Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-27
GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM
DR.. j. 2. Brown Congratulates OF
tumwa After Inspecting School.
SAYS MEN TEACHERS ARE THE BEST
He States, However, That the Low
Salaries Keep the Best Teachers
Out of the Observation-Disclosures
With Iowa State University.

[From Saturdays Daily.l
Il often feel. justified in telling repre-
lsentatives of high schools at different
places in Iowa that they have one of
the good schools OF the state, but
feel perfectly safe in saying that OF
tumwa has one of the best schools in
Iowa, and | wish to congratulate the
city upon the excellent system under
which the high school is conducted.
There are two points where criticism
may be made, but generally speaking
the institution is without doubt one of
the best in the entire state"
This statement was made a repre-
sentative of the Courier today by DR..
j. F. Brown, of the Iowa State Uniyer
sity, who inspects the high schools
which are or are about to be accredit-
ed by the university, the object of his
work being to see that the standard
demanded by the institution whose
Representative he is, is observed by all
OF the 210 schools accredited by the
university. He is accepted by educa-
tors throughout the state as an able an
tens of teachings, and his hearty en-
ldorsement of the Ottumwa education.
al institution is a source of pleasure to
all the citizens and especially to the
teachers who devote their time to
making it one of the best" schools in
| Iowa.
! Salaries Too Low.
'In relation to the Ottumwa high
school, said Dir. Brown, there are
two criticisms that may be made In
the first place the salaries paid are
not high enough. Many of the strong
est teachers, and especially the men,
who, think, make the strongest teach
ers, are deserving the profession be-
cause they cannot make enough mon
| ey. This criticism, of course, is gen
eral all over Iowa and applies to other
cities the same as to ottumwa.
Men the Best Teachers.
"The same statement can be made
regarding my other criticism, also, but
can also be taken as regards the OF
tumwa institution in particular. There
are too few men in the schools Of the
state do not by saying this. mean to
criticise the work OF the ability of the
women who teach. Ottumwa has a
good corps OF women teachers and
they do excellent work, as do the ma.
ijority of women who are instructors
but the men teachers are the best for
the students Just when the pupil is
at the age where he receives the last
ing impressions and therefore needs
contact with strong characters, he is
4 thrown among the women and girls in
high school. 1t is very well known
fact that the number of boys in the
schools is very small as compared
with tho number of girls, being often
less than half. In one institution OF
which l know in Iowa, class of TWEEN
ty-two, all girls, will graduate this
year.
More men are needed in the high
schools. However, as I just said, the
strongest men either are leaving the
profession or refusing to adopt it be
cause Of the low salaries. More mon
ley should be paid and more mer
lshould be employed. Ottumwa is
about on the average for the state but
lshould have more men teachers. Ii
this respect Burlington is ahead of this
). CITY,
I Compliments Instructors.
DR.. Brown spoke in very compliment
Cary terms OF "A. w. STUART ana II. U
PIERCE, respectively superintendent o.
1.-THE Ottumwa public schools and prin
cipal of the high school, He attrib
utes the excellence of the school sys
TEN in this city to the tireless work
Iof these two men almost entirely ant
, said that Ottumwa is fortunate in hav
ling so able team of educators il
charge of the local institutions O.
learning.
Spoke to Students.
Yesterday morning at the higl
; school DR.. Brown delivered short ad
, dress to the pupils, touching upon tn,
J educational advantages and resource
, of Iowa and advising a college cours
for high school graduates as the hes
} way to prepare for useful, self-satisfy
: ing lives.