The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-02-27

ventilating is by opening windows,
and this often obliges pupils to sit in
a draft. Districts Nos. I, 2, 7 and 8
of Somers have adopted an indirect
method, and from these schools the
children seldom go home with
headache.
The whole number of schools in
the county is sixty-one, and the num-
Der of teachers employed is sixty
two, Wilmot employing two teachers.
Salem Center had the largest en-
rollment, viz: sixty-nine during the
month of May; and district No. 6,
Brighton, the smallest, viz: five.
In most of the schools the per cent.
of attendance when computed upon
the enrolment has been good, but it
might have been better.
The whole number of children
drawing public money is 5000, 1850
of which attend school. The num-
Der of children between the ages of
seven and fourteen is 1854. Of
this number 1,265 have attended the
public schools twelve weeks or more,
and Isl have attended private
schools for the same length of time.
This leaves 2I8, or nearly one
eighth who have not attended school
and are consequently growing up in
illiteracy, Notwithstanding the fact
that $40, 236.84 were paid for school
purposes last year.
The Course of Study for district
schools has been revised and i'm
proved very much. If it were more
closely followed, it would benefit
those already in school. and perhaps
induce others to attend for the pur-
pose of completing it, if for no other
reason.
A little more attention should be
given to records and graduation
School Boards should insist that the
register is properly kept No $40 Of
the Red Line Series, published by
Donahue & Henneberry, is good
one.
We are still troubled with mixed
text books. This is largely due to
the fact that school boards have
adopted no series, but left the selec-
ton to the different teachers.
No farmer or mechanic thinks of
hiring man and letting him work
with poor tools; but many boards
think that teacher should do first
class work with the same apparatus
that was used when they went to
school. No man can do business as
it was done thirty years ago, and no
teacher can go through with school
as many did thirty years ago. To do
frst-class work we must have mod
ern appliances.
Every district should have a good
reading chart, a large blackboard,
outline mapss a globe, writing charts,
an unabridged dictionary, one or two
academic dictionaries and reference
books. 1t is not necessary to pur-
Chase everything at once, but some
thing should be bought every year
until the school is we'll equipped
Chapter 426 of the laws of 1887
gave each town treasurer the right
to withhold a portion of the school
fund income for the purchase of
books for library. The intent of
the law is not to fill a case with
books, but to obtain few good ones
in every district so that the child
may have an opportunity of reaching
at least dozen good works before
leaving the district school.
If the child reads from ten to fif-
teen suitable books under the eye of
the teacher, foundation for read
er has been laid. His tastes will be
such that dime novels will not be
found in his pockets. The law has
been in operation since 1887, and in
my report to the State Superintend
ent l had to state that not dollar
had been SO expended.
! Supt. ]. B. Thayer informed ne
that Kenosha County is the only one
that makes such a report Would ii
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