Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-06
in THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD
A REVIEW OF OUR VERNON COUNTY
SCHOOL AFFAIRS.
Facts. Figures. Comments and Recon-
mendations From Superintendent
Gardner's Annual Report.

In his annualreport to the county board
OF supervisors Superintendent Gardner
makes lenghthy and intelligent show
ing of school affairs for the county. He
reviews the past and offers substantial
recommendations for future upbuilding
of the peoples colleges" the common
schools. He says there were two new
school houses built the past year, one in
Stark and the other W Wsbster. He says
there has been a liberal spirit on part of
the people pertaining TO school expenses;
every year places of educational train
Ing are made more cheerful, warm and
comfortable, better furniture, appara-
tus and books, but adds I'VE still have
districts where the latest improved ma
chinery Is used on the farm, where the
dwellings are comfortable and we'll fur.
nished, put the school house is the same
cold, dingy shell, furnished with the
same uncomfortable board seats and
perhaps using the same kind of text
book that their grand parents used a
naif'century ago. am glad to say,
however, that these districts are few.
The law gives the superintendent and
chairman OF the town power to condemn
such places, but such stringent exercise
OF power has not been resorted to.
The report shows that there was held
the past year, one institute attended by
2OO teachers, conducted by four instruct
ors, three of them paid by the state. By
the provisions of the new law the insti-
tute fund for our county has been eur
tailed 80 per cent Applicants for GER
tlhcates TO the number of 25T wrote dur
ing the year; 221 received certificates.
superintendent Gardner calls atten-
tion to the new law providing for conven-
tion of school district officers, and COM
mends the system, and says one or more
of such meetings will be held later in
the season, when people are more
Tree from other pressing work. Also re-
fers to the law directing county treas.
urer to withhold ten cents per capita
from state school fund income for libra
ry fund. he also goes into the matter
OF proper ventilation of school buildings,
stating that it Is very detrimental to
the health of students, insufficient ven
tliatlon, and gives precautionary infor-
nation on this point.
The financial and statistical portion of
the superintendent's report shows the
following conditions: Number of dis
tricts in the county 154, number of
schools maintained 101, teachers reuuir-
cd 300, male teachers in the rural schools
average, $S5.47; salaries of male teachers
In city and graded schools $S2 36; wages
Of lady teachers in rural schools 800. n:
salaries OF same class in city and graded
schooles $39. 20; number of sc .ool child
rem In county between ages Of 4 and 20
years, 10, 367; number between and 90
who enrolled in school 1900; number of
children between Z and Ii in county
8, 1856; number between and IA who at
tended school 90 weeks 3,303; the
number months school taught 1870;
number high schools in county J; num-
ber of graduates from common and
graded schools ia.
There was received from all sources
into the several school treasures of Yer
non county the past year $110, 357, 81;
paid out for buildings and repairs sc. 277-
10; for apparatus 81, 064 So for services
OF male teachers 81, ,5SS. 80; salaries of
female teachers $43 76S so; paid on old
indebtedness 81, 063 "a; for new furni.
ture VI, 303 az; salaries of district clerks
vi, Oo5 .99; all other expenses for schools
flb, 90; totat amount of expenditures
$50, 26S 95, with balances remaining un-
expended and in district treasures $24,-
900 ~
In conclusion the superintendent com
ments; I'm large system of nearly
400 schools like we have in this coun-
~, we can not reasonably expect or
hope for any radical change to occur in
any one year. If we can assist in stim-
ulating educational interests so as to
improve the efficiency Of our schools
from year to year, we will build up a
good and permanent system. A steady,
healthful growth is better than radi-
cal change which is liable to lead to re-
action. If | may Judge from the in
creased interest of the school boards in
hiring teachers the numerous improve
ments in buildings, grounds and equip
ment, | am justified in saying that our
schools are In healthful, progressive
condition"
Throughout the report and comment
OF Superintendent Gardner are worthy of
the stea East, earnest spirit he has man
ifested daring his past terms of service