Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-02-14
THE STATE NORMALS.
Dunn and Marathon County Nor
mails Will Prove Feeders.
GRADUATES TO THE CROSSROADS,

Teach Ward and High schools The OBJ
lection TO Ex-Governor Peck Regent
Successful Mr.. Froehlich as Secretary
Estate.
Madison, Wis, Feb. 13.-When the
last legislature was asked to appro-
priates money for county normal
schools isince that time Wauslu and
Menomonie have established them
there was some fear on the part of the
friends Of the seven state normal
schools that this threatened them.
But Major Lockwood, the veteran sec
rotary of the board of regents, was
wiser. And his prophecy promises to
come true. For thirty years there has
been complaint that the graduates of
the state normals did not find their
way as teachers tl, the country
schools. No doubt in the inception of
the normals-Platteville' school was
started in 1S66--it was thought that
the rural school problem was thus TO
be solved. But IL has worked this
way: The normal graduates have ueen
absorbed by the graded and high
schools. To be sure, in the high
schools university graduates are pre-
ferred-it is a proud boast when
school can say that all of its teachers
are Madison graduates-but few nor
NAL graduates are obliged to resort TO
the crossroads school for living.
There have been cases of even Mill
waukee normal graduates doing this,
but they soon attract the attention or
the county superintendent and get
promotion Even at equal pay after
their elaborate schooling in the normal
they prefer village or city to the coun-
try. Two years and even one year
courses have been added to the courses
Of the state normals; yet the cross
road schools continue to be deprived OF
trained teachers in most cases.
The present condition is then that
very many of these country schools
are taught by teachers who are too
young, too inexperienced and too 1Ref-
fcient. 1t is Il confessedly bad state
of affairs, as the educators of Wiseon-
sin have conceded In reports and pub
lie addresses for many years. 1t
means that the body of the people are
not being properly educated even IN
the few years of their childhood de.
voted to schooling. This, with the
multiplication of school districts max
ing the school group often not more
than ten or fifteen pupils, headed by
an inefficient youth armed with poor
equipment constitutes what is known
as tile rural school problem.
1t may be that the county normal is
to be the cure for this evil The cross
roads teachers of a county can afford
to go to the county seat normal when
they could not stand even the small
expense Of life at state normal. The
requirements are not so great and they
are admitted. They may stay as long
as they please and will be bettered by
1t. If these county normalS, however,
had sufficiently trained teachers to COM
pete with the graduates of state nor
mails, there might be danger that the
legislature would incline so literally
to the county normals as to limit the
support of the state normals. 1t is
confidently believed. however. that
while the county normals will no
doubt greatly benefit their rural teach
er-pupils. the latter will not be well
enough trained to take higher posi-
lions in many cases. And a real bene-
at TO the state normals through the
founding of the county normals will
be by inspiring the pupils of the latter
to go to u state normal. With this
double training they should make
splendid teachers for the best of
schools. There are now enrolled in the
seven normal schools 3,4S3 pupils I'M
der 172 instructors. This is a splendid
body of prospective teachers under
good training. And though it costs a
quarter of million dollars a year and
though there are great doubts in the
minds of mny whether our school sys-
tenn, if consolidated, might not do bet
ter work. the outlay cannot be re-
GREETED by those who believe that the
more money spent for education the
better.
Extensive arrangements are under
way at Racine for the entertainment
of hundreds of school teachers who
will assemble in that city April CT to
attend the tenth annual meeting of the
Southern Wisconsin Teachers asso-
citation. In place of the usually dry
and prosaic discourse along some alb
struce line of pedagogic thought which
at past educational conventions have
overwhelmed. or, as was oftener the
case, put to sleep those pedagogues so
guileless as to attend the evening
lecture" President Nattrass has Sc
cured the services of Booker T. Wash
ington, who will deliver his live. pop
ular lecture on 1.-THE Negro Problem
In the south.
Mr. Froehlich, as secretary of state,
Is doing excellent work In his depart
ment and business-nke air pervades
the department Mr.. Froehlich is a
German American of the best type,
conservative, careful, modest. All
who have business to do with this de-
partment report courteous and prompt
treatment, whether in person or by
mail. There are twenty workers I'M
der Mr. Froehlich and the clerical
tasks alone involve an immense
amount of calculation. Just at present
the department. is at work on the esti-
mated revenues and expenditures of
the state for this year with the double
object of finding oul tentatively what
monies the next legislature will find
available; and, more important, how
much money can be given to the uni
versity, the feeble-minded institution
at Chippewa Falls and other state in
situations this year; indeed, it is hoped
to help them out this spring on the APP
preparations which the legislature
made, but which Governor Scofield
held up because there was no money in
the treasury to meet them.
There is a vast amount of routine
work in the office. With reference to
the coming spring elections notices are
being sent TO the county clerks that
they may report the number of vot-
ing precincts. A more considerable
work. however, is the sending out of
blanks to the town clerks of the state
of whom there are between 1900 and
1,40o. The replies are coming in
bravery, but a secocd notice is being
sent to those clerks who delay. These
blanks carry questions as to the
amount of taxes raised in every town;
assessed value of all taxable property;
amount of state tax; school district
tax. voted at annual meeting; amount
of county tax: poor taxes, road taxes,
Indebtedness, etc. These town re.
turns being collated. the totals for
each county are conveniently put in
form under the new law and they Will
no doubt. be of great use to the tax
commission.
A mother is slowly dying She Is
still young. Her wavy black HAIR ana
lustrous eyes are the remaining marks
of beauty which the rayages OF dis
ease hava failed to destroy. Her
great concern is for her four little girls.
ranging from, & 10 IS yaars. What wfD
become Of them when she is gomez
There Is no relative or friend who can
properly care for them. How can 4