The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1906-01-20

boards contract with teachers without
question as to their institute attend
ance during the past summer, and do
not make sure that the teacher's cert
ifcate will be transferred. Certificates
will be transferred when it is shown
tnat the applicant is superior as a
teacher to our resident teachers.
FACTS ON CosL OF EDUCATION.
Not many of you would think that a
good district school can be maintained
for less than $3.50 or $4OO dollars year.
Some schools in this county have an
average attendance of five pupils.
That is approximately $75 year for
each pupil, while the average in cities
in Wisconsin is SIS year for each pu-
pill. This great cost is discouraging in
some cases.
The following was read to the con-
vention:
CENSUS BULLETIN NO. 26-ILLITERACY
IN THE UNITED STATES.
''The Bureau of the Census has just
published bulletin discussing statistics
of illiteracy. This bulletin was written
by DIR. Joseph A. Hill, chief of the
division of revision and results in that
bureau.
F'Aceording to the Census use of the
term an illiterate is person not under
10 years of age who is unable to write
either in English or in any other Ian
guage. In most cases the illiterate is
also unable to read.
"At the census of 1900 the number
of illiterates enumerated in the United
States, exclusive of Alaska, Hawaii,
and all other outlying territory, was
6, 18O, O69. This was approximately one
tenth of the population at least 10y ears
of age.
''The greater illiteracy in the country
does not necessarily indicate that the
regard FOR education is less there than
in the city. One cause of the differ
ence is the difficulty of providing school
facilities for a scattered country pop
ulation. The development of the school
transportation system, already inaug-
urated in many country communities,
will tend to remove this disadvantage.
In view of the foregoing statements,
we are moved to say that schools with
an acreage Of five or ten pupils, sit
uated two or three miles from a good
school can be tranported co the advan-
tage of the tax payers and the pupils
themselves.
SOME THINGS TO PLAN TO DO IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
We should have school that will
teach pupils to write in the English
language by the time they are ten years
old.
We should see to it that the course
of study is followed.
We should require the memorizing
of number of pages of choice liter
ature.
We should furnish our teachers with
some good letter-sheet paper, that the
teacher may prepare exhibits for teach
ers' meetings and the state fair.
We should require teachers to make
reports for the local items of the pa
pers showing enrolment and attend
ance.
We should require teachers to make
plans for their recitations.
Mental arithmetic is to be taught.
We should require teachers to post a
written program and follow it.
We should furnish supplementary
reading for our teachers.
Many of the school officers present
took an active part in the various dis
cussions. State Superintendent c. P.
Cary was present, and gave number
of very helpful suggestions, delivered
an address in the evening, and took the
place on the program Saturday of
Rural School Inspector Wood, who
was sick.
In the discussion of the county train
ing school, Mr.. Cary said that it is i'm
possible to supply any considerable
number of country schools with teach
ers trained in the state normals. that
the county training schools were prov
ing very valuable and satisfactory n
counties that have them.
J Below is given summary of the
matter presented by Mr.. Cary in his
addresses:
1. Have the school room cleaned at
least at the end of each term.
2. Provide single desks to prevent
contagion, as consumption, etc.
8. Have good water accessible.
a. Have boys and girls out houses
separate. Inspect buildings often.
Put in decent condition and insist upon
teacher maintaining decency in and
about school buildings.
i 5. Light room from one side and