known
below as district schools are known here as
mine schools. Being sustained almost, or en-
tirely. by the mines, they are as much really
under its control as any other department OF
the mining interest. The agent OF the mine is
invariably the director OF the school board, and
as everybody and everything on the mine are
subject TO his order, 1t evidently is to the in
teres, OF every other member of the board to
comply with his wish, which Is usually done.
Townships are so divided that they usually
embrace but one mine within their limits and
consequently but one school and a superin-
tendendent to single school IN each township.
Until within short tune, and in many cases
now, the schools are Of low standing for sew
era reasons. Teachers have been OF low
grade, and have made their work OF a second
airy interest. Some man, ambitious for literary
fame, undertakes to run q horse local pa
per and at the same time the school, Another
posts books for some mercantile firm and at
the same time sprouts ideas at the mine
H., ;oA r,ol nd
the posting" has run behind, he sends over
word TO the school house that he is sick and
can't come to-day; but you may find him busily
scratching away at the day book and ledger
SliIl another takes charge Of the government
light house, msnipulates justice under the title
OF Esq" is township clerk, looks after the
government business as a custom house officer
and teaches q, b. c's.
But these are the "bygones,' though not
very long gone by. There have already been
imported rome frst-class teachers, and the in
clinatlon is growing for those who make teach
iag their profession. The results to the teach
or are quite unsatisfactory, as we seldom sue
coed in seeing the pupil advanced TO any marked
degree OF excellence, from the fact that the
children are seldom kept a. school beyond the
age of ~ or Is years. At this age tie boys are
taken into the mine and the girls get married.
There arc fair demands for good teachers and
at remunerative prices. The principal OF a
school employing from two to four or five
teachers receives from $500 to $1,000 salary.
Schools OF single teachers from $50 to $50 per
month. AL teachers are hired for the school
year from eight to ten months. In the above
1 am speaking particularly for this county, as 1
think the schools in some OF the counties over
the range-Houghton and Marquette-haye a
higher standing, especially in the larger places.
AT Calume. they claim the largest school in the
State of the knd-employing in one building
couple of dozen teachers and an enrolment
OF upward OF 1900 pupils. 1t is simply sight
TO stand at noon recess and see them as they
come swarming out, and one wonders what the
world IS going TO do with them all. Schools
are usually large IN numbers, children and cop