The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-11-22
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. E. LARSON.
THE SCHOOL BOARD CONVENTION.

vention for Manitowoc County was held
at the Turner Opera house last Friday.
The total enrolment of school officers
present was 204. This is the record
breaking enrolment, that of last year
having been 1872, and two years ago 106.
The names of those who attended will be
given in next weeks issue. Besides
school officers many Others were present,
the whole number being perhaps 800.
Mr.. L. w. Wood, country school in
spector spoke twice and also answered
questions asked by members. His sub
iect was the School Board and the
Teacher. Advice was given in regard
to hiring teachers and the making of the
contract. The most important duty of
board is the hiring of the teacher, as
the teacher comes pretty near being ''it'
in school. With strong teacher at the
head of the school, the work will be
well done, but weak teacher cannot
make good school, no matter how nice
the building and how complete the
equipment. School boards should take
into consideration the scholarship, the
experience, the appearance, and the pro
fessiona. spirit of the teacher. Advice
was given never to hire teachers who
did not have proper certificate, as the
candidates might fail in the examination
and the best teachers be taken by other
districts.
Mr.. Wood laid great stress upon getting
teachers who had the spirit of progress
iveness and life. The teacher who is
content to work from year to year,
without showing any progress could not,
in his estimation, be able to stir up n
spirit of progressiveness in the pupils.
District boards should examine the
teachers certificate and see in what sub.
jects the teacher is weak The board
should also find ont if the teacher keeps
up with the time by attending the in
stitute and the meetings.
In speaking OF salaries, Mr.. Wood
stated that this county is one of the
leading ones in the state and commented
favorably on the fact Without adequate
salaries the teachers cannot afford to
prepare themselves for efficient work.
Pay teacher $40 per month and you
have right to demand "A $40 teacher.
Pay $25 and you must expect result in
proportion With reasonable salaries
we can demand more of our teachers.
We can demand that they go through
course of preparation before taking up
the responsible work of guiding young
minds, and also that they shall keep up
with the profession by attending teach
ers gatherings.
Another suggestion made by Mr..
Wood was that the district officers visit
the schools more frequently. In this
way they might see for themselves the
work of the teacher and not base their
opinions entirely upon the reports of
Mrs. Grundy. Very often it is not safe
to judge the teacher work by the re-
port of pupils, rs they may be dissatis-
fled with the teacher because they have
to come to time and attend to business.
Among the matters mentioned by the
county superintendent five were pointed
ont as specially important for the com
ing year.
1D The outbuidings- There should
be two of these; they should be in good
condition and free from marks.
(2) Supplementary Readers should be
introduced into every school in order to
train the pupils to read well. One set of
books does not give material enough.
(2) Blackboard should be supplied
abundantly. 1t is one Of the most neces-
sary articles of school equipment The
teacher needs the blackboard to place
work before the pupils and the classes
should frequently be sent to the board
to be drilled in order to develop skill.
(4) Academic dictionaries should be
provided, the number depending upon
the size and the character of the school.
90 The school libraries should be
catalogued this year This involves the
slight expense of providing cards. A
card case need not be purchased until
all of the catalogung is done.
Among the questions asked was
whether or not the members OF the board
had right to draw salary. According
to law the only one who can draw salary
il the clerk and he can only do so wien
allowed by the previous annual meet.
ing.
Mr.. Wood, however, reported that
very likely bill would be introduced
into the next Legislature allowing com
pensation to the other members also in
case the districts vote it.
Every member who attends he school
board convention IL entitled to So per
day and mileage. II il certainly of ad
vantage to every district to have it's
officers present at such a meeting, as
many ideas orr brought out which may
be put into practice. The certificate of
attendance must be filed with the clerk
when he issues the order to pay the
officer.
The purpose of the convention Is to
give ~ much information M possible to
the school officers Much of the value
oe such a meeting results from the ex-