Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-11-14


The training school is more effective
because 1t is a separate institution.
when the training school is made a
separate institution with its own
building, its own equipment and its
own faculty, it dignihs the Institution
ana the profession of teaching. This
Is the testiomony of every county
superintendent in counties where a
training school has been established
as well as of the training school prin-
cipals themselves. Those who have
have had experience generally state
that giving the training in connec-
ton with high school is almost sure
to make the training of teachers a
side issue, for only small part of the
students in the high school will take
this work.
The training school as a separate
institution is almost sure to get
stronger teachers in its faculty. The
salaries paid to the training school
principals and assistants in Wisconsin
are large enough TO draw in to the
work OF training teachers in country
schools the very best talent in Wis
cOnSin. If salaries are any criterion
OF ability and we will all agree that
usually they are, Wisconsin has the
strongest men and women in charge
of the training of rural teachers in
this country. This is true because
Wisconsin is paying salaries sufficient
to command the services of these
people.
Ten years ago the Committee of
Twelve" said, "Other conditions re-
naming the same, attendance at a
school is in inverse ratio to the dis
lance between the school and the
home. 1t is the testimony of the
training school principals in this
state that the training chool at
tracts large class of matare young
men and women who otherwise would
not go on to school. After two years
OF training in the very earnest at
mosphere of training SCHOOL,
school OF comparatively few in num-
ber-they make splendid country
teachers. They have the advantage
OF an earnest spirit, of having lived
for two years in an atmosphere where
the ideals of teaching have been the
sole ones, and besides this they come
from from the country, they know
country conditions, they are in SYM
pathy with country life. They are
more likely to know how to make
school work interesting and profitable
to country boys and girls.
Other phases of the work of the
training schools were discussed
such as the work the training
school is doing to keep the
work of country teachers now teach
ing up to higher standard, the effect
the training school will have on nor
NAL school and high school attend
ance, the Industrial training in the
| lines of agriculture, manual training,
sewing ETC.. which the training school
! is giving.
Reports from county superinten-
dents in seven counties in which a
training school has been established
| at least four years state unanimously
and emphatically that the teaching
in the country schools has greatly inn
proved as the result of the work of
the training school, These county
uperintendentS state that the result
Of the training school work has been
more definite, systematic and
thorough teaching. This has resulted
in better discipline and in much
greater interest in school on the part
of both pupils and parents. This in
turn has resulted in more regular at
| tendance. Parents take more interest
in keeping their children in school
and in keeping the school grounds in
better condition.
Wisconsin has system in operation
in sixteen counties for the training of
country teachers, which really sup
plies trained teachers to the county
schools Our state normal schools
Ctfer an elementary course which in
cludes practically the same work as
that offered in the County Training
schools, but the cities and villages are
taking nearly all of the graduates of
this course. At least ninety per cent
of the graduates Of the training
school are teaching in the country
schools. A better educational senti-
ment, which will induce country
boards to pay adequate salaries is at
the heart of this problem. The Wis
conSin training schools are reaching
the country people as no other institu-
tion can The teachers they furnish
to the country schools have the train
ing and the sympathy which enables
then to make education for country
boys and girls more nearly hit the
mark. May the plan be extended
until every where in Wisconsin the
boy and the girl on the farm have as
good educational advantages as any
children in the land.