Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-25
TRAINING WORTH
$40 PER Day CARY
STATE SUPERINTENDENT PLACES
VALUE OF $4,000 ON A HIGH
SCHOOL EDUCATION.
MAKES REPORT TO GOVERNOR.
Deplores Tendency of Men to Leave the
Teaching Profession Eally
in Life
WOULD CHANGE COUNTY SYSTEM

MADISON, Wis, Dee. 23.-[Special.l
-Deploring the tendency of men to leave
the teaching profession after few years.
and declaring that the average high
school education is worth $4,000, State
superintendent c. 2. Cary has sent his
biennial report to the governor. Among
other things he recommends a change in
the method of electing county superin-
tendents; a betterment of the township
and rural schools and that a limit should
be placed on the aid given to high
schools.
The high school directory of 1908
contained 1853 Names" says the report
of Mr.. Cary. "Of these 527 were of
teachers new in their positions. This
means that only sc of the o27 changes
were due to the employment of addi-
uonal teachers, and that 461 or 40 per
cent. of 1888 teachers of the year 1867
either left teaching or changed their po-
SitionS.
View with Danger.
While a certain amount of change
IS unavoidable and is desirable in any
healthy and growing system the percent
age indicated above is altogether too
great and would be considered almost
rulnOus in a commercial or manufacture
ing establishment. Were the changes
mainly confined to the subordinate po-
sltions the results would be less detri-
mental, but this is not the case; 81 of
the 26S principals or 81 per cent. were
also new. No argument is needed to
show the detrimental effects of such a
policy III the management of the
schools"
Mr.. Cary then declares that such a
policy is wasteful and adds that the time
of hn oh Ii iSsr NnCt ol11n hi Il
demands the greatest tact and judgment.
Education Worth $4,000.
ct is often claimed that statistics
show that the pupils time in a good high
school is worth $40 a day for the whole
period of 800 days usually required to
complete high school course he con-
tinues. In other words, a high school
education for boy at least, is worth
5000. If this be true, the value of a
day for high school of 100 pupils is
$1,000. If the output is worth $1,000 Il
day, it is worth while to see that the
work is the best possible"
He then declares that sala les are as
good for beginners as for experienced
teachers and often people teach for one
or two years to determine what profess
sion they would like to follow later. I'm
der all these circumstances he concludes
it is no wonder there is lack of per-
manency, with low salaries, short terms
of employment and an entire lack of pro-
vision for old age. The employment of
inexperienced teachers for responsible po-
sitions should be discouraged, he says.
Choose Superintendent.
y better system of country schools
would be accompanied by certain
changes, according to the recommends
tons of the state superintendent. He
would have the county superintendent
appointed from board of directors elect,
ed by the people. This would result in
the selection of competent school man,
and not one who devoted part of his
time to farming or the practice of law.
1t would follow much the same method
as is now employed in he selection of
city superintendent.
For more than forty years the pres
ent system has been in use in the state"
he says, and it has failed to give us a
profession of county superintendent and
never until such a profession exists will
the county superintendency be what it
should be-"