Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
ELECT SCHOOL DIRECTORS
ANNUAL SCHOOL MEETING HELD MONDAY
Superintendent Youker's Report of the Condi.
tioa of City Schoos-Number OF Pupils
Attending The Grades.

the proceedings. Dr. A. l.. Rldgman
was elected chairman and H. S.
Youker secretary. Minutes of the
last annual meeting were read and
approved after which Guy Nash.
school treasurer, read his annual
report which will be published in full
next week.
On motion the chairman appointed
the following committee to examine
the treasurer'S report, cancell and
destroy the orders, and publish the
report of their findings: T. A. Taylor,
w. Drumb and f. J. Wood. The
commissioners were then elected for
the ensuing year as follows:
First ward-E. P. Arpin, one year:
". Fl. Reeves, two years.
Second ward-A. L. FontaiLe, two
years.
Third ward-T. A. Lipke, two years.
Fourth ward-T. a. Taylor, two
years.
Fifth ward-Cco. ". Paulus, two
years.
Sixth ward-E. Oberbeck, two years.
Seventh ward-Dr. T. X. POmain-
vile, two years.
Eighth Ward-Guy Nash, two years.
Superintendent FL. S. Youker read
his annual report which was ordered
spread upon the records and we hereto
publish it in full as follows:
| 1t is a pleasure 10 report that work
in the various departments of our
| public schools has gone on without
inter ruption during the past year.
There is little that is new or startling e
report. The teachers in the various
departments co-operated Loyalty and
efficiently TO make the work Of the
much of whatever success that has
been achieved is due.
There are few cities in Wisconsin
which have a teaching force, which
| i'll thoroughness of preparation and
efficiency in the school room are equal
to or superior to our own. There are
none who have corps of teachers
more Loyalty devoted 20 their work.
In the regular work of the school
room, the usual efforts have been con-
t1nued by means of teachers meetings
| and individual conferences. to secure
a gradual Improvement in the regular
! work of the school. For however ef-
ficient the work may have been, the
movement should, of course, be to-
w dl Stlll DelteI tHlnSS.
The supervisors of music and draw
ing have each been given half Of their
time for the supervision of the work
III their departments instead Of one
quarter of their time as heretofore.
The additional time given has ma
terially improved the work, and it is
earnestly recommended that at least
as much time be given to the super
vision of this work the coming year.
These studies have culture value as
we'll as a practical utility, which no
good school can afford to lose. No
community should deprive it's children
OF these advantages which can be
secured at cornDaratively small cost.
The work Of the kindergartens has
been continued, one kindergarten
having been maintained on each side
of the river. 1t is to be regretted that
our director was, On account OF sick
ness, obliged to leave us. It has been
especially Difficult to fill this position
at this season Of the year, but we
hope it may be done Soou so that the
efficiency Of the work in this depart
ment'may not be impaired.
Il is earnestly recommended that
the work Of the kinderg artens be con-
tinued and expanded as circumstances
permit. The kindergarten furnishes
motor and an ethical training the
value Of which the educational world
recog more today than ever be-
fore. In the large cities, the educa-
t1ondi centers plans are under way
for the opening of additional kinder
gartens. Many smaller cities in all
parts Of the country are following in
their paths. 1t is part Of an educa-
ton movement world wide at the
present time.
Educators everywhere are coming
TO realize that this motor training z
furnished by the occupations and
games of the kindergarten should be
extended, by means of industrial edu-
! cation and manual training through
| the work of the graded and high
school. There are few progressive
school systems in which something
has not been done in this line. 1t is d
| pleasure to report that during the
| past two years beginnings have been
| made IN this work in our schools, in
| the grades following the kindergarten.
1t Is hoped that more may be done
along this line Of industrial work in
the grades in the near future, that it
may be systenatized and made d part
of the regular school work. 1t is
hoped that d beginning be III ade n the
line OF manual training proper. This
| is work which can be begun in d small
way aud te> ted, without involving a
large initial expense for equipment.
In every educational paper, in every
meeting of teachers or supcrinten-
dents wherever educ ltors discuss
educational prot lens. this subject of
manual training is being considered.
1t is to be part of our public school
system in America in the near future
aud it is to be hoped that the time is
not far distant when we may be in
line with this work
We are coming to realize that we
need to give our pupils an all around
training which makes this line of
work almost necessity. The child
is a bundle of activities. These ac-
tivities should in his training, be di-
rected to definite end. 1t serves to
bring the child more in touch with
the work in which he will live 1.
interests and holds in school longer a
class of boys and girls who otherwise
drop out of school too young to have
received the full benefit of the educa-
! tional advantages offered by our pub
| lie schools.
! Another line of work which has
| been emphasized in the schools of
Wisconsin the past few years, is that
of library reading. We are coming to
realize that ore of the most valuable
things which the Schools can give to