Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-21
EDUCATIONAL.

The character of its common schools is the
stSndar' by which any commonwealth is best
judged The school system of Wisconsin may
well bring pride and satisfaction to her citizens.
The foundation of the system was laid in the
constitution, and its present perfection is due
to many years of Intelligent legislation, to the
earnest interest of the people, and to the able
and patriotic efforts of those who give their
lives to the great work OF popular education.
which the Legislature is called upon to ma Ike
provision. Something of the claims of the
schools upon your attention from the purely
monetary side of the question will be understood
when it is stated that the total disburse-
mehts for the common schools during the year
ending June 3d. 1896, s., 1S, 106 16; that the
total number of persons of school age reported
for the year ending June 80, 1896, 684, $50;
that the total number of scholars for the same
employed in the state during the same time was
H. 33l and that there are 1872 free high
schools in the state, which employ 672 prin-
cipals and assistant TEACHERS at an an
educational factor has been more potent in
making the school life attractive to the children
and enlarging the scope of their intellectual
training than the excellent books to which
access is furnished through the medium of the
township library. The state superintendent is
Invested with the adniniSt ton of the TOWNSHIP
library law, and his recommendations for furthe,
legislation to increase the efficiency Of the
library and to accomplish the observance of the
law in every town in the state entitled to
careful consideration In his report, the state
superintendent has made number of important
Recommendations and suggestions with a view
to promoting the efficiency Of the schools. These
recommendations should be carefully consid-
cred
THE safe UNIVERSITY.
1t is a cause for cOngratuldtion that our state
university stands today in the front rank of the
higher educational institutions of the country
and that each year it has been enab led, through
the liberal provision made by the legislature, to
keep pace in its progress with the rapid devel
opment and Improvement in higher educational
methods. Each succeeding year shows a larger
attendance IN the various DEPART and the
percentage of attendance from our own state
shows very marked increase during the past
few years. This latter fact is particularly graf
flying as indicating that the advantages Of
fered are coming to be better appreciated
by those who the chief contribute
to the support of the institution.
The needs of the university [ am sure will re-
ceive the consideration which they merit. The
agricultural college of the university in its de-
velopment has kept up with the progress of the
other departments, and the effect of its work is
plainly to be seen in improved methods greater
diversifcation of crops and relatively larger
profits in the agricultural pursuits in our state
The Importance and value of the work being
done in this department is more directly notice
able, perhaps, than the work of any of the
other departments. The special needs of the
agricultural college should be carefully con-
sidered.