River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

IL Will be seen from the above that
there were only two towns in the county
that paid an average of less than $50 per
month to their lady teachers. Although
it is gratifying to note that there is
gradual increase, yet any one who wishes
to investigate the matter will find that
the increase has not kept pace with that
in the wages of ordinary laborerS, who
require no special training for their
work, who often have their board in adj
dition to their wages, who have no pro-
fessiOnal meetings to attend and who
often have the opportunity of being en-
ployed during the entire year, while
teachers are employed only from seven
to nine months. The wages of an ord1-
nary labOrer has certainly increased from
% to SO cents per day during the last two
years Have you ever considered that
that means at least $3.50 per month more
than formerly? How many districts in
the county do you suppose are paying
S. so more per month than they did the
previous year? The districts that were
willing to pay fair wages are the ones
that secured our best teachers while
those who paid lower wages have had
a considerable difficulty in getting any
teachers. The erroneous opinion that the
county superintendent is wholly to blame
for the scarcity of teachers is still pre-
valent among some people, while in
reality this is only one of the minor
causes. The real cause for this scarcity
may be found in the general improve
ment in the times whereby it has become
easy to secure employment in other lines
of work at an increase in salary. large
number of our teachers are either at
school, better preparing themselves for
teaching or have gone to work at some
other employment which is more remu-
neratiVe. Another reason for the scarcity
of teachers is the fact that fewer ap-
plicantS take the examinations. During
1899 [ had 202 applicants at the regular
eXamina tons, during 1900 1 had 191, dur
ing 1901 l had 1872 and this year I had only
no. or practically only one-half as many
as during my first year as superintend-
H.
fled teachers. but there is a scarcity OF
available teachers There are now ITO
county certificates in force and there are
at least 30 teachers in the county who
are teaching on state qualifications.
Hence you will see that we have at least
200 certificates in force while we need but
$50 teachers when all departments are
filed While there may be some who
dropped out of the profession of teaching
on account of the increased requirements
for certificates, made by our legislature,
yet the main cause may be found in the
| better inducements which may be had in
other lines of work
TEACHERS MEETINGS.
A teachers institute of three weeks
duration was held in this village during
the past year. During the last few years
wonderful progress has been made in the
institute work in this state by lengthen-
ing the terms, improving the metnodS
and making the work continuous from
year to year. The grading of our schools
has been materially improved since the
teachers have been required to make
careful study of the course of study at
the institutes under the guidance or d
taken deep interest in the various
teachers meetings which is shown py
their faithful attendance at these meet.
ings and the active part which most OF
them take. We have during the past
year held many local meetings and most
of our teachers also attended the North
Western Wisconsin Teachers Association
at Menomonie. Nearly one hundred at
tended the National Educational Asso-
citation at Minneapolis last July
GRADED SCHOOLS.
| At the last session of the legislature
provision was made for granting special
state aid to graded schools. AS re
| suit the Plum City school met the re-
| quirements for a graded school of the
| first class and received $500, while Maiden
| Rock, Rock Elm, Beldenville and Fargo
| schools met the requirements Tor graz
| ed school of the second class and received
| 500 each. This year Bay City and Elm
| wood have established graded scnooI
| of the second class. The above law mas
| proven great stimulus toward better
| ing the conditions in some of our over
| crowded schools and several OF our one
| department schools are now preparing 10
| organize as graded schools.
CONSOLIDATION AND TRANsPoR-
TON.
| OF all the movements which have been
| set in motion during the past rev years
| for the betterment of our country schools,
| that of consolidation Of small districts
| and the transportation Of pupils to cen
/ trail schools will prove of greatest good
| Wherever the plan has been tried it has
| resulted in an increase in attendance OF
| from so to 80 per cent; has in many cases
| decreased the cost and has increased the
4 - l. ynHVxv Fa0
| extent. The limited time forbids my en-
| tering into full discussion of this cues
| ton. but I shall discuss it on a subse-
quent paper on the subject.