Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-02-26


small extent the benefits derived from
q we'll planned and we'll msintained
drainage system. ssAll have accom-
plished my purpose.
Capitalization Of Rural Schools.
Address Delivered by Supt. BsverldAe
Before the Farmers Institute
After few preliminary re-
marks by way OF introduction
Mr.. Beveridge said:
At almost every turn in life we
observe some change. The farm
er puts the grain of corn in the
furrow, covers it with earth, and
soon by the warmth of the sun
lshine and moisture of the shower
the blade comes peeping through
the ground, then comes the tassel,
then the corn in the full ear and
then harvest time. The meadow,
laterly "hrown and scar" will soon
take on it's green mantle.
Not all change is progress; but
all progress comes through
change LESS than century ago,
in the heat Of midsummer the
farmer cut his grain with the
sickle, and the busy housewife, a
d'ligent helpmata, kneeling bound
tho sheaf. How different now
when ha usesthe self binder! The
ia. mer NO longer uses the wooden
pillow as If old, but comfortably
seated ON his eaug or steam pillow
sees from two to six fnrrows
turned where one WAS turned be-
fore; he no longer gees three
times across the ti-ld to plant one
row OF corn, but plants from two
to four rows every time he crosses
the field.
1t has been said that the edaca-
,ional growth in country can
we'll be judged by it's material
development Now, can those of
you who are spending your life on
the fa' m cay, in sincerity, that
the development Of rural schools
has kept pace with the material
developments i'm our country :?
How much do tho rural schools of
To-day differ from those of gem
GRAFTON ago? What specific
changes can you mention that
have been for the betterment Of
the school in your own district
within the last generation? Ii
would not take you long to an
swer these questions. Is it not
true that in many places the rural
school building is inadequate,
poorly ventilated, poorly bnilt,
nnfavorably located and SUR
rounded bv cherries play
grounds? 1 know personally of
not few such buildings, where
the school ma'am would have to
wear rubber boots to the school in
order to enter upon the duties Of
the day dry shod, and then she
would have only two or three
pupils.
Here he gave many other spe-
citic instances, acknowledged the
excellent work that some rural
school teachers we're doing, allud.
ing to these teachers as self sac
rificing individuals, etc. He then
said:
Perhaps you are thinking that
conditions are not 80 bad as repre-
scented. Let US call your atten-
ton to some facts gleaned from
the report of the State Superin-
tendents report for 1900 In this
year in Iowa seventy Independent
and 263 sub districts had an at
tendance of less than five pupils;
5O2 independent and 2O75 sub
districts had an attendance of less
than ten pupils. In the first 1913
districts mentioned this cost of the
teaching force alone would be
about six dollars rer month per
pupil; in the 2577 districts it
would be about three dollars per
month. In the first instance this
is more than four times the cost
of the teaching force per pupil in
the public school of Missouri
Valley, including the high school;
lilo the second instance it is more
than twice the cost of tuition per
pupil in your own city, based on
enrolment.
Another lamen!able fact is
that of the 2l,O34 teachers
licensed in Iowa in 1900, 1850
had no experience in teach
ing; 1928 held third grade
certificates. This grade of
certificate was virtually issued
under the protest of the State
Superintendent since he advised
county superintendents not to
issue third grade certificates ex-
cept 10 cases where it is unavoid-
able to supply the schools. This
means that over seven thousand
individuals we're licensed to teach
school in Iowa in 1900, who had
not even knowledgeto teach those
branches which are most element
ary, to say nothing of the fact
these persons knew nothing of
Il L.