River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-07-03
Annual School Meeting


meeting. Let me urge every voter
to attend this meeting and to use
his or her influence to insure a
prosperous school for the ensuing
year. No greater duty devolves up
on the voters than this, for upon
our common schools depends the
strength and perpetuity of our free
institutions and the very existence
of our nation.
One of the most important duties
will be the election of one or more
members of the school board. Lay
aside your little ne1g h r
hood misunderstanding and select
only such persons as are particular
~ fitted to act in this capacity.
Some of the required qualifications
are deep interest in the schools,
good Judgment and the necessary
business ability.
A number of districts still en-
ploy the cheapest teachers obtaina-
BILE, to the detriment OF their
schools. It is needless to say, that
seldom if ever do pupils from those
schools complete the Course OF
Study for Common Schools. AS
general thing these teachers do not
possess the personal magnetism
and the necessary educational quail
ifications to hold the older pupils
in school and as a result the latter
become Indifferent, attend 1rregu-
iarly, or probably withdraw from
school entirely, never to return.
One of the most noticeable things
in many of our country schools is
the absence of large boys and girls.
Is this as it should be? THINK
ABOUT IT, PARENTS! Could we but
measure the relative value OF dit
ferent teachers in terms of dollars
and cents, l feel that the cheap
teacher would find no place in our
schools, for if it were found that a
$40 teacher can accomplish twice
the work that $50 teacher can, no
intelligent person would be willing
to pay $50 for the same amount of
work that could be secured for $40.
Owing largely to the fact that more
remunerative employment can be
obtained in other lines, it is very
difficult to get a sufficient number
of teachers to fill our schools.
There are about Us county certifl-
Gates and at least Is state. certifi-
Gates Of different kinds in force in
the county, while we need about $50
teachers; yet we have experienced
a considerable difficulty in supply
ing all the schools. Let us hope
that ample provision will be made
so that your school board will not
be handicapped by a lack of funds.
The income from the county fund
the coming year will be about equal
to the amount received from the
state fund this year, and the next
state fund apportionment will be
fully equal to the last.
Some districts instruct their
boards to employ female teacher
during a portion of the year and
male teacher during the rem ainder
of the year. This proves very I'M
satisfactory. No teacher of ability
wishes to take a school during a
part of the year knowing that she
cannot complete the years work,
even though she is a successfu
teacher.
The buildings in many districts
need immediate attention. Every
voter should make it his personal
business to examine into the condi-
ton of all of the buildings on the
school premises. If this is done |
feel that no further suggestion from
the county superintendent will be
necessary.
The text books used in many of
the districts are entirely out of
date and should be changed for
more modern books. Nearly one
fourth of the districts in our county
now furnish free text books. I have
had personal conversations with
teachers, members of school boards
and patrons in most of those dis
tricts, and the general verdict is
that the plan is far more economi-
cal and more satisfactory in gener-
al than the old plan. Hear what
the state superintendent has to say
on this and other subjects in his |
annual meeting circular, copies of |
which will be sent to the clerk of
each district
Many of the adverse conditions
under which our country schools
are now laboring may be overcome
by consolidation of schools and the
transportation of pupils to these
central schools. A number of our
small districts will probably close
their schools the coming year and