Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-11-18

the year 80 28916
have attended public school ...... 1923
No. of children attending private
school during the year........... 606
SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY.
Grant County is divided for school pur
poses into two hundred twenty school dis
tricts, embracing thirty-three towns, eight
Incorporated villages, and three cities.
There are twelve free high schools, eleven
having a tOur-ye ar'S course, and one having
a three-year'S course.
graduates from the high schools of Bos-
cobel and Lancaster are admitted to the
State University, without examination, for
all courses except the Ancient Glass CAL
Graduates from the Fennimore high school
are admitted to the German, English and
Scientific courses,
The other high schools are gradually
meeting the requirements, and all will soon
be accredited by the University for several
courses.
There were graduated from these schools
this we r, thirty-six gentlemen, and sixty
two ladies, many of whom will enter at once
upon the profession of teaching without
further preparation
1t would seem to be reasonable policy on
the part of patrons and school officers to en-
courage prospective teachers to take.
Normal Course. since the opportunities Tor
such are so ample and convenient. Persons
graduating from high school may COM
plete the NJ rnal Course il two years. This
secures Life Certificate, and higher de-
gree of culture, training and ability.
There are nine graded schools, Livingston,
having three departments, and Arthur, Bag
ley, Blue River, Georgetown, Glenhaven.
Patchgroye Sitter. and Union School, of
Lima, each having two departments. By
recent law, these schools may receive state
aid on complying with certain requirements,
which are only necessary conditions which
ought to exist in every public school
NUMBER OF TEACHERS EMPLOYED.
The twelve city and village schools, each
of which eliminates in a high school de-
partment, employ one hundred two teach
ers; the nine graded schools employ twenty
teachers; the one hundr ed ninety nine rural
schools of one department each, employ one
hundred ninety-nine teachers; making to-
tai of three hundred twenty-one teachers at
work when all the schools are in session.
No other county in the state has so many
teachers under the supervision of the
County Superintendent, Dodge County with
two hundred thirty-three teachers. being
next in number.
SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.
qhe inspection and supervision of schools
is an important part OF the work OF this Of
fee and the large number of schools, and
the great distance to travel in order to reach
them make it impossible to do the work at
these visits as thoroughly and systemmat-
ically as required by law. (See Section 461,
Subdivisi on 2, of School Law)
During the winter months travelling was
made di ticult by blocking SHOWS, yet. COM
paratively few schools were omitted and
the work of some three hundred teachers
was inspected, and advice and suggestions
given to both teachers and school boards.
CAPABLE TEACHERS SHOULD BE EMPLoYED
FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
It is a matter of regret that many districts
change teachers several times during the
school year. Everv. change of teacher oc-
caSionS much loss of time and effort on the
part of both teacher and pupil.
An efficient and capable teacher should be
ENGAGED for the entire year; the Board
should visit the school; assist and support
him in it's organization and manae ement;
and. unless absolutely necessary, no change
of teacher should be made during the. year.
These changes also work much confusion
in the School Records, and make it next to
impossible for the District Clerk to make
correct report OF his school to the Town
CLERK at the end of the school year. Many
Town Clerks can testify to the truth OF this
assertion.
GRADUATION OF PUPILS.
Section 439 of the School Law says:-"The
Board shall have power to make all needful
ruieS and regulations for the organization,
graduation and government of said school
1t is suggested that in no other way can
District Board improve and elevate the
character and standing of their school than
to require their teacher to begin, as soon as
practicable, to grade the school according
to directions given in the Manual of the
Course of Study, and to make and continue
a compl, t record of the work of the school,
so tina the records may show, at any time,
the Form, Glass and Standing OF any mem Der
of the school,
Harvev's Register is best adapted to this
work, and may be procured at nearly all
bookstores. The recent change in the School
Law requiring country pupils to complete
schools at the expense of the town in which
they reside. makes It especially desirable to
make it possible to give them the proper
training to accomplish that end.
The Purchase of Needed Apparatus
and School Supplies.
The schools of the county are fairly well
supplied with the necessary apparatus for
illuStra ing and eXemplifying the work of
the school. The exceptions to this rule make
it necessary to refer to this subject here
Good results in such work cannot be OBJ
tanned without suitable apparatus, and it
can be easily seen that children of schools
not so supplied cannot compare favorably
in scholarship and intelligence with those
of schools well supplied with useful appli-
An ample extent of good blackboard sur
face with crayOn. eraSerS, and pointers,
reading chart for the primary pupils, out
lire maps for geography, and a suitable
elt be are among the necessary working
Tools" of any district school, ana water
pail and wash basin and towels should be
furnished tor neatnesS and healtn.
chart wholly devoted to Reading mat
ter, is very decidedly a help in teaching
primary reading, but no other chart is nee
essarv in the rural school, and District
Boards are urged to refuse to- consider the
purchase of any other chart offered by trav-
cling agents.
School Libraries.
Suitable collections of books for library
purposes are now found in every school. Elk
cellent books experimenting the study OF
geography and history are now within the
reach OF every child, and the best works OF
the best authors are here found. Glasses for
the instruction of teachers as to the best
means and manner of the use of these books
as aids in the regular work of the school are
conducted in the Institutes, and the judiciouS
selection and proper use of these books form
an important factor in the education of the
children. Suitab Q cases should be provided
not only for the preSt rvation of the books
but that they may be easily accessible to the
pupils at all times.
Institutes and Teachers Meetings.
The Annual State Institute was held at
Lancaster July 10th to 22nd. Four of the
be- st conductors in the state were employee I.
The attendance was not large as last year.
buJ the usual results seem to follow in in
creasing interest felt by the teachers in self
Improvement along the lines of their work.
number of teachers meetings were held
on SATURDAYS during the fall and whit er