The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-12
COUNTY SCHOOLS
IN GOOD SHAPE
Superintendent Smith Reports
Condition and Makes Rec
concentrations.
ATTENDANCE is INCREASED
SUGGESTS CHANGE IN DISTRIBU-
TON OF EXPENSES.

John w Smith county superintendent
of public instruction. has filed his bien-
mel report of the conditions of the schools
OF this county with A. c. Nelson state
superintendent of public instruction. The
report shows that the schools of the
county are probably in the best condi--
ton that they have ever been. The re-
port is elaborate in detail, and covers the
entire question of public school work in
the county. thoroughly and systematic
callv
or the financial condition of the county
schools, the report states that all dis
tricts have operated within the amounts
they have received. The amount received
from the state for the payment of teach
ers. IS, however. inadequate. During
19N-5. s6.61 Of the district school funds
were used for the payment of teachers,
and during the years 1866, Sll.169 was
used for this purpose. The state bears.
at the existing ratio, % per cent of the
cost of education. the county an equal
amount and the district 80 per cent. 1t is
suggested that more equitable division
would be 40 per cent each from the state
and the county and 20 per cent from the
district. 1t is also suggested that the
funds be distributed on a basis Of school
attendance rather than on the basis OF
school census enumeration.
Would Rotate Elections.
Under the present law the five dis
tTtcts in the county elect their member
of the county board Of education at the
same time, and their terms of office ex-
pirc al the same time. making il pos
sible for an entirely new board to be
lected. It is suggested that the terms of
office be changed in such a manner as to
leave some holdOyer members on the
! board.
The custom of increasing the compen-
satiOn Of and renewing the contracts of
teachers who have shown their ability to
teach and govern has become an unwrit
ten law in the county. The teachers Of
the county rank high in ability. according
TO the report, and in everything that goes
TO make good citizenship. rank with the
best i'm the state. OF the county tea chers.
los are graduates from normal schools;
four hold degrees from state universities:
30 are graduates from high schools. and
SO. while not graduates from institutions
OF higher learning, are literally educated.
| The teachers are paid as nearly i'm pro-
portion to their ability as il is possible
to Judge them. Teachers receive from so
to $50 per month. and principals from $50
to $12O per month.
II is suggested that additional room is
needed at Garfield. Dalton & Lark and
at CoppertOn. In all other districts the
room is adequate for present needs.
1t is impossible TO secure a suitable
school ground at Bingham At Holiday
and Mill Creek the grounds are made
quate. In all other districts good con-
ditions prevail.
Reference Books Needed.
All OF the schools Of the county are in
need of books of reference. The school
apparatus in use in the county is valued
at $6.022. and consists Of maps, charts,
globes and kindergarten supplies.
During the last two years the cOmpul
sorry education law has been enforced to
such an extent that the attendance has
been increased moro than 20 per cent.
Even under present conditions. too great
/ a number of licenses are issued for alb
SenCe TO continue in employment and too
many exceptions are made to the en-
fOrcement of the law.
A uniform course Of study is adopted by
all the schools of the county, and by all
/ the counties of the state.
! The rural schools of the county have
been consolidated into two districts.
Granite and Jordan. This condition has
! long been desired by the schools Sweep
! lag changes i'm school administration
have been made possible by the law Of
1895. and the law is said by the school
superintendent 10 be fundamentally in ad-
vance Of any other law the state has ever
had on the statutes. Larger powers and
greater authority are given to school
boards and school officers and their re-
sDOnsibilty is correspondence increased.
! The operation Of the law has secured in
creased efficiency in all departments or
the county school system and as conse-
quence more satisfactory and thorough
educational work is being done