Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-27

alone benefited by this high school
law, and | for one, enter my protest
against the people in the new and
sparsaly settled backwuod districts
being taxed for the benefit of scholars,
in the older, richer and more propi-
tious portions of the State.
The settler in the district of Sara
toga to which we have just referred
was last winter taxed 10 help maintain
those free high schools in the southern
portion Of the State, while unable
under the per cent. law to raise
enough to maintain a months schools
in its own district. IF a $4,000 tax
must be raised for the benefit of these
free high schools, I say raise $4,000
more to aid the poor country districts:
struggling for existence on the barren
sand hills of Saratoga and Remington
or the untitled forest of Marshfield
and Wood. These are but few of
the more glazing faults, errors and
robberies of our school laws. but as
these appeals more particularly to our
own county [ have called your atten-
ton to them and hope you will urge
upon our Senator and Asscmblyman
the necessity of their repeal or modi-
fication. The people of Wood Co.
are not niggardly in their support of
schools as will be seen by the sub
joined statistics of expenses and the
many fine school buildings throughout
the county will also, and always bear
ample testimony to their zeal and
fidelity to the cause of Education, and
it is that their burden Of taxes should
be reduced to It's legitimate proportions
that have dwelt so particularly upon
these unjust laws There are in the
county Il regularly organized districts,
80 Of which have maintained lawful
school or more months during tho
past year, and in those SO districts are
1859 children over and under 20
years of age The value of all school
property is $18,673 and the total
expenses for the year were SO, 70097.
The highest wages paid to a male:
teacher was $50 per month The
lowest $25. The highest to a female
teacher was S33.33 the lowest 1888
and the average was males $35. Is,
females S25.16. This average is
somewhat higher than that paid
throughout the State and on accounts
Of this fact I have felt justified in
trying to raise the teachers standard
by licensing only those who were we'll
qualified This licensing teachers ie
the most difficult portion of the
Superintendent duty. and | believe
the law in relation to it could be
changed for the better. A suggestion
lately made by State Supt. Whitford
meets with my hearty approval He
says: The law should be changed
so that while conducting examination.
the Co. Supt. should have two assist
ants to be named by him and approved
by the Co. Board annually and the
three should constitute board of
examiners. They should examine
together the papers Of each applicant
and while applicants could and do
frequently claim partiaiity in the Co.
Supt., few would dare to say that
three would be and three together
would have the courage to refuse any
applicant which Co. Supt. 80 often
lacks. One to whom | lately refused
certificate took an appeal to the
State Supt. and upon her papers being
submitted to him he sustained nv
marking in every respect. yet even
this decision will not satisfy the LADY,
and her friend of the impartiality Of
my work. IF the Law were changed
in this respect the two assistants
would Of course have to be paid by
| the Co. This would add IS to 35.
dollars per annum to the Co. taxes.
but if it prevented but two or three
unworthy persons from obtaining GER
tifcates and tended to raise the stand
ard of attainments of those who did it,
would be in my judgement, wise ex-
penditure.
For the cordial support and aid
received from the people of the
county in my efforts to advance their
educational interests | am very CRATE
full, and if I can maintain the same
relations for the ensuing year, I am
we'll satisfied Wood County will ad-
vance as rapidly az any in the State
The value of a county map to teach
home geography is unquestioned and