The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-10-06
REDWOOD GO. SCHOOLS.
Supt. Races Annual Report I'd the
Department Of Public
Instruction.
Increased Number of Pupils In
AttendanCe-Free Text
Book Act.

eS~~NSA
and now comes some words relative to
an Interpretation of Redwood county
schools. The last year closed with
total enrolment of 1903 pupils, an in
crease of 289 over one year ago. This
year 35l1 pupils are reported for
apportionment, against $3.50 one year
ago. Our pupils are grouped as fol-
lows: Pupils to 8 years 1897. 8 to
16, 2785 and Is to 2l years, 42l. 2126
pupils between 8 and 16 years, at
tended 60 days or more of school. This
is much better than one year ago.
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE-THE REMEDY.
There is very little reason in the
many excuses offered by parents, who
keep their children at home during
school days in mid-winter. There is no
real reason why strong boy or girl.
having 14O days school in his or her
district, should not attend at least 20
days. Schools of the months class
rarely start before Oct. 10, and close
usually before May 10th. This period
then is not the farm work period. Tis
time it embraced some of the busy
season. l plead for the boy or girl who
has reached his or her 18th birthday,
that he and she too, remain longer in
school. We owe it to these our child
ren-this solemn duty-the best pos
sible affordable opportunities for our
children. As the world grows older
more is required of our children. We
must as children cooperate with the
State. What we need is not more
compulsory laws or enforcement of
what we have, but an awakening of our
own consciousness to this duty which
we owe and'must pay to our children.
Our children are not chattels to use as
we wish, but living souls which need
our strong hands, our best thoughts,
our best help and our warmest love.
The State calls upon us to perform this
duty, and it attempts to impose fines
for neglect, but we need not such law,
except in extreme cases. I am very
unwilling to state that % per cent. of
the total enrolment, or 1872, failed to
attend the 40 or more days, thus for
feiting over $1,000. This amount
would pay very nearly one-tenth of the
teachers wages for the whole county.
Did we do better than we did one year
ago? Yes, we did, but not what we
can, not what we ought-not what we
must if we do our duty. Duty, is
God, speaking to our conscience, to
do-"the ought" We have for next
year IL districts which are to have 9
months school, 81 are to have months,
% are to have Z months and 6 will have
5 months. Nine months is probably
too much for rural schools, but surely
5 months is too little. No district
should have less than seven months of
school during the year. Such schools
should be strong, we'll equipped and
taught during the season when all
can go.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
I'm pleased to say we have now So
fairly good libraries in our schools. In
nearly all instances the books are
where they should be, in the school
rooms during the session OF the school,
and the teacher is temporary librarian.
A library to be of value, must be
where the pupils can have access to it
and where the teacher can direct the
reading of the pupils. Some of our
schools have excellent we'll selected
libraries, but most of our books are too
difficult for the juvenile grades.
FREE TEXT BOOKS.
I'm able to report much progress
along this line We start this year
with 86 districts out of 80 with books
loaned to pupils free at an
average of 81 per child. This
is much cheaper, much better in
all ways, than where private owner
ship prevailed. The books, save in
the primary grades, are in excellent
condition. This plan saves world of
trouble in grading the schools. As q
matter of economy it is much cheaper.
It is as much duty to provide text
books. as it is to provide maps, black