The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-02-21

progress in the future as in the past.
The hearty cooperation of parents
and school officers with the teacher
IS absolutely necessary in order to
secure the best schools.
December 9TH a School Board con-
yention was held in Kenosha at which
one hundred and twenty-five school
officers were present. AT this meet
ing the following topics were dis
cussed: 1.-THE Necessary Working
Tools of Country School,; ssHeat-
ing, Lighting and Ventilation of the
School Room; Improvement and
Care of School Grounds; "Teach-
ers' Contracts and Wages; School
Records and Reports. That this
convention was productive of much
good is evident in the improved con-
ditions found in nearly every school
district il the county.
Heating and venti1ating systems
have been placed in a number Of
schools during the past year, at small
cost but with gratifying results. The
pupils work in the school room is
greatly affected by his physical SUR
roundings. Provision should be made
for the bodily comfort of the chi1dif
we are to obtain the best results; not
O111v ic +11ic se,.c>.,1 ~, = e.+,.,5
point of health but it is necessary to
mental growth. If the body is not
comfortable the mind cannot do its
best work; hence. the manner III which
the air, heat and light of the room are
distributed is of the utmost import
ance. Good work needs pure blood
pure blood must have pure air. Win
dows and doors are unsatisfactory
and injudicious means Of introducing
fresh air.
Under a law enacted by the last leg
islature, It IS made the duty of the
County superintendent to select the
library books for all the schools in the
county. This selection has been made
and books to the amount of 1885. %
have been purchased for the schools.
These books were ordered shipped
direct to the town clerks and were
distributed by them to the schools as
provided by statute. 1t is my pur-
pose during this year to have all the
books now in the school libraries card
catalogued. BY means of these card
references the pupil is enabled to use
the books much more inte1ligent1y
and with little loss of time as he can
readily determine from the card
where the desired information may
be found in the book.
D Every school in the county should
be provided with an international
dictionary, from three to six Academ-
ic dictionaries according to the size
of the school, plenty of good black
board, set of maps in spring roller
case and inexpensive globe, a numer-
al frame, set of supplementary
readers, and a book case in which the
books Of the school library may be
kept and properly cared for.
The seats and desks in the school
room should be adapted to the child
rem rather than the children to the
| seats. In arranging desks in the
schoo1room have ali the seats in any
: one row Of uniform size. By this ar
!, rangement desk space and floor space
, will be properly adjusted.
Out-bui1dings and school yards in
some districts need more attention.
!, School yards should be cleaned up
and put in proper condition before
the opening of school in the fall. The
wild, unkept appearance of a neg1ec-
, ted school yard develops untidy and
destructive habits on the part of the
children and makes them harder to
govern. In the school, in a great
measure, is moulded the character of
the future men aud women of the
country. The tastes are here cult
waited and the habits formed which
are to make the future citizens and
not only the intellectual but also the
: moral and the physical nurture are
to be given. A good school house
properly located, beautified and made
comfortable, pleasant and inviting is
in itself teacher for good.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. KERwI1,
e