The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

OF teachers mas D6on SelGCJ6Q Tor the
ensuing year: Mrs. May Nelms, Misses
Mildred Linville, Esther Simmons,
Lettie Wicks, Alice Horning, Mollie
Bergin, Clara Duncan. Miss Mary
Newton, who has been IN the primary
department, was reelected to higher
grade, but has resigned in order to ac-
cept a position in Washington. Too
much credit cannot be given Professor
Pratt for the manner in which he has
labored in building up and increasing
the efficiency of this school. 1t is his
intention to extend and lengthen the
courses in language and business forms
during the coming school year. The
Corvallis public school bnilding is one
that the citizens may we'll feel proud of.
1t represents the thrift, progressiveness
and public spirit of the patrons of the
school.
In addition to these graded schools,
there are in Benton county So school
districts, and 130 persons licensed to
teach. There were employed, during
the last year, SO teachers, of which
number 20 were males and 73 females.
The average salary paid male teachers
per month was $3.50, and female
$30.49. The annual report showed
1902 males and 1883 females residing
in the county between the ages Of A and
20. and of these 749 males and 724 fe-
males were enrolled at the public
schools; $40 boys and 439 girls did not
attend any school. The average num-
ber of months taught during the year
was five and four -fifths. There were
three private schools conducted last
year, employing three teachers and
having an enrolment of 12 pupils.
The total number of visits made by
the superintendent was 95, making the
distance travelled 1,500 miles, and the
average time spent in each school, two
hours.
There are over 1900 legal voters for
school purposes in the county. The
value of the school houses and grounds
has been estimated to be $38, O4O, and
of furniture and apparatus, $3.50.
The districts carry a total insurance of
$40, $40. Last year the county had
$23, 976. "a from all sources, for school
purposes, and of this amount SIT 1888. II
were expended for teachers salaries and
$4,07O. 09 for apparatus, furniture, in
surance, ETC., leaving balance of ST.
1878 in the hands of the several
school clerks. The superintendent ap-
portiened in April this year over
$1,000 to the various districts of the
county, and there is now in the hands
Of the county treasurer, awaiting the
August apportionment, about $4,000.
There will also be So, 500 from the state
fund, making a total for the fall ap-
portionment of about $1,000. Each
district, except joint districts, receives
$50 annually. and SO much per capita,
as the funds allow.
OF all the splendid educational work
that is being carried on in the several
counties of Oregon, Benton can make
a showing equal to any. The quality
of the school work done by the teach
ers of our county cannot be praised too
highly. Many obstacles have beset
their pathway in years past. No dis
trict, until recently, had any definite
aim or plan adopted for the carrying on
of work. No specific amount of prog
ress was required of the teacher. The
matter OF graduation was never dis
cussed by the pupil, teacher or parent.
In very few districts the course of
study of some city school was loosely
carried out. Amid all these and other
difficulties, the teachers persevered and
accomplished good results.
The confusion arising from the alb
sence of classification and gradation in
tensi6ed the demand from the teachers
and many of the patrons for a county
classification. The subject was fre-
quently discussed, at various institutes
and teachers, Associations. Ex-SnnAr-