The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-12-07
ABOUT SCHOOLS,
Supt. Hoffman Gives US Some
Interesting Statistics.
THE SALARIES ARE HIGHER.
Teachers Are Scarcer. However. and
Some townships Have Difficulties
in Getting Teachers.

In the county superintendent an
nual report to the State Superinten-
dent there are many interesting
things. And this is especially so to
those directly concerned with our pub
lie schools. Considering the amount
of money spent in their support and
the great number of persons employed
in them it is not surprising that this
should be so. Here are some compar-
isons of different items for the years
1900 and 1905.
Total amount spent for schools in
1900, $l62, O94. SO, in 1905 Sl76, BAG. go.
Total amount paid teachers in 1900,
$102, 2O7. 65, in 1905, $122, 62l.55
Total number between S and q
years old in 1900, 7,765, in 1905, 1856.
Average daily attendance in 1900.
8, 642, in 1905 8, 1886.
Average salary of male teachers in
1900, $36.83, in 1905, $54.O1.
Average salary of female teachers
in 1900, $29.97, in 1905, $s5. rs.
Average number of months taught
per year in each district in 1900 8.4.
in 1905, SO. Value of apparatus taught
in each district in 1900, SIS, 07O. 90, in
1905, $14, $500.
Total number of teachers in each
district in 1900, PIT, in 1905, 226.
Number with state certificates in
1900, 8, in 1905, 10.
Number of schools visited by the
County Superintendent in 1900. IS. in
1905 $50.
In the above comparisons we note a
remarkable improvement in practical
ly very item. There is difference
of nearly $4,000 i i. The money spent
on our schools, and over $1,000 paid
to teachers. The total number of
persons of school age now is 179 less
than in 191, but the average daily at
tendance is "A more. This is a result
of the compulsory educational law and
system of reward cards which is
used for regular attendance and pune
tuality. In the salaries of the teach
ers we note good increase. The in
crease during the five years has aver
aged $3.45 for males and $1.15 for fe-
males per year inmonthly salary. The
trend is toward nine months school
year. 1t has advanced two-tenths Of
a month in the five years. The value
of apparatus is placed lower now by
the several school secretaries than it
was five years ago. This is no doubt
correct as in many schools we find old,
half-worn out charts, maps, etc.
There is remarkable contrast in the
number of teachers. There are fifty
one teachers less in the county now
than there was here five ears ago.
There are seven vacant schoolhouses
in the county owing to lack of
enough children to hold school. There
is quite a difference in the amount of
money each township spends upon its
schools. Among those spending the
least is Denison township with the fol-
lowing items:
Paid teachers, $183O.2O, Paid out of
contingent fund, $446. 70, total, $2276,
80. An average township, is Willow
with the following items: Paid teach
ers, $2237.S0, paid out of contingent
fund, $858.23, total, $3096.03. The
township spending the most for its
schools is Union with these amounts
Paid teachers, $3,O75.0O, paid out of
the contingent fund, $SO3.40 total,
$3S7S. 40.
There are now 226 teachers places
in the county. 81 of these are in town
and 165 are in the rural schools.
There are l02 first grade certificates
in force in the county, but only about
Sc first grade teachers are teaching at
present. Thirty-two of these are in
the rural schools. Last June there
were Al graduates from graded schools
in the county, Is boys and % girls.
There were last year IA rural graduates,
i. e. pupils finishing the eight year
course of study. All the townships
have rural libraries now except East
Boyer. Union, Boyer and Washington
townships pay the highest teachers
wages. One of them has reached the
$42. so mark. There is no shortage
of teachers there. In general, there
is lack of about half dozen teach
ers for the winter terms. This is
quite problem and will need solution
very soon. This shortage is quite gen
eral over the state as it seems many
of our boards have not kept pace with
other occupations in the raise of salar-
les. Does the remedy for the short
age of teachers lie in 1st. A raise Of
salary; End. a lowering of the stand.
ard; 3rd, township consolidation Of
schools; or 4th, in the closing of the
very small schools and transporting
of the pupils to the others? Let oul
| l. Il. IL