Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-11-24

more comfortable and convenient. the ven
1 tilation, heating and lighting improved. and
greater interest IS manifested in the health
and comfort of the pupils
Many additions have been made in the
matter of school supplies. such as black
boards, maps, charts, globes and other ar
! ticles of apparatus, thus making the work
of the teacher more eficient and the efforts
of the pupils bring more intelligent results.
The statistics of the schools. judging from
the teachers reports received az this office
show better classification and closer ad-
herence to the course of study, and the wis
dom of this is shown by the results Of the
examinations held by the teachers for COM
mon school diplomas in which ninety-two
schools participated, and one hundred thirty
pupils completed the course of study and
received diplomas Holders of diplomas
are admitted to the High schools without
examination. and the uniform testimony is
/ that they are fairly well prepared to begin
the work of the High school.
Grant county is divided for school pur-
poses into two hundred seventeen districts
including three cities and eight incorporated
villages
There are twelve high schools. six having
a sfour-years' course and six having
threeyears course. Graduates from the
High schools of Boscobel and Lancaster are
admitted to the state university without ex-
animation. The other high schools having
a four-years course are Bloomington, Cass-
vile, Fennimore and Montfort. These
schools Nee but little in the matter of Ii
braries, apparatus, and preparations to en-
able them also to be accredited by the uni
verslty. Five graded schools of two de-
partments and two hundred rural schools
of one room complete the roll.
Two hundred ninety-four teachers are re-
CURED to teach and manage these schools
a larger number of teachers under the sup
ervision of one superintendent than in any
other county in the state, Dodge county with
two hundred thirtv-hve teachers coming
next in the list, The rural schools vary in
length from six to nine months during the
year, but all are in session during the late
fall and the winter months and the attend
ance then reaches its greatest record.
To visit and inspect these schools requires
hundreds of miles of travel, and in order to
reach them when the attendance is greatest
and most regular much of this travelling
must be done during the late fall and the
winter months when the weather and the
roads are not at their best During the past
year two hundred nine schools have been
| visited, some of them several times. The
work of three hundred thirty-four different
teachers has been inspected suggestions
made and instruction given when necessary
The list of teachers of the county has been
revised and corrected and so far as can be
ascertained with reasonable diligence shows
as follows:
| Whole number OF teachers three hundred
sixty-two. diyidedin into the following classes
according to grade of certificate possessed
aIa
grade, county, ffty-one; second grade. one
hundred forty-four; third grade, one hun
dred thirty. This shows remarkable i'm
provement when compared with the prev
ious years. At no other time in the history
of the county have the higher grades of GER
thcates been held by SO many teachers nor
have the teachers ever before shown such
anxiety toimprove their opportunities and
to raise the standard of their qualification
This is no doubt largely owing to the great
er and better facilities for securing these
advantages and the encouragement given
by the increasing demand for higher schol-
arship and greater skill in teaching and
| management in the public schools
The high schools of the county at the close
of the school year sent out about one hun
dred graduates, many of whom have Joined
the teaching force, and judging from the
/ past II - SdlG 10 assert that among them
will be found many sensible, earnest and
| faithful teachers.
rhe institute furnished by the state was
held at Lancaster, and the enrolment ex-
ceeded that of any other institute ever held
in the county The interest shown in the
work, the increased attendance and the re-
suits seen in the work of the schools all at
test the value of the institute as an educa-
tor.
The county institute was held at Hazel
| Green. Last year this institute was held at
Boscobel At each place some forty teach
ers were enrolled, who living at the ex-
/ IRENE northern or southern portions of the
| county, did not reach the institute held at
| the county seat An institute of two DAYS
with evening lecture was held at Blooming
ton and teachers schools or meetings of one
day each with evening lecture were held at
twelve different points during the year.
| Many of the older pupils attended these
meetings and thus the work of the institute
was brought into close relation with the
work OF the school, and the results were
seen n more efficient work and more intelli- |
gent efforts on the part of both teachers ana
pupils.
beg leave to call your attention to several |
items contained in last years report. which |
for the sake of emphasis. will bear repeat |
ing:
In some districts suitable book cases
should be provided to protect the library
books not only. but TO preserve the diction-
, register. globe and other apparatus be-
longing to the district. School boards
should insist that their schools be organ
/ lied and classified according to the instruc-
/ tons given in the manual of the Course of
study. and the tea ler should be required
to make a complete registration of the
classes and the progress Of the pupils 50 that
the work Of the school may be continuous
and but little time be lost at the change of
teachers or al the beginning Of another
term
| There is much that is encouraging in the |
survey Of the educational interests Of the
county. A very decided sentiment exists III |
favor of an improved condition Of the
schools, and an anxiety 70 employ effcient |
teachers IL ha