Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-06-24

( Scn0Ol room. HuOnc improvements
can be deferred but the children and
youth of today must he educated
today not in the future when good
times" come. Whatever expenditure
i required to make the schools eiiic-
lent in the present no community can
afford to withhold Good teachers.
libraries and apparatus next year viii
not benefit the boys and girls who left
school last year neither viii they COM
pensate for the loss Of the many who
remain but were deprived OF their
rights. No more serious duty de-
wolves upon any school board than
the employment OF the teachers and
il is a pleasure to bear witness to the
interest the Board manifests in this
direction This is a matter in which
the sole question is one OF efficiency
not to be hampered by friendship or
boundrv lines.
In discussing the subject OF ex-
pense it is very evident that many
overlook the necessary increase due
to the growth of the schools. Four
years ago steps were taken toward the
erection OF an additional school build
ing. The crowded condition OF the
schools demanded it. At that time
six teachers we're employed in the
lower grades. At the opening of the
new building in the fall of 1894 the
number was increased to nine-uone
too many for the number Of pupils.
Yet the enrolment for the year end
ing June. 1898; showed high school Sc,
grades 1872 total 46S while for the
year closing with June, 1897 it shows
high school 124. grades 465. total $50.
The average daily attendance for the
two years was in 1898, high school
79.5, grades 300.s, total 3S0.3, in
1897, high school 1922, grades 369.5,
total ALL. Il is evident that the
increased attendance in the grades
below the high school was well pro-
vided for by the employment OF three
additional teachers in 1894. On the
other hand there has been no increase
in she teaching force in the high
school during this period although
there has been a larger gain, relative
II. than in the lower grades, the aver
age daily attendance having increased
over IL per cent.
Neither has the expense kept pace
with the growth Of the high school.
In 1928 the total expenditure for
teachers salaries was 5000. deduct
ing $72 received for tuition leaves
1888, or an expense of S24.37 per
pupil based on average daily attend
ance. In 1867 the total expendi-
ture for teachers salaries was $2,315,
deducting tuition as before, $3.50,
leaves 1876, or an expense of S17 81
per pupil in average daily attendance,
or 500 less for each pupil than four
years ago. The real increase of tax
alton for instruction in the high
school as compared with 1928 is $38
or less than per cent while the
attendance has increased during the
same period over Al per cent.
1t should also be borne in mind
that the opening Of the new building
has added largely to the work Of sup
ervision. No amount of supervision
can supply the lack of good teachers
but no system of schools can reach
the best results without it. The prin-
cipal OF your schools IS constantly
confronted with the serious question
of which can best be neglected the
high school or the lower grades as OF
necessity one or the other must be
under present conditions.
The report OF the free high schools
for 1856 shows that there were 25
such schools in the state having an
average daily attendance of 100 or
more pupils. OF these rs schools
p had three or more assistants. A
list OF high schools sent out in
November last shows that the num-
Der with three or more assistants had
increased to "a. These reports are
referred to as showing the prevailing
sentimen, in our state that the in
crease in the Institutional force must
keep pace with the increase in the
number Of pupils. The employment
OF an additional assistant il the high
school is an imperative necessity.
Thanking the Board for their cor