Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-04

Of Easton, Hewitt. Texas, wausau, Berlin.
Maine, Weston. Marathon and the Village Of
Msrathon; District No consists of the town of
Mosiaee, kronenwetter Knowlton, Bergen. FIN.
consists Of the towns OF Rib Falls Cas.el, Wien.
cleveland, Day and the Village of Edgar; Dis
trict No. consists of the towns of Spencer.
Brighten;, Eau pleine. MeMillen. Frankfort,
OF Colby. District No, s, consists of the towns
Of Helton, johnson. Halsey, Rietbroek Ham
burg and the Village of Athens.
In my inspection of sch ools have fouud two
very striking things to which wish to cali your
attention. The work OF the graduates Of the
Marathon County Training School for Teachers
IS tar better than the work OF those who have
not lad special preparation for the profession
OF teiichlnE. During the year l have had The
assistance in the visitation of schools of two
different normal school institute conductors for
school room work found in the schools of he
training school people and the unframed teach
ers excited much comment from them favorable
to our county school Ii is refreshing 10 note
the clean cut. progressive work of the training
school teachers With one or two very notable
exceptions they are doing and have done remark
ably good work and they are repaying several
times over the money we have invested in Them
The best recommendation that can come 10 the
educational work OF this or of any other county
muSt come. thlU1gh the statement that the
tent teachers.
The old fashioned notion that the teacher
makes the school is in every sense true Fads
ana senseless experiments may for time give
us reputation OF being progressive but our true
educational progress must come through
putting into the schools teachers who are able 10
teach wisely and deyelope in our children that
sterling char cter which builds up true Ameri-
can citizenship. They are in charge of GONG
schools at the pressI: time persons who sbould
be dropped from the teaching force They are
time servers Their sole interest in the work "a
certered on the value OF the school order com
ing to them every fourth Friday They have
education enough TO pass the required examin-
a, i, Lane ana when yon give them credit foe that
true educational asset their value is nothing The
money paid TO IN EN- is a woeful wasie of public
10, ds. There would he more real profit in pay
ing them a salary TO keep away f. ON the schools
If they were washing dishes or piling lun,b,r
their successors might be teaching school.
1t takes time to weed out of the teachers who
do not give full value in return for the money
invested in them but il should be the business OF
school officers to see that no new teachers are
admitted to the ranks until their worth is known
The old failures will either die or get Marie in
time and il we closely inspect the the new.
corners we will be safe
The second sticking feature of school con-
ditons is found in the splendid equipment Of The
Marathon County schools. With ye,y few ey
ceptions the local boards provide really every
thing needed for good work Indeed some
boards have carried their enthusiasm too FIR and
of charts. Every school should be provided with
q goVd reading chart which can be purchased
from any responsible school supply house at a
COS ef less than twelve dollars M otLar -
is needed and IS far AS have been able 10 sscers
tain 40 other chart has been recamn ended by
the state superintendent or BY the comfy sinner
intendent. The trouble seems TO come throush
the old complaint Of the persuasive powers OF
agents. IL Is safe rule not 10 purchase supplies
OF any kind from strange agent. His goods, IL
necessary to school work, can be secured at less
ihtn hslf OF the AGENTS price Of reputable bust
,ss hoases.
While economy in school expenditures is 10 be
there Is al excessive economy on
the part of few school boards that Withholds
from the schools nlany things which aight be OF
great benefit and sometimes this very economy
becomes an eNtrayaKance through the waite of
time resulting fron lack OF necessary material.
The schools should os. and marty all OF the
schools ace. supplied With a reasonable amount
OF needed equipment
The report hled IN my Office show that many
districts are in tho habit OF carrying large balnn-
css from year TO year. II seems To- me that u Is
unnecessary for tooool districts 70 carry a larger
amount than IL actually nee led tor schoo ex-
peuses THIS is especially true Of districts having
good buildinEs and a full equipment. The
sI0olnt of money ecessary TO provide the usual
number OF month"; OF school and the nrdf AIRY
expenditures car hs estimated very closely at
the annual meeting and u is constant source OF
trouble and danger TO carry over from year 10
year large sums as balances on hand.
The school fund inc me y double the amount
received last year The county. outside OF the
city, viii receiv s.9 838 49, As the county school
tax to he levied By The county board next No
VEN Der Is basid % these figures and A. the safe
school money wiz be as much next year as Ibis.
IL will bu safe 10 bRure that next year at /, asst
SIS zoo will be reesiyed fr, m these Two sources
by the schools moi including the city OF WaaHaD
Tins will exceed 10y about 49, OO the amount
zsd BY the diEticts from the same sources
during the SCHOOLGIRLS OF 00-lgUl Beeause Of
less facts vefI' material reduction in the
amount Of the district school tax 10 be voted at
annual meeting % July, 1902 can be expected.
In fact some 81 the olders distnsts Of the
county will doubtless have surplus without
raising district ;ix 10 Il 10 be hoped tina.
where this is the case the surplus will be devoted
% more months os school and the employment Of
better teachers.
Finally, gentlsmsn. / desire through the
mod um Of this report 10 express my sincere sp-
prsciation of the tlapy eourtesis extended 10
mo b. this honorable board, bs the school OIL
ce-s. By the teachers and the school patrons Of
the county.
The kindly feeling which exists at the present
tire in all departments OF the education sgs-
TEN Of Marathon county argues we'll for orr
future. AT no time Ia the bis'0ry Of the county
has the outlook been better and we can Coz
gnttulate ourselves upon the very excellent con-
) .tiors existing the present. time.
Dated Wausau Wis Dee 81, 1901
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN z LAMONT.
COanty Superntsndent Of Schools.
Continued next week.