Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-11-20

cent. While the law makes it the duty
Of school boards TO meet and fix the
period # compulsory attendance. am
not aware that anY have done so, but 10
/ many instances the attention of the
parent has been called to the law.
While for several years there has
been a falling off in the number of per
sons of school age, the reporls this year
show an fncr0asc OF 10l. The average
of teachers wages has become quite
uniform in this county. varying but q
few cents per month for several years
past The supply of teachers while
seemingly much beyond the demand is
not really so. There are many teach
ers who DO not desire winter terms of
school and others who desire winter
terms only. There have been few. if
any, winters in my experience that have
not called out all, and usually more
than the available teaching force. There
is a growing demand for teachers hold
ing certificates of the higher grades.
This is an excellent symptom and it
shows increasing interest in the common
school work. for, all other things being
equal. the best qualified teacher will
teach the best school.
That the schools of this county are on
sound financial basis and that the
people are generous in their support
will be shown by the fact that the
average expenditure during the year
was S402 for each district, and that
there is now remaining in each district
treasury 1925.
Last spring for the first time in the
history of this state, the questions
used in the teachers examinations
were issued by the state de-
partment of public instruction and were
uniform throughout the stale. While
in many respects the Questions were
less difficult than those heretofore used
in this county, they possessed peculiari-
ties that made them somewhat trouble
some for many teachers. especially
those who wrote in examinations for
the first time. While there has not yet
been time to fully judge of the merits
and dement's of this plan there is much
that recommends itself TO County Super
intendents and teachers throughout the
state. 1t saves much time, otherwise
needed in making out examination
questions, for superintendent, and,
under the law, makes it fair and reason
able that teachers passing examinations
in any county may have their work
recognized as valid by superintendent
in other counties, thus saving much ex-
pense and annoyance. The tendency
of this system is 10 level up the educa-
tional work throughout the different
counties.
The great benefits to be derived by
earnest and intelligent application of
the outlines and suggestions laid down
in the Manual of the Course of Study
for Country Schools can not be too
strongly emphasized. he course well
carried out will give pupils the educa-
ton necessary TO successful business
life and will economize time and labor
all along educational lines. The true
merits of this work can not be appre-
ciated without study, nor It's true value
/ developed without faithful efforts on the
part of the teacher and cordial cooper
ton on the part of pupils and parents
| II parents will see that the Irregular
/ itY of attendance is overcome, and the
/ school boards will see that the uniform
series Of text books Is in use, the teach
ers will have but little difficulty in APP
plying the course of study and in secur-
ing most gratifying results.
Rarely does year pass without some
general hndrance to school work, aris-
ing from storms, or epidemic diseases
incident to children, but never before
has the work been so seriously broken
into as it was last winter by the uni
versal epidemic known as La Grippe.
Every district was effected and
while visiting schools | frequently
found but small per cent. of the en-
rolled pupils present. For some weeks
the attendance was hardly the same for
two days in succession, the pupils leav-
ing and returning as they were attacked
by, or recovered from the disease. This
of course, interierred very largely with
the success of ths winter schools and it
is very probable that much of the work
attempted last winter will necessarily
be gone over again this winter. Teachers
will need to exercise much diligence
and care as we'll as firmness in tle work
of organization, especially in the more
advanced country schools.
The success of the schools must de-
pend largely upon the degree of per-
lection attained and kept up in orga-
uization and discipline.
Teaching is business and like any
other business must be conducted in a
business manner in order that suitable
returns may be had for the work done
and the capital invested. Furthermore
it must not be forgotten that the cor
dial and constant cooperation of parents
and school officers is necessary to the
highest success on the part of the teach
err Rarely can one person build up a
school without the support of those for
whom he builds While on every hand
there Is a constantly growing interest
in schools and education we must not
forget that there is still a large need for
continued diligence and vigilance. Edu-
cation will do more than anything else
to make life a success for those who are
now in their preparation for the ardu-
Gus and varied duties before them.
| In severing my connection with an