Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-03-22
ANNUAL REPORT
OF CITY SCHOOLS
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Continued from first page.)
week This work has been conducted
by high school teachers. If Satisfac-
tory results are to be obtained in
gymnasium work, it requires the direct
supervision of competent teacher as
much as any study undertaken in the
high school 1t is matter of regret
that systematic gymnasium work can
not now be required of all our high
school students. This is impossible
at the present time because our teach
ing force is inadequate to give it the
required amount of time.
High School Athletics.
High school athletics during the
past year have been unusually pros
porous. Teams have been maintained
in football, basketball, baseball and
track athletics, and a creditable show
ing has been made in each. In all
cases the rules regarding scholarship
and attendance required by the Wis
consin Interscholastic association to
which nearly all of the stronger
schools of Wisconsin belong, have
been strictly enforced.
High School Ranks Well.
As regards the general condition of
the high school the State High School
Inspector, after visiting the high
school this year, writes as follows:
"Great progress has been made dur
ing the past year. The teachers are
working together tremendously, with
enthusiasm and earnestness. They
seem we'll prepared for the work in
hand The new building ranks with
the best in the state; convenient,
artistic, and in every way adapted to
its purpose.
Best Teachers Hired.
With the Introduction of music,
drawing and elementary manual train
ing into the graded schools, the work
becomes more complicated. 1t re-
quires greater skill and executive
ability on the part of the teacher to
properly coordinate and carry on the
work.
The Board of Education has very
wisely insisted in the hiring of teach
ers for the work of the grades that
they have the training for their work
represented by graduation from state
normal school or some other school o.
at least equivalent standing. While
special preparation alone, in teaching
does not always guarantee successful
teacher any more than special prepar-
alton in medicine guarantees skill
full practitioner, yet it is generally re-
cognized that in the modern school
adequate training counts as it does in
any other profession. Indeed, it
seems to us that strict adherence to
the ideal of adequate preparation for
the work of teaching as represented by
at least graduation from the full
course of state normal school has
done and will do more to advance the
welfare of our schools than any other
one cause, or than all other causes
combined, especially is this true if
the board continues in the future as
it has in the past to encourage those
who are succeeding in school work tc
remain in the employ of this school
system. This becomes more evident
when we Acct that this is growing
city-the size of the grades is increas
ing. At the present time four grades
in our city schools number over fifty
pupils each.
Expansion OF kindergarten System.
During the past year the kinder
garten system has been expanded Sc
that it now comprises three kinder
gartens instead of two as heretofore
Kindergartens are being conducted il
the Sikh and seventh wards on the
west side and in the second ware
on the east side. This has made the
kindergarten more accessible and &
larger number of pupils have beer
reached. The work has been under
the supervision of one who has re
ceived full three years course il
one of the leading kindergarten col
leges in America and who has hat
practical experience in kindergartel
work
Progressive Spirit Shown.
The Board of Education has durin
the past year increased the amount o
ground available for school purpose
in connection with the first war