Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-12-09

+ rom state school funQ income 14l5Z W
From all other sources 3lS40 55
Total amount rec d during year Sl3OS67 81
MONEY EXPENDED
For building and repairing Sll16O %
For apparatus. 1897 s.
For services of male teachers ......... 127O7 80
For services of female teachers. 1924 Is
For old Indebtedness. ......-........... 1895 25
For school furniture .-......... 1852 10
For services of district clerks 1897 SO
For all other purposes. 2292S Is
Total amount paid out during year. ll2403 "a
Money on hand June 30 1909. .......-... 1864 10
REPAIRS AND NEW BUILDING
The desire of school districts to take advantage
of the special state aid for school of the first class
has led to many much needed improvements
Money thus expended for the year ending June 80
1908, was S5759. 90 and for the year ending June
%, 1909 it was S1116026 an increase of S54OO.3l,
nearly equal to all like expenditures of 1907-l9OS
This has been a great help to the material phase
of our schools. These repairs consisted of adequ-
ate heating and ventilating systems, maps globes,
blackboards etc Repairing consisted of better
windows, tight doors, new floors, sanitary out
buildings as well as some new buildings through
out.
SCHOOL FURNITURE
Money expended for furniture in 19O7-19O8 was
$1O30.l9 and the year following nearly three times
much was used, or $3O62.1O. This has taken the
form of bookcases, teachers desks, chairs. and al
so some single seats which from a standpoint of
industry part of pupils and sanitary conditions
are decided success Thus, due to the building,
repairing and adding furniture our schools present
a very good general appearance and rank well
with all schools of their class
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Reports for 1908 show more children between
the ages of 4 and 20 than 1909 a the enrolment
is Is per cent more in 1909 than 1908 yet the aver
age daily attendance fell about per cent below
that of 1908 In the school visitations find the
common complaint of many teachers to be that of
indifference the part of the pupils to attend
ance. The little people all mean well, but often
the sense of promptness is not sufficient in them
to arouse the necessary effort to be on time and
w is SOL
to the best progress in our schools. To aid the
little people in acquiring the habit of promptness
and regularity, | would like to introduce a system
of merits to be used by teachers in the country
schools especially. This method would consist of
certificates of attendance given to the children
who are neither absent tardy for 20 consecutive
days and who have good standings in their work
and department Five of these small certificates
would entite the owner to a large one issued from
my office A similar system is used with great
success in adjoining counties. This plan will
necessitate extra work on the part Of the county
superintendent, which | will gladly do as deem
the cause very worthy one If the small apprOpri-
alton can be made to cover expenses of printing
and postage. The extra cost will be very small
and the results will mean a great deal to our
boys and girls of tomorrow.
SPECIAL AID FROM THE STATE
Out of GO schools that made application for the
special aid for last year, 81 have been recommend
ed by sour former county superintendent. This
means a school fund for the districts Of$310O. The
special aid of $50 year for first class scOOOls has
wrought wonders in the country schools Dis
tricts have good ventilating apparatus better
supplies, and teachers on every hand are strlV ng
to better the schools and use added requirements
in obtaining the best possible results.
TEACHERS INSTITUTE
Our annual county teachers institute was held
August 2-7 and was attended by TIA teachers and
prospective teachers The institute was conduct
ed by six able conductors, three from the state
and three from county funds and a great deal of
special work was done in the short time consumed.
FINANCES OF INSTITUTE
Received of T. Emery Bray. Sl25 90
Paid conductors Observation-Disclosures. as 90
Printing. ....i..................... 25 SO
Postage. Observation-Disclosures. 90
JanitOr. &C.. Observation-Disclosures. 50
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $94 80
Balance on hand for midyear institutes. $50 81
TEACHERS OF IOWA COUNTY
We are striving to raise the quality of our teach
ers- Every true teacher has a feeling of desire to
give the community wherein he or she is employed
the best individual ability they have and in order
to do this they are becoming better qualified from
the educational and professional side of teaching.
Since July 1st first So second and 81 third grade
certificates were issued. We hope to practically
eliminate the third grade certificate, as the teach
ers working with will for the higher grades
of qualifications.
VISITATION OF SCHOOLS.
The statutes of the state require the County Sup
erintendent to visit and examine each district at
least once year. This will be done and on each
visit report will be sent to the district clerk
stating conditions as found by the Superintendent
and suggestions will be made in case there are
omissions in necessary supplies or inefficient teach
ability of the pupils in the common branches, as
arithmetic, and reading where many failures are
found. This progress will be guided by careful
supervision and helps on this work The merits
and dement's of the school and the teacher will be
talked so that the teacher may receive all
due assistance.
SUMMER SCHOOL
The summer school under the supervision of the
County Superintendent attended by one hun
dred teachers and prospective teachers. The re-
suits evident in the many cases where stand
ings raised and especially in the school rooms
of the county. The summer school assisted
financially by a tuition of Is cents per week which
gave meager wages to the instructors, who did
the county an excellent service.
BOOKS FOR COUNTY SCHOOLS.
The books throughout the county far from
uniform and many unsatisfactory. When
children move from district to another there
are sure to be many losses and many times the
loss is at the expense of the children and to the
hindrance of the other children and teacher among
whom they are placed. Would it not be well to
adopt a uniform series of books at your January
meeting, giving time for qualified critics to pre-
pare satisfactory lisa? This uniform list to be
substituted in all schools where books are needed
or changed.
CONCLUSION
In closing this report, | wish to thank you and
the school patrons for the interest manifested in
the work of our schools. | also take this oppOr-
tunity to thank District Attorney for his
courtesy in allowing me the use of the front office
which is a great labor saving item to me- The
office is open to any and all who wish to know the
systems in use there for recording and filing
necessary statistics and l will be glad to answer
any questions regarding the plans.
In conclusion heartily thank you for your kind
attention and trust we may be a mutual force to
give to the schools of Iowa County the best possible
educational advantages
As an earnest co-worker in the work, am,
Very truly yours,
NzzA< q. 1z>t 7<uz