Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-12-08

No. more than 30 less than &c.. "a Is
| No. more than 81, less than Al. 10 10
| No. more than 40, less than 46.. II
No. more than As less than 81. 8
| No. more than So less than So.
| No. more than So, less than G1..
| No. more than GO pupils ...,.... IA
The total cost per pupil in the 16l Depart.
ments of the 12S districts dncluding graded
and high schools during the past year was
SlS.lG, as against Sli23 the year before; in the
in the five graded schools, Sl5.95; in the III
| rural districts Sll96, District No. 10, Miner
al Point sends its pupils to the Mineral Point
city schools.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
| No. school dists. wholly within town SO
| No. of joint school districts 46
| Total No. dists. with school houses ~
in county l29
Number Of school houses 1870
No. days attendance of diff mt pupils Pos
Number of pupils enrolled 1904
Average daily attendance . 3Ol2
No pupils attending private schools 20i
Cost of school houses built dnring yr M,401 80
Cash val. school houses and sites S147,S40 10
No, dists, furnishing free text books s
Number of children incapacitated
for attending school IL
OF the 172 teachers teaching in this county
this year, ~ did not teach within its limits
last year This is greater change in the
teaching forces than last year. Y of these
people have gone to various schools--some to
commercial schools. some to normal schools
and others to the university,
OF the teachers employed last year, were
graduates of the university, % of normals. Z
have completed the elementary course at the
normals others have attended the UNI YER
sity; the remainder have attended the high
schools or other institutions of learning.
But few of those who have gone to the nor
mails this year will ever return to the country
schools. Such is the history of those, who
have gone before Pause moment, please,
and ask yourself why this is so. The County
Training School is solving the problem in the
seven counties of the state, in WHICH they have
the schools will be supplied with teachers
with high intellectual attachments and ideals
worthy of the profession.
We welcome every added dollar on worthy
teachers salary. because it is earned and be-
cause it is needed, but |, for one, do not advo-
cate one cents raise to the already too large
salary Of the unworthy teacher. | mean to pc
representation, generally for political effect,
at this age of the world, seems to run riot. and
some people are inclined to its belief rather
than the truth. "Oh, Inconsistency, thou art a
jewell"
SCHOOL HOUSES. APPARATUS, ETC.
There are 1870 school houses in the 1923 dis
tricts in the county. Rewey having two build
ngs Joint. No4 of Mineral Point and Willow
Springs. has been organized since my last re-
port Fire destroyed the school house and APP
paratus in District No, s. Arena. last winter,
but 1t was soon rebuilt and re-supplied with
We have some of the best country school
houses in this part of the state, and then there
are others. w q nave one log SCLool LOusS, OuV
using the old home made seats, and about a
dozen school houses built from 20 to ~ years
ago. trust that several new school houses
commodous and with modern improvements
will be built next summer
The people of several of the districts of the
county show a eommendable spirit in endeav-
oring to provide better facilities for the edu7
cation Of their children. They realize that the
places where the young people are obliged to
spend so much Of their time should be pleas
ant and comfortable. They feel that their boys
nj tyir shOnli he nnHnr the influence OF
beautiful and cheerful SURROUNDINGS, ana are
willing to make sacrifices in order to provide
them. Iwish that this spirit might prevail
Several school boards seem disposed to pro-
vide the necessary apparatus whlle there are
others that apparently cannot see the need Oh
maps globes. black boards, erasers, window
curtains, etc. Right here, gentlemen, allow
me to say that am of the opinion that every
school room should be equipped with map OF
Iowa county. furnished either by the school
board or at the expense of the county.
The most striking neglect has been observ.
ed in regard to the out,houses;; In very rev
districts they are built together, with the en-
frances on the same side; in few others
there is a common one for the sexes-neither
method being commentaries, Some are al Zap
idated-- door off its hinges, roof Off the siding
partly off the floor unsafe, or the seat broken
and others are positively filthy. nave IN
formed every board where these conditions
existed, and | am glad to say that improve
ments have been made in many cases, while
others seem to be satisfied with the eXlstlue
conditions. IL the morality OF the youth Is 10
be elevated, then the temptations should DC
In my visits thus far this fall. have noted
that during the past summer several dlstrlcl
their school houses. aud built new out houses
and wood sheds Their interest ana labor
must be commended
GRADED SCHOOLS,
Arena, Barneyeld and Ridgeway are state
grsded schools Of the mrs. ea N5 a mn are
state graded schools of the second class; and
receive 500 state aid Joint No. l, Highland;
could be made second class er ,S ssn of ri
concerned The town Of Brigham last sum
ner voted on the question of adopting town
ship high school system The proposition,
however, was lost
LIBRARIES
The school libraries, which are growing up
under the fostering influence. OF the state
library law are potent factors In our present
school equipment, They have done much
toward increasing the efficiency OF instruc-
lon as we'll as being the chief instrume ntal-
ity ia intoxicating lhe habit OF reading whole
| some literature. That the books should be
well cared for no one will deny suitable
cases should be provided lu all the schools,
and they should be large enough TO accom-
MEDIATE the accessions which are made each
year to the library. While "A few districts
have purchased library cases within the last
year, about eight others have no cases-a
| box serving the purpose Of a case,
am glad 60 report that the present town
clerks, with hardly an exception are doing
| all within their power 10 bring about better
results In our libraries.
Believing that there was great need OF
some systematic arrangements In cntaloxing
our libraries So as 10 handle the BOOKS IN tns
| most economical manner, last March lssned
| a circular entitled, Rules and Reg ulatlons
| for Recatalnging the Libraries of Iowa lon1-
| ty.' This circular was sent 70 every toMn,
| village, and city clerk. town, village ana city
treasurer district clerk. member III the
county board. and teacher in Iowa county.
| These persons, with but few exceptions, nave
aided materially i'm making the method .
| success for which | extend my sincere
| thanks. Many Ut the teachers lahoreu tsi ~
and late in cata oging the haaks IL thelr
| Libraries In order to accomplish that which
WAS desired ut the outset. more ahah wv
| personal letters Were written from this Once,
| oy,sr Is, circulars semi out relating 10 the