Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-27
WOULD EQUIP TEACHERS
FOR RURAL SCHOOLS
Appropriation Of $4,000 Annually to Be
Asked to Place Normal Course in
One High School in Each County
Other Educational Measures to Be
Advocated by Committee.
special to Times-R Republican

mands this year on the legislature
about to V than ever before.
Last year there was plenty Of discus
sion V e certain bills proposed. but
there was 20 concerted action and
therefore No relief along the lines de-
manded. This year the educational
man stand as a unit, they know what
they want. and they are going to ask
for il in a nanner hat will be effectual.
The prime movers in proposed legis-
lation are all members of the state
teachers association, and the follow
ing named gentlemen have been ap-
pointed by the association TO look after
the educational interests in the COM
ing legislature: H. H. Sea.!ey. of the
Cedar Falls normal, chairman: Fred
Mahannah. president OF the state teach
ers' association, Prof. George Belts, OF
Cornell College. Supt. E. j. Beard. of
Newton. W. F. Atherton. of Drake. and
z. c. Thornhurg. Of Des Moines. Bills
will be introduced to temporarily close
all rural schools Of an attendance Of
six or less. Also a bill 70 abolish the
office of school treasurer ard placing
the school funds with the county treas
urer and providing interas. on daily
balances. A pension bill will also come
County Nermals.
But by far the most important will
be the bill. one providing Cor the train
ing of teachers for the rural schools.
In reference to this bill President Fred
Mahannah today said: The problem
OF the rural school is looked upon by
schoolmen as being the biggest and
most important problem 70 which at
,ention can De given at this time. For
a number OF years it has been almost
impossible 70 get enough teachers for
the rural schools and the county super
intendant has been compelled to use
many teachers who were not we'll
enough qualified 10 make il possible for
them to do good and efficient work.
Many teachers in the rural schools have
had no training above tina: given in
the rural schools themselves or in the
eighth grade of the city schools. Others
nave had some work IN the high schools
hut even those who have graduated
from the high schools ave not sine
they left the eighth grade paid any
attention 20 the branches they are sup
posed 10 teach in the rural schools.
when you take into consideration
that NAM Of these teachers are barely
IS years OF age. 1t Is easy % see that
We are requiring a great deal II we
them 20 satisfy the increased
demands that are now being placed
upon the rural schools. I do not wish
20 be understood as criticising rural
teachers; for I believe that il
half the strength that has been spent
in Wholesale and in~discrininate criti-
cism Of rural school teachers had been
spent in an effort 70 provide better
training facilities and better wages for
trained teachers hat the situation
DO I wish 10 b understood as
criticising rural school boards for not
paying better wages for I an confident
that If the state OF Iowa will provide
means for supplying trained teachers
for the rural schools that the rural
school boards Will pay the wages neces-
sary 10 secure this class Of teachers"
Appropriation to Be Asked.
The bill TO be introduced will be
similar 70 the avs that have been en-
acted in Kansas. Nebraska, Minnesota,
Michigan n New York. 1t Will pro-
vide for the establishment OF norma.
training departments in at least one
FULLY accredited iour-year high school
in each county in the state. The state
will be asked to appropriate at ieast
$4,000 annually to pay the wages Oh
specially trained teacher who will pc
placed in charge Of the work In these
normal training departments. The work
offered in these departments will be IN
the nature Of a careful and systematic
review Of the common branches that
are taught in the rural schools with
special emphasis being placed on ne
proper methods OF teaching them in
the rural schools.
Course Would be Elective.
The work in this department would
be done in the eleventh and twelfth
grades Of the high school and would be
wholly elective. The work would be
under the direction and supervision OF
the state board Of examiners and stu
dents who graduate from h depart
ment would be given permission to
teach in the rural schools without ex-
animation. After teaching for a year,
if they prove themselves successful,
they should be given a certificate good
for two years and subject TO renewal
the same as is provided for the uniform
county certificate.
Tuition Would BE Free.
This department would be free OF
tuition to all enrolled. the tuition OF
those who are non-residents Of dis
tricts in which the school is located
being paid by the pupils own district.
1T is not claimed that this system
would be perfect nor all that could be
desired but it Is claimed that 1t would
be a distinct advance over that we have
now: for at present we have practically
no training for rural school teachers.
We have normal schools and good ones
too but those who take the york in
these normal schools are not teaching
IN the rural schools.
"One thing and perhaps the only
thing that will stand IN the way OF the
passage OF the bill is the appropriation
that will be required. Iowa is extreme
iy unfortunate in not having a large
schoo! fund like Minnesota and some
other states: but over half Of the chill
IRE. he!nw the high school are enrolled
in the rural schools n an apprvp..-
ton Of $4,000 would be about 80 cents
for each child enrolled in the rural
schools but it would be the most pro-
ductive 80 cents that the state could
spend. II We hesitate at such q small
expenditure we should stop Boosting
Of our great wealth."