Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-15

Respectfully submitted.
6. w. HENDERSON, Chm.
VIM. DOWNING.
T. j. COOPER, Sec.
1t was moved that this report be
received, placed on file and spread
On minuteS.-Carried.
REPORT OF SUP'T OF SCHOOLS.
To the Honorable, the County Board of
Supervisors of Wood County, Wis.
submit to you my fourth annual report as
as required by Art. 5, Sec. 4oI, r. S. of
1903.
The total number of children of school
age as shown by the town clerks reports for
the year ending June 80, 1902, was o,I6o
CThis does not include the town of Milla-
dore as the clerk of that town made no
report.)
During the past year held three series
of examinations at which 1871 applicants
were present. Besides this number
transferred three from other counties and
countersigned two diplomas.
The receipts and disbursements of the
institute fund are as follows:
Balance on hand at date of last report. s. SO 81
Received from applicants for Ger
tificateS and counterSigning diplomas. 1876 90
Total. " S205 81
Paid for printing for Institutes S 10 60
To G. o. Banting, services and expense. 107 40
To ROSalla BOhrer, expense ........... 26 %
To G. NJ Mnahan janitor services. 800. 10 90
To 1ncidentals. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2 90
Total. -. S159 25
poln hon 39c 10
During the past year we had six
teachers meetings and one three weeks
institute at which g were in attendance.
| believe more benefit is derived by the
teachers from attending these meetings
than from any other source, and for less
time and expense. School boards should
insist upon having their teachers attend.
One hing that is doing much to stimu-
late teachers and pupils in the rural
schools to do better work is common
school graduation. During the past year
| issued diplomas to 80 young people who
are now continuing their work upwards,
where otherwise they would probably
have dropped out several years ago.
There are at present five deaf mutes
and one blind child in the county, of
school age. The names of the parents of
these unfortunate children have been sent
to the superintendents of the proper in
situations where they should be sent to
school. have made personal visits to
all but one of these children and believe
all but one are receiving instruction. Here
is class of people that must be educated
and | therefore urge you to assist the
county superintendent in inducing par
ents to send these children to the proper
schools.
The last year has seen many improve
ments in the buildings and grounds in
many districts. Three new districts were
formed: No. 3, Cary; No. 5, Rchfield;
and No. E, Rock; so that there are now %
districts, employing 1872 teachers. The
city of Marshfield voted for another new
building; Nekoosa built an addition of
two more rooms; Lindsey added another
room; Dist. No. E, Sigel, built a nice,
modern school house; and joint No. d,
Seneca, voted to build a modern brick
school house. The plans for this are
now being made. The following have
each added more teachers: Marshfeld
city, one; Nekoosa, one; Lindsey, one;
and Port Edwards, one. There are at
present nine graded schools, so that
Wood county stands at the head in these.
Besides this yards have been graded and
trees planted in nearly every one. believe
there is only one double clubhouse leftin the
county, so in less than four years have
succeeded in removing over fifty of these
nuisances and had them replaced by a
separate building for each sex. School
boards are also beginning to be convinced
that fresh air is necessary, not only to
life and health, but to good work as well,
for many schools have put in the system
of ventilation which have been urging
upon them. This should be in every
school house.
With the exception of very few the
schools of this county are we'll supplied
with apparatus. Here and there is one
that needs a reading chart, globe or
some maps. The one thing that there is
the greatest scarcity of, is blackboards.
Most boards have been very ready to
respond to my suggestions, however, and
have done we'll. The tools have been pro-
Vlded, so that my successor may give
more time and attention to their use than
! could.
Though the instruction has been very
fair as whole, there are still many poor
teachers, who, however, are the best that
could be secured for the wages paid. | am
in hopes, however, that as farmers learn
that the oheapest-which is generally the
poorest-s very often the dearest, they
will awaken to the fact that a good
teacher at from $40 to $50 month is by
far cheaper than poor one at from SIS
to $50. Many schools have realized this
already.
During the past year made 1877 visits
to schools and have been at work getting
a better system of records and reports,
14rhich hn11,a1zar iS ,rlstod