Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-05
COUNCIL BLUFFS
TEACHERS FINISH SESSIO N
One ThOuiapd and HiDS Register During
the convention.
BREAKS ALL RECORDS OF ASSOCIATION
state superintendent Riggs Treats OF
the Great waste Through the En-
pIoymeBt of Cheap and In
competent Teachers.

The feature of the closing session OF the
meeting OF the Southwestern Iowa Teach
ers' association wes the address OF Hon
John f. Riggs, state superintendent OF
public instruction. who took his subject
Waste in Education" Mr.. Riggs strongly
decried the custom Of employing immature
and inexperienced teachers and the pay
ment Of small salaries, which prohibited
the engagement OF experienced educators
in the rural schools. He said in part:
For thu last school year Iowa expended
over SlOOOO,OOO on Its public schools. While
the amount Is supendous, 1t will be re-
wealth and OF vast resources. and few there
are who object TO the payment OF millions
Indeed, in thousands OF districts in the
state much greater expenditure would be
wlInngiy undertaken could the people know
improved schools. II is not the amount that
is spent on the public schools of this com
genders opposition; II is the feeling that
much OF this vast sum Is not effectively
educational problem that wish to address
my remarks.
The great problem In mechanics is to re-
duce the resistance to the minimum In
order that the waste of energy may be the
least possible. The reason for division Of
waste of energy and to secure the maxi
mum OF efficiency.
The success OF an industrial enterprise
its administration, and economy Of adj
ministration does not mean the expenditure
enterprise on it's feet The whole problem
is the return to be secured from the ex
penditure, and not the amount OF the ex-
penditure. Now, in this great enterprise
of popular education in Iowa we spend
annually slO,OOo,OOo The problem is not
much how TO reduce the aggregate of
the expenditure az how to secure a greater
return from the expenditure.
waste In Economy.
Anyone at all conversant with the public
schools win not question for a moment
that there is enormous waste. And what
may seem paradoxical, much Of this waste
results from an effort to economic.
All persons are influenced by their en-
vironment. Particularly is this true of
children. since they are more susceptible
lives. Both the aesthetic I and moral life lie
OF the child IL starved IN a Cheerless en-
vironment while beautiful surroundings
minister silently to the beautiful and noble
in life. So the economy that denies the
children the best school environment is a
false economy and is Withholding that
school is never at its best while pupils
and teacher are strange. 1t requires con-
for the new teacher to know the real status
OF the pupils as to advancement in sub
ing this time the work IS O not o up to its
maximum Of efficiency, and, in conse-
quence. there is waste OF energy. Now, II
this breaking-in process must be gone
through with three times n year. as hap
pens in hundreds of schools. II will readily
be seen that waste from this cause alone
is very great. But the greatest waste re-
sulting from poor salaries and frequent
change Is In the certainty that some Of the
time poor and inefficient teachers will be
employed. 1t can scarcely be otherwise.
For. where poor salaries are paid the
teacher who succeeds will soon find employ
Thent In the town or city. or in some other
part OF the county. where good wages pre-
VAL y. $50 teacher tea, may be held term or
menting with new and uutried teachers
goes on continually. and It must happen
sometimes that inefficient and incompetent
persons are employed. for there are. un-
fortunately, many such persons masdue-
rsd,ns as teachers In Iowa today. When
spent to maintain the school is worse than
wasted. And so the economy that cuts
tent with the most meager school eouIp.
ment and that denies needed improvements
IN school house and grounds leads In.
evitably to great waste and irreparabl
loss for the children.
The attendance yesterday morning was
unprecedented for the closing session OF
the annual gathering, the total enrolment
Tor the entire meeting reaching the 100
mark.
Ohicers for the ensuing year, the list
being that submitted by the nominating
committee, were elected as follows:
President-Superintende j. H. Bever
ldge, Missouri Valley.
Vice Presldent-Miss Vermont Reynolds
Secretary Miss Ella Chantry count,
superintendent, Greenfield, Adair county
Chairman Executive Committee-Superin
tendent Charles NJ Cole, Atlantic.
Railroad Secretary - II. S. Ash count
superintendent, Bedford, Taylor county.
The resolutions adopted yesterday morn
ing included complimentary illusions {
Superintendent w. N. Clifford and Principa
Thomas OF this city. chairmen OF the execu
tive and local committees respectively
President II. II. Savage. the citizens VIII
opened their homes to the visiting teacher
and the school directors OF the various dis
tricts who allowed teachers leave OF ali
sence with pay so that they could atten
, the Meeting