River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-12-19


sl128 to pay a teacher nearly Sl7 per
month for eight months. The county and
state school funds are apportioned among
the several districts according to the
number of persons of school age in SAID
districts; hence the district with a smau
school population gets q very little from
those funds, while the district with
large school population gets nearly en-
ough to maintain its school You may
advance the argument that the schoOl
population gradually decreases Tor
number Of years ant then again Increases
for a period of years. Granted that TINS
is true in many districts but what be-
comes Of the educational interests OF the
children residing iu those districts during
the years when the pendulum Is APP
preaching and receding from the two ex-
tremes? / am fully convinced that the
solution to the rural school problem
lies in Consolidation and transportation
Time and space forbid my entering into
a full discussion of this subject in this
report. Suffice il TO say, however, that
this plan has gone beyond the experiment
tai stage and has proven a success far be-
yond the expectations Of It's staunchest
supporters in nearly every case. In some
cases small schools are closed and the
pupils transported to some neighboring
district, generally to a graded school,
where they can be accommodated. Ia
many instances notably in Ashtabula
ships have been centralized, all the
pupils being transported to a central
graded and nigh school, thus giving the
children of rural communities the educa-
tional advantages enjoyed by the chill
dren in villages and cities, while still
retaining the other advantages which
their residence IN the country affords
them.
Supt j. r. Adams the pioneer of cen
tralization in Ohio, says: Il yet believe
that the plan of Capitalization or consol>
idation is the proper solution of the
country school problem. l believe 1t is
the only way whereby children living III
the rural districts can have the educa-
tional advantages enjoyed by the chill
dren in cities and villages. The plan is
certainly growing in favor with us, ana
in no instance would the people living Ia
any of the abandoned sub-districts go
back to the old plan. In fact, we have
sold many of the old school houses and
sites. The plan Is permanent thing
with u.s."
Among the advantages of the plan are
better health of children; attendance
from 20 10 $50 per cent greater fewer
teachers required, hence better teachers;
closer supervision; better equipped school
houses; reduction in cost in nearly every
instance.
One town In Pierce County maintained
seven schools last year with an aver
age daily attendance Of fifty-eight pupils
in the seven schools. By having a CEN
trail graded school three teachers could
have accommodated the pupils. In the
same town a district having an average
daily attendance of four pupils had a well
drilled at a cost Of nearly 500. If at a
central school this well would supply the
pupils of the entire town Would II not
be more economical to centralize?
TEACHERS AND TEACHERS WAGES.
During the past year we employed AZ
male teachers and 153 female teachers to
teach the l43 departments of our high
graded and country schools, a total
1875 different teachers as compared with
1877 of the previous year. The number of
departments Is constantly increasine
During $3.50 we had 49, during 49, 10
no. during '00-'0l l43 and during the COM
ing year we will proabbly have $50
Although our county has a larger pro
portion of male teachers than most of the
counties in the state. yet l regret to say
mat the number Is constantly decreasing
owing to the fact that there are better
opportunities, financially, In other pro-
iessions. our female teachers are doing
a noble work, but | feel that there Is Il
time In every boys life when he should
be under the influence of a man.
The average monthly wages paid to
male teachers was S46.l5. an increase of
q cents over the precious year. This in
crease, though slight, Is gratifying. as
in each of my previous reports | have
mad to report a decrease. The average
for female teachers was $685. an in
crease OF about one dollar. We are, how
ever, concerned more particularly with
the one department schools In these
we find the average wages for male
teachers to be S35.6S and for female
teachers S0l6 1t Is a matter of graft
hcation to me TO note that we have been
able to check the gradual decrease in
teachers wages. The following are the
average salaries paid in the several
towns, villages and cities.