Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-04-12
Superintendent Notes Of
Union County Schools for
the Winter of 1872.

| District No. 80 was visited Febru.
airy Goth. James Walsh teacher.
Twenty-nine scholars were enrolled
of these fourteen were present. Or.
der and industry medium; scholar.
ship fair. There was hardly life
enough about the school, everything
went on in dull, listless way. The
teacher was faithful and industrious
but little variation in his methods
Of work would perhaps put more ell.
ergy and vigor into bis school. The
black board and slate were not used
as much as they should have been.
! Written work not only serves to in
struct, but varies the routine of the
school room. which, if allowed to
become monotonous, impedes pro-
gress. There seemed to be lack OF
punctuality, fully one-half of the
scholars being tardy on the day OF
my visit.
District No. IS, February 10th,
Il. j. Creary teacher. Twenty nine
were enrolled, nineteen present.
Industry good, order and scholar
ship fair. Recitations were heard
in reading, grammar and arithmetic.
The scholars were not as well advan-
ced as they ought to have been for
their years. The grading in reading
was too high. There was some dis
order occasioned by scholars leav-
ing their seats during school hours.
Mr.. Creary was thorough in his in
struction and allowed no points to
pass unexplained. The district
needs new school house; the one
used is a low, log cabin, lily lighted
and ventilated mainly by the holes
| in the roof and chinking
District No. 80, February 18th,
Miss Lizzie Bland teacher. Twenty
scholars enrolled; average attend
ance had been fifteen. On the day
of my visit only four scholars were
present, occasioncd by the priest
holding religious school, which
the balance of this school attended
This was Miss BANDS first school in
this county, but the district was
well pleased with her work. Order
and industry were good. This dis
trict should make preparations for
building. as the log house now used
is old, weather beaten and decaycd.
District No. /, February 18th.
ID. ID. Baldwin was teacher and had
lust closed his first term, during
which time the enrolment was six
ty-fve. lie had been re-engaged,
with Miss Chequin in charge Of the
primary scholars, who occupied the
lower room. There We're eighteen
present; order and industry fair
! Most of these little folks did not un-
derstand word of English and the
progress was consequently not MS
rapid as it otherwise would have
been. The district ought to obtain
reading charts for the use of these
classes.
Mr.. Baldwin in the higher de-
partment had about thirty-tive
| scholars enrolled, of whom nineteen
were present. In this school too, n
large number were absent at church.
Order and industry were excellent,
scholarship fair. Mr.. Baldwin's
school was marked by intelligent
work, good methods and industry.
The scholars were busily engaged
with their studies and were making
good progress The teacher has
! been laboring to some extent, under
disadvantages, and has acquitted
! himself crcditably.
| District No. II was visited March
LIST; John Bowers teacher. Twenty
names were on the roll, thirteen
scholars were present. This school
was very orderly and industrious
working with n will. The teacher
was Jealous and constant in his eff
forts to improve the school. Still
while as whole it was very good
yet there were few points in which
it could improve. These were, al
lowing scholars to leave the room
oftener than seemed necessary, ant
failure to note and correct all thu
mistakes of the scholars. For in
stance: in reading, many words
were mispronounced and were evi
IDENTIFY not understood by the schol
ars; punctuation and infection
were also sometimes disregarded
Thus while the work, in general wa!
fair, yet by closer attention TO thes
; little essentials, which go to max
up good reading, more thorough
and permanent work would hay
been done. The lessons were to,
long. Mr.. Bowers makes more thar
an average teacher SO far as ability
is concerned, and in my judgment
district II had profitable term Q
school under his direction.
District No. so was visited Marcl
!, End Miss Minnie Anderson wa