The copper era., 1909-08-05
REPORT ON SCHOOLS.
County School Superintendent Woods
 Makes New Suggestions.
THATCHER, Arizona, July 20. 1909

OupGElQIGQQcUL OI IT uOllC l4- | struction, Phoenix, Arizona.
 My Dear Sir:-I have the pleasure and honor to report that the progress made in the schools of Graham county during the year ended June 30, 1909, is very satisfactory. have visited all of the schools of the | county, have met teachers and students in the school rooms at theiI work, and am gratified to know that the larger schools are fairly well graded, while the teachers in the smaller schools are working as near as practicable with the material at hand, to the course of study pre- scribed for the grades with very few exceptions; they were energetic and conscientious in their school work, and enrolled the largest attendance except the home county, at the joint institute held at Tucson during the past year, and feel as whole that I am justly proud of Graham county's teaching force; while there may be room for improvement in some par ticulars, yet I presume this would be the verdict throughout the territory; asa means of remedying this defect, would suggest that the authority of employing and fixing the salaries be some teachers are not suited to the peculiar needs of their schools, also that disproportionate salaries are sometimes paid for the service rem dered, in addition to the educational qualifications required. I urgently recommend that every applicant for a position as teacher be required to furnish certificate of good health; while we may be willing to share our grand Arizona climate with invalids, yet I protest against their employ ment as teachers.
 Normal graduates rank high in efficiency, and should be employed. Very few of our schools are over crowded, and the days of the champion school room herder, with eighty to one hundred pupils is a glory of the past, the enrolment for the year showing an average of forty one students for each teacher.
 In order to secure better janitor work, which means heater school rooms and premises, I advise that they be employed by the teacher in- stead of by the trustees, as at pres ent.
 During the year just ended, there were eighty-nine district schools in the county, twenty-six grammar and sixty-three primary, the average term being extended three weeks longer than that of the proceeding year, many schools being maintained for a period of nine months. Male teachers received an average salary per month of S1O4.5O and females re- ceived S77.40.
 The increase over last years en- rollment is 3O3, increase in the aver age number belonging is 236, and the increase in the average daily attend ance on the average number belong ing is about the same. The school population is 5667 or an increase over last year of 2S9.
 The total receipts for the year were S78, 8,564.O4 and the expenditures for school maintenance was $7O, ,635. 70 leaving an unexpended balance of S7928.34.
 The amount of bonds outstanding is S35, 800 and the approximate valua- tion of property in these districts is S1, ,633, 11O.
 During the year three new school buildings were erected; one at Dun- can, four room two-story brick at cost of $500; one at Central, a four room one-story brick, at a cost of S3,500 and a third at Guthrie, one room lumber at cost of S250.
 For the coming year new buildings are completed at Geronimo, Thomas, Lone Star, Franklin, and one each in the newly formed districts, Shiloh, Ashton, Enterprise. Recently the taxpayers proved their loyalty to the educational cause in Stafford school district by voting a special tax, and with the proceeds are erecting a two- room two-story brick addition which is to be completed ready for oc- cupancy when school opens in Sep tember, and will be when completed, one of the most spacious and impos- ing district school buildings in the Gila valley.
 Of the forty school districts in Graham county, find only nine re- corded deeds to school lands occupied by school buildings, and am taking this matter up with the trustees of the several districts; this condition may be accounted for in part by req son of the newness of the country when buildings were erected, and but little if any land was patented at that time; yet some of the board of trustees failed to get bond for a deed; this condition is being improved and in my opinion no district will suffer any loss, and hope to report next year that every districts deed is recorded.