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

position to know the peculiar character
lstics Of both teachers and schools an
hence may be Of help TO both. In too
many districts no preference is given 10
teachers of higher qualifications in the
matter of wages, with the result that
many teachers say that they cannot get
more on first grade certificate than on
a third grade. Greater intellectual COM
potency, together with extended success
fui experience in the school room, should
command the highest wages in the
pedagogical market"
TEACHERS EXAMINATIONS.
Since my last report have conducted
five public examinations, at which l62
applicants were examined. OF this Num-
Der Z received a first grade, 10 a second
grade and 81 a third grade. Flfty-hye
applicants, or about "a per cent Of the
whole number, failed to get any certih-
cate. Eight third grade certificates were
granted at private examinations; one first
grade, two second grade and three
third grade certificates on Normal stand
ings, and five second grade and three
third grade certificates on transferred
papers. Two high school diplomas were
countersigned
/ am pleased to state that the body of
our teachers have caught the spirit Of
advancement and are working earnestly
to meet the new conditions.
ORGANIZATION.
Most of our teachers are now making
an earnest endeavor to organize their
schools according to the course of study,
with varying success, and in many dis
tricts they have succeeded in instilllng in
their pupils desire to complete the
course. The last diploma examinations
were held on two successive Saturdays
in March and were conducted by high
and graded school principals and others
holding no less than d first grade certi-
ticate. At these examinations twenty
five applicants were successful and re-
ceVed the reward for their diligence at
the Central Graduating Exercises held in
May. These exercises are becoming an
important factor in our educational work
and are proving great sttmulant to
younger pupils. The so so generously
appropriated by your honorable body at
your last session were duly expended and
the vouchers for the same are on file ih
my office. / urgently recommend that
the same sum be appropriated for the
coming year.
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
A teachers institute of two weeks
duration was held at the Ellsworth High
School building on August 5-16, inclusive,
with Profs. ]. f. Sims, A. l.. Thomson
and G. j. Brewer, and the county super
intendent as conductors. We had an en-
rollment of ia with an average daily at.
tendance of l0t. One conductor was fur
nished by the state and two were paid
from the county institute fund. In my
fourteen years experience as teacher and
superintendent | have never before seen
so large a body of teachers, by united
effort, accomplish so much in so short a
time as our teachers accomplished at this
| institute. 1t was the universal verdict of
the teachers in attendance that 1t was
the best institute in the history of the
county and their work at the examina-
tons and In the schools since then bears
out the statement.
r.r,rN rsrsYrlNr,
AT the last session of our state legisla-
ture provision was made for granting
special state aid to graded schools ia
1 districts having no high schools. AS a
result a three-departmeGt graded school
has been established at Plum City and Il
| two-department school at Rock Elm. In
addition to these the two department
schools at Maiden Rock, Olivet, Belden-
vile and Fargo have awaited. themselves
of the increased advantages. 1t is hoped
that many more districts in the county
will relieve their Congested condition by
establishing graded schools. Spring Val
ley has, during the past year, established
a three-year high school.
SUPERVISION.
As before stated, one of the crying
needs of our schools Is closer supervision.
This gtfieiency of our schools is depend
ent upon no other agency to the extent
that it is on those who supervise them. l
am convinced that of ali agencies con-
Cerned In our school system there Is the
greatest difference in supervision between
the present conditions and the limit of its
possibilities and hence is susceptible or
the greatest Improvement. This is espe-
cially true in our country schools. The
amount of time required to properly
supervise the schools of so large a county
as Pierce Is entirely out of proportion to
the time at the disposal of the county
superintendent for this purpose. The
large amount of office work In the nature
OF preparation for examinations mark
ing papers, making out the returns and
records and correspondence of a various
nature, takes up so much of the time
during which the schools are in session
that little time remains in which to in
spect schools, and what available time d
superintendent has for visiting comes at
a time of the year when 1t does the least
good. In order to be effective school
vistations should occur shortly after the
| opening of the school. so the superin-
tendent may assist the teacher in the or
ganizatinn of the school, making out the
program and many other related matters
A competent deputy county superintend-
ent should be appointed who could do the
greater portion OF office work and thus
give the superintendent an opportunity
to spend most Of his time In the schools
CONCLUSION.
The question which should constantly be
before the people is. How may we unite
our efforts to raise our country schools
to such a plane that our citizens need not
relinquish their comfortable homes in
the country for the purpose of moving to
the villages or cities to educate their
children? We have reasons to feel proud
of the standard which our schools have
attained and II viii be my constant aim
not only 20 maintain that standard, but
to be pressing ever onward and upward.
| wish most earnestly to thank your
& 4 raNsf IL 49, . H.
couragement which you have given me
in the past, and l hope that my conduct
of this important office In the future may
be such as TO merit a continuance Of your
confidence and support
Very respectfully yours,
A. ]. INGLI
County Superintendent.
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