Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-01-11
down: 70 unIte instead Of dIvIde.


We also need better recognition oil
the value OF professional fitness on the
part of the teachers We want the
| best talent for our children and in most
| cases we can afford to pay the price
the best demands. Careful distinc
| tion should be made between the best
and the second best. A premium has
often been put on incapacIty by pay
ing the beginners the same salary as
the experienced and trained teachers
There is pressing need Tor better
| equipped school rooms. The eiiicien-
cy of any workman is dependent to
great extent on his tools. Economy
| in many cases has been carried so
far that even necessary supplies have
not been furnished At least. each
| school room should contain a working
| library OF supplementary text books
| for the teachers use.
An association of the county direc-
| tors, beside aiding the progress oil
| schools, would do much to correct the
evils above mentioned. We hope to
| see such an organization established
| this coming year.
In passing 1t may be of interest to
note that our schools are still slightly
below the standard of the larger coun-
| ties of this state, in most subjects, al
though there has been Il decided gain
| in number OF schools, as well as in
the general county average The
reading work is still lamentably poor.
Since this subject is the key to all
learning. we cannot put our La Plata
schools In the front rank. until this
deficiency Is corrected.
Some of the reforms actually accom-.
| plished are AS follows:
| uniform system OF text books has
been adopted throughout the county.
results. there IL every reason to be-
lleye that the system OF uniformity
Will accomplish the desired ends.
Ono result that Is apparent. is the
Uniformity OF common interest Is
| throughout the county. The using on
the same kind of books permits uni
form grading as well as the following
OF definite plan of insruction. in
short 1t has facilitated the admlnistra-
|
one large county system. rather than
a number Of individual districts.
| Our reasons for adopting uniformity
are rs follows:
The fact that large per cent OF
our rural population is floating, and
| that families move several times a
year. from one district to another in
the county. has worked great hardship
TO parents in the matter OF text books.
under the former system OF a different
kind being used In each district.
Confusion In the school room was a
| natural result. Parents after buying
three different sets OF books in few
months. often refused TO buy fourth
The teacher faced two alternatives
She was compelled to hear inuividual
recitations. or allow each child to re-
cite, Notwithstanding the difference in
text books.
Moreover. close supervision by this
Office was impossible A definite
course of study suitable to local CON
ditions. under the above circumstan-
ces could not be followed This In it.
self would seem to be sufficient reason
for the change.
Text books for the first eight grades
are not free throughout the county
While there is something 10 be sa.u
on the other side Of this question. 10
cal conditions are such and circum-
stances Indicate that, at present our
schools will make progress under the
free textbook policy.
Eight rural school houses have been
built this year. Four of these are con-
| structed on the modern hygienic plans
| and fitted up Wiz. the latest improve
ments. In addition. one school build
ing has been entirely remodeled.
Three other schools have added one
room each. Several schools have in
| creased the length of their terms.
Our monthly teachers meetings
have passed beyond the experimental
stage. The interest the teachers
indicate by their attendance. In the
majority Of cases, is gratifying. The
general rule established is that teach
ers attend each meeting II possible,
but at least once In three months For
convenience. the teachers meet In two
sections. the young and inexperienced