Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-28
Many School Problems Just as
Far From Settlement as In
the Beginning
LEAST ATTENDANCE IN YEARS
The Oldest Educator at Today's ses.
sion Of the Iowa Teachers Associa-
ton Could Not Remember a Con-
vention of Teachers Held Under Less
Favorable Conditions.
special to Times-Republican.


Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 2S.-Today's ses-
sion Of the Iowa Teachers Association
was given over entirely to reminiscent
ces of fifty years of the life of the as
sociation and a half century of pro-
gress in school work in the state; but
the Oldest educator could not conjure
up story Of a convention of teachers
under less favorable conditions than al
the present time. Nottbefore has the
attendance been so small in many
years, yet 1t was expected there would
be larger attendance than usual. The
storm came just at a time when it pre-
vented the teachers from far away por-
tions of the state from coming here
The persons who came to attend the
association meetings are making the
most of it and will carry out the pro
gram with reasonable regularity. This
forenoon was given over to discussing
something of the progress made In
fifty years. a discussion dn papers pre-
semted by DR.. s. N. Fellows, Iowa City;
Superintendent George S. Dick, Red
Oak; Professor Ira c. King, Des
Moines; Miss Libbie Dean, Mt. Pleas
ant; and Miss Emma Fordyce, Cedar
Rapids. In the afternoon the veteran
educator, Henry Sabin. who served
many years as superintendent of pub
lie instruction, had charge of special
program. The sectional and Found
table meetings were commenced today.
One of the first topics suggested to-
day brought out the fact that school
problems, as such. are Just as many
and as irnpprtant, alf as far from set
tlement today4as they were fifty years
ago. The state superintendent has
placed in the hands of the teachers the
annual edition of the Educational Di-
rectory for Iowa, and advance sheets
of his biennial report. It was noted
that the statistics show that a great
many of the school principals and sup
erintendents remain in the work long
time and that the tendency to change
is not great here. More than 120 OF
these are reported in the state as hav-
ing held their present positions ten
years or more, and fifteen are reported
as having been more than twenty years
in one place. One has record OF
thirty-two years, two of thirty-flve
years and one of thirty seven years al
the same place. In the matter of wa
ges the state is making a better show
ing than formerly and yet not as good
as the nation as a whole. The aver
age monthly compensation for male
teachers in Iowa was reported as $37.01
In 1897 and 1t is now reported $4S.24:
the average compensation of female
teachers was seven years ago $31.4 At
and is now 1851. The average com
pensation Of male teachers in the und-
ted States ds reported as $47.55 and TO,
female teachers $3910. Iowa therefore
is above the average In paying male
teachers but below the average In com
pensation for the larger army OF fe'
male teachers. The total paid fol
teachers salaries in Iowa last year was
$6,541,754.
In the informal discussions In the lob
bies Of the hotels there is much talk
heard of future legislation. 1t Is prob
able that the legislative committee OF
the teachers association will be com.
pletely reorganized at this time and
that while the legislature does moi
meet until year from next month
work will be commenced at once In the
direction of securing legislation. Ihe
legislators who will be in authorit,
at the next session are the same ones
who were here last winter and
legislative committee will therefore
have an advantage in knowing the rec
ord and tendencies Of every member
There will be the strongest KIND OF
pressure brought for revision OF the
laws relating to the school year. and I,
is expected the beginning OF the year
will be changed. There will be legis-
lation affecting the method OF determ-
lining the educational quahhcatlon OF
teachers and simplifying the granting
Of certificates. The attention OF the
legislators will be called to the great
need for something to better the rural
schools of the state and to bring them
up to higher standard. to reduce the
number of schools and increase the
average attendance, and to provide TO.
longer tenure for the teachers in the
rural schools.
It is known that State Superintend-
ent Riggs, who is now completing his
first year in office is in favor of the
tendency to decrease the number OF
country schools. Superintendent Bar
rett. his predecessor. made almost
fad of school township Capitalization:
Superintendent Riggs will work for
school district consolidation wher-
ever practicable and in the direction OF
lessening the number of rural schools
It is all the same thing in essence and
the teachers of the state will back UP
the movement to the finish.
Professor It. E. Savage. of the state
geologic survey is arranging to send
o,,t TO high schools of the state boxes
of geologic specimens, found in Iowa
and samples of stones and other ma
terials gathered by the survey men