Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-15
WANTS GOOD WATER.
County Superintendent Dimmitt Rec
ommends Wells at Schools.

County Superintendent Dimmitt Rec
onmends Wells at Schools.
In letter sent out to the board of
directors of the various schools in the
county Superintendent Beniah Dimmitt
favors the putting in of a we'll at each
school that the teachers and pupils
may have pure water. Recommends.
tons are made in the letter touching
upon the heating and ventilation of
schools. The county superintendent
circular is as follows.
ottumwa, Iowa, Sept 0, 1908.
To Boards of Directors
In order to promote and unity the edu-
cational work of the county, to assist in
making better schools, to secure more eff
hcieht work on the part of teachers and
pupils, and to secure a closer cooperation
OF all interested. 1 desire to call your at
tention to the following suggestions:
l. Experience In the county has shown
that schools which begin about September
l. and run straight through the school year
With no change of teachers and with vaca-
tion only at the holiday season, are the
best schools. and have the best work by
teacher and pupil.
recommend this to your board.
2. suggest that the board require all
(a) That the school building be made COM
fortably warm throughout by $40 o'clock
tb) That schools be called so that chill
dren be at work promptly at 900 a. M:
close promptly at 1900; be called prompt
ly at 100 p. m. and close promptly at 400
p. M; that only fifteen minutes be the
length of recess, from the time pupils quit
work until they are ready to resume their
study. This has been grossly abused in
many districts.
(c) That no teacher be allowed to enter
upon duties until he has filed certificate
and signed contract with the board.
td) That teachers give careful attention
to use, care and records of library books.
(e) That teachers daily observe carefully.
the heating, lighting and ventilation of the
school-room; that the school-room be kept
clean from dust; that outbuildings be kept
in Clearly condition and free from OBJ
scene marks and writing: that severe pun
ishment be administered to persons or pu-
pills who are guilty of marking buildings
or furniture
(D That the board withhold the last
months salary of the teacher until all re-
ports are made correctly and complete.
and approved, namely: Classification to
successor, classification report to county
superintendent, and term report to secre-
tary.
find as I visit schools that many re-
ports to successors are not made. and more
than sixty reports have been returned dur
ing the year from this office to teachers
for correction and completion. 1t seems to
me that this should not be permitted. 1
have refused some certificates partly on
this ground. / hope / may have your CO.
operation.
8. In order that schools may start nicely
the board should be prompt in putting the
building in proper condition before the
80
panes. to provide good water. kindling,
fuel. brooms water pals. drinking cups,
blackboards. crayon. and all other necessi-
ties. Oftentimes a school is hindered be-
cause these are not supplied promptly.
4. | desire to urge the necessity of
boards placing strong locks on the doors
and windows of all school buildings A
number of school houses remain open and
unlocked during the year. Damage has
resulted therefrom.
5. / desire to call attention to hardness
and irregular attendance Will you not as
a board pass some resolution or order gov
ernng the same?
6. A number of schols are provided with
impure water, or none at all. children car
rying water as far as a half mile in sew
eral instances. Within the last month 1
have had several people from various parts
of the county protesting against such con-
ditions, and asking how they may seek re-
lief. Every school should have Il well in
good condition. If possible, and / trust ac-
tion will be taken where necessary.
Z. AT the beginning of the school year,
many patrons and teachers have come to
me for advice concerning Textbooks. They
want to know what books they shall use
and | have Invariably stated to them they
must use the books adopted by the board,
and no one has any authority to make any
changes or alterations but the board. But
each year some teachers and parents make
changes without any authority.
l suggest that each board have COM
plete list of the books that are adopted.
written and posted In the school house and
teachers instructed about the same.
The following books are very inferior and
some of them worthless because they We're
printed a quarter of a century ago, viz:
Steele's physiology, eclectic physiology,
Browns physiology. swinton's history,
Barnes history, and some very old edi-
tons of Biographies
The following books are suggested: Ov-
erton's applied physiology. advanced and
intermediate; McMaster's United States
history. and primary history. These are
some of the books about which have had
much inquiry. 1t is to be hoped that this
matter will receive the proper considera-
ton.
s. / hope the library matter will be TAX
en- up promptly that books maybe In the
hands of the children at the earliest pos
sible time.
shall be ready at all times to render
your boards any assistance, in any way
possible. Hoping these suggestions will be
read at the September meeting, / am,
Sincerely yours,
BENIAH DIMMITT,
County Superintendent.