Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-02-21

nan appear on the scene with q dark la
and the en- lave ment of the people and
wrong? This robbery through,a bond
25 majority.
airy would bring far better results under
proper conditions. While an improve.
ment in conditions will involve some ad-
ditional expense we have reached POINT
where it is bad economy and serious
loss to continue to do without them. [
do not wish to weary you by dwelling
upon these points, but have said some
of these things SO many times that [
really believe them to be true and think
you will if you visit the schools and OBJ.
serve the situation and see the needs as
/ have seen them.
The method of heating and ventilatlng
school houses is very unsatisfactory, I'm.
scientific, unhealthful and withal un-
necessarily expensive, and needs revolu-
tionizing. We apply scientific principles
and improved methods to the making of
butter, the raising of pork, the pumping
of water, the fertilization of thu soil ard
the raising and handling of crops and
find IN these methods economy of expen
diture and profit in results, but we keep
right on in the same old way of heating
our school houses and roasting our chilli
rem on one side and freezing them on the
other, or roasting those near the stove
and freezing those further away, and we
make no effort to find better way. We
compel our children to breathe a.yltiated
and poisoned atmosphere in the school
room when the air in the loom might be
supplied in such way as to be pure and
at the same time properly warmed, and
at a decided saving of expense over the
present method. 1t is time we should
act upon these matters.
Another matter that needs especial at
tention is the water supply for schools.
Nearly all the schools in the country are
dependent upon the nearest farmers
we'll, and in many cases these are so far
away that it is with great difficulty that
water is obtained in proper condition ami
quantity to meet the necessities of the
children. In this connection will re-
peat what I said upon this subject in the
December Teacher.
WATER FOR SCHOOLS.
water supply should be provided for the accom-.
modat!on OF many of the schools. Attention has
frequently been called to this matter, and yet q
very few schools have a good water supply upon
the school grounds. and in many districts the dis.
lance to some private house where good water can
be obtained IS 100 great for pupils to carry water
in bad weather. and in most cases the water
brought to schools in pals stands until used
! after it has become unfit for use. Again, q whole
school drinking from the same pail and from the
same cup or dipper is liable to contract disease
from any individual case, and now when not only
the ordinary contiguous diseases but others such
rs consumption are known to be communicated
from ore person to another, It becomes serious
matter how and what the children drink hope
that this matter Will receive earnest consideration
from all the patrons ands Importers OF the schools,
and that prompt and vigorous action will be taEen
| in the near future to remedy this defect
Now the common country school is
likely to be, for many years at least, the
only school accessible to the great mass
of the children, who will not go to any
higher school and must be the prepare.
tory school for all who go from their
country homes to higher educational in
situations, and it will be we'll If the entire
community will arise in its might and &c
to work to put them III condition to do
their work to the best advantage. There
are many problems yet to be solved CHI.
q which no doubt is the teacher supply
that is, how to get and keep trained ano
experienced teachers for all of the schools
This under present conditions seems IL
| be problem without an answer. The
average life of teacher. as such, in tn,
country schools is less than three years
and one-third of those employ ed in these
schools each year are beginners, brigh
young persons it is true, but without OK
periepcs or special training other thai
is furnished by the Normal Institute O
two weeks annually.
Now you prefer and SO do to dra1
conclusions after an examination Of fact
rather than from theory alone. Nov
what are the facts that bear upon tbi
question of getting and retaining abb
experienced teachers in our schools?
will mention one or two, last year W
paid the teachers of our 96 county school
an average salary of $2l017 for thei
!. ". ar's work. Minnesota on our horde
is paying from $500 to $500 annually
her county teachers. AS soon us GU
teachers acquire the experience an
training sufficient to compete for pos
! tious there, they go, or they go some
, where else where more renumerative 81
uations await them. We are fortunal
). indeed in having the material and taller
in our young people out of which
J, make teachers and ours has been trail
ing ground to furnish teachers for othe
: localities. We keep them while they al
apprentices learning their trade, an
. when they are prepared to do skille
;, work we lose them. know there al
notable exceptions, that we have MAI
!, good teachers, especially among the lad
: teachers, who from being near home
y other causes remain in our schools. Bl
!, a loss of one third every year when the
!, places are to be filled from the ranks
the inexperienced is too great. Can "
J; expect our young people, your sons ar
q daughters and mine to spend years
y training at normal school to prepare
9 fill a position for life that can only prol
3 Use S22O.17 per annum, out of which the
). must live and clothe themselves, an
!. meet all contingent expenses? I simp
Q raise the question, but leave you to a
;. swer it, will suggest in this come
u ton however that if we are unable to pit
:, : what would seem to be adquate wage
. we could greatly encourage our your
l. teachers TO hold on lonpar hy n eljrht /,