The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-05-25
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF KENOSHA COUNTY.

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF KENOSHA COUNTY.
To the Board of Supervisors Of Keaosha
County.
GENTLEMEN Herewith I have the
pleasure of submitting to you my an
nual report.
On the whole, the schools are doing
good work and the patrons are proud of
them.
This is shown by the improvements
that have been made during the past
wear. Several hundred dollars worth of
apparatus has been purchased, several
school houses have been painted and re-
paired; yet there are many things that
ought to be done which would cost but
little money and contribute vastly to the
health and comfort of those that attend
our schools.
I found school houses last winter
where it was not warm enough to re-
move my oyercoat until recess; others
where it was smoky enough to injure the
ewes of those who remained there for
any length of time.
Health should be placed first, educa.
ton second; because person having
the first can obtain the second, but with
out it never. Health cannot be retained
if pupils suffer from cold. In many
school houses, on cold days, there is a
difference Of 800 between the floor and
a space five feet above it. This should
not be. Ventilation should also have
attention. There are but three school
houses in Kenosha county properly
ventilated, reports to the contrary not
withstanding. All might be, with but a
slight cost to the districts. To do this
two things are required First, pas
sage for fresh air to come into the room
under the stove, so that it will be warmed
before reaching the children. Second,
a lue for the foul air to escape, which
should be connected with the chimney
and extend to the floor.
Good authorities claim that it pays, in
dollars and cents, to bank house, to put
storm-windows upon the cold side, to
buy green wood and let it season under
cover. Ifthese things are true in regard
to private families, why are they not
lust as true in regard to school districts!
ATTENDANCE OF Pupils.
The attendance has been very good in
many schools, it being above 95 per
cent; but there are schools where it falls
below rs per cent.
TEXT Books AND APPARATUS.
According to the reports Of town
clerks. only twenty-nine districts have
adopted list of text books. 1t is poor
economy to pay teacher good wages.
and then ask him to conduct several
classes in the same branch because the
pupils have different books.
No farmer would think of sending q
man into field to NOW with dull
scythe, or to do any kind of work with
poor tool. Why not? Because it does
not pay. Does it pay any better to give
a teacher good wages and give him
nothing to work with
Many school boards have taken step
in the right direction during the past
year, and it is to be hoped that others
will follow. Every district ought to
have outline maps, a globe, a reading
chart, writing charts, good dictionary,
reference books, and large blackboard.
The better the schools are equipped
the better the results obtained. 1t is
not necessary to purchase everything at
once, but if something could be pur-
chased every year it would not be long
before we should have the things needed
to do first-class work.
Chap. 426 of the laws of 1887 provides
for obtaining q school library. ]. B.
Thayer, State Supt., is making strong
effort to haveit enforced. He feels that
it would do much to help the education
al growth of our state.
It is admitted by many that boys and
girls having district school training and
desire to read good books have bet
ter education than the college graduate
who has no taste for good literature.
EXAMINATIONS.
Two regular and two supplementary
examinations have been held during the
year. The latter were held to avoid
private examinations. One hundred
and thirty-two persons applied for .certifi-
Gates, forty of whom failed to pass.
VISITS.
All the schools in the county have
been visited since Jan. LIST. The whole
number of visits made was one hundred
and twenty-nine. Specimens in PEN
manship were obtained from every dis
trict in the county and divided into four
divisions Judgment was passed upon
these divisions by towns, and the name
of the best writer of each published in
the county papers.
INSTITUTE.
A two weeks Institute was held at
Somers, conducted by Prof. L. w.
Briggs, of Oshkosh. The entire enroll
ment was 76; average attendance, 81.
DIR. J. w. Stearns, of Madison, delivered
his lecture on Sour Teachers" to
crowded house. We also had the pleas
ure of listening to President Albert Sails
bury, of Whitewater, on "What For!"
the wherefore of common school educa-
ten. Although the night was dark and
rainy, an attentive audience assembled
to listen to the President.
Eight teachers meetings have been
held since Jan. 1st Some were well
attended, but there were instances where
teachers boarded not far away, yet failed
to appear. Perhaps it was good day
for fishing. Our last meeting was held