Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-10-06
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by ]. H Terry. Principal of Mineral
Point Public Shoots.
The CITY SCHOOLS.
Year Ending. Iune 1882.

lay before the public through the
medium of the local papers, a
brief outline of the condition OF
the schools, and the work done in
them. 1t has been deemed best
in the present instance to defer
the publication of this exhibit until
the re-opening of the schools IN
order that the suggestions contained
in it may occupy the attention OF
the people at time when 1t Is IN
their power to utilize them.
The number of pupils registered
during the year was sos; of whom
POI belonged to primary depart
ments, 95 to intermediate, ia to
grammar, and 6S to the high school.
The average daily attendance in
all departments was 4O7.
With single exception the teach
ers of the previous year were en-
p.oy ed; thus giving to the various
departments the advantages which
result from thorough acquaintance
of teachers with their pupils and
their work.
While the whole number of pu-
pills enrolled does not differ greatly
from that of previous years, and
hence affords no less ground for
encouragement, there is yet man
ifest wide discrepancy between
the number enrolled and the num-
Der of children of school age res
ident in the city-a discrepancy
that cannot be wholly accounted
for by the number in attendance
upon the UNCONVENTIONAL schools.
There is apparent ignorance in
some families ofthe existence of a
law of the state for compelling the
attendance of children upon school,
and a consequent necessity for the
enforcement of that law by the
proper officers.
Irregularity of attendance and
hardness have annoyed, and OBJ
structed progress as heretofore,
though to no greater degree. From
these evils the primary departments
have suffered most; but there is
no department that has not felt
their influence.
A list ofthe names of those whose
efforts to make their record perfect
throughout the year entitle them to
special commentator is given below.
AS the publication of those only who
have attained absolute perfection in
this respect would be an injustice
to others whose efforts were quite
as earnest and persevering, the list
is not restricted to that Glass;
There is much ground for salts
faction in the growth of healthy
sentiment favoring the prosecution
of school work regularly and system
atically like any other business.
The absences on frivolous pretexts,
or for mere amusement were COM
paratively few during the year.
The success of the work done in
the first primary rooms could be
greatly increased, and the teachers
efforts attended with less annoy
ance, if the pupils who enter school
for the first time were required to
begin promptly at the beginning
of the term. The time most favor
able for this class to enter is the
opening of the spring term. The
course of study is so adjusted as to
make their admission at this time
most advantageous to themselves
and the other members of those
departments.
Education has its physical and
its moral as well as intellectual as
pect; and while the teachers have
been deeply impressed with the
importance of surrounding the pu-
pills with the conditions most favor
able to the development of healthy
bodies and good morals. The
hindrances to be overcome have
seemed so nearly insurmountable
that the achievements in this direc-
ton comprise but very inconsid-
cradle part of the results of the
years work Under the best con-
ditions the school can merely pre-
vent the Infringement of a few
of the plainest hygienic laws; it
cannot be made, without complete
overturning of all present usages,
into a gymnasium for the cultiva-
ton of the muscular system, nor
can it enlarge the capacity of the
lungs or improve the organs of di-
gestion. 1t can and should impart
some knowledge of what nature
will approve and what she will
punish as related to all this, but
the best results of all school work
must necessarily be of that negative
sort that merely guards the pupil
against the attack of diseases too
often brought on by his habits or
surroundings while at school
The maintenance of healthful con-
ditions in the school room, a pure
atmosphere, a uniform temperature,
correct habits on the part of the
pupils as to posture, exercise
at recess, and use of extra clothing,
is all that can be accomplished
even with the most diligent care
and the best appliances. How
nearly useless all efforts of this
character must be when the means
for securing the most important of
these conditions-a supply of pure
airs wanting. must be apparent
to every one.
In very cold weather, uniformity
of temperature in rooms heated by
stoves is an impossibility. The
change in passing from enc room
to another, or even in large rooms
one part of the room to another
is often so great as to occasion
severe colds. If no means but
windows and doors are provided
for supplying pure air, the occu-
pants are reduced to choice of two
most serious evils: either to breathe
an atmosphere overloaded with i'm
purities many hours OF the day,
or in various parts of the room
to sit exposed to draughts of air
that can scarcely fail to occasion
disease of some kind. In view of
the fact that the pupils in every
room in. the city schools are sub
jected to these conditions, and in
& A. f,,~4l IL. IL