The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-11-28

North Yakima, Wash.
Sun, Oct. 81, 1912.

you. School is fine here, and while
find the western school laws somewhat
different from those OF Wisconsin yet |
cannot say that they are at all extra
ordinary. Our Supt Mr.. S. S. Busch
spent Tuesday =. NJ. Oct. Is in my
room from go to $40. Then after 4
he came in again and remained till
about 4:30. He is a very stern, strict
man and severe in his criticisms es.
pecially with new Eastern teachers,
for in some cases. those who failed to
"make good" in the East, came to
Washington to begin anew, and so,
knowing from every one who spoke OF
him to me, that he was severe, you
may be sure | did not hail his visit with
delight, although he had been very
kind and courteous to me whenever |
met him on the street or called on him
at his office. When he came in after 4
| expected to receive % severe crit
icism, but, on the contrary, he was
very we'll pleased with my work and
assured me that I'd succeed during the
term judging from the work he saw,
etc.
The city has an up-to-the minute
school department occupying some
fifteen school buildings. About 81
teachers are employed, and the enroll
ment is about 3343. A complete course
of agriculture is taught in the high
schools of the city and county as well
as commercial work. The high school
work is accredited by Cal, Mich, H.,
Minnesota, and by Stanford, Chicago
and Berlin universities,
In addition to the public schools OF
the city here, are the following church
and private schools; kindergarten,
Marquette Academy for boys, St.
Joseph's Academy for girls, German
Parochial school, and N. Yakima Bust
ness College. Throughout Yakima
county are excellent graded schools
and "A high schools.
Examinations are held three times a
year-the last weeks of May, Aug. and
Dec. and all examinations in Wash.
are held on these 3 dates. The ques-
tions are in printed form, furnished by
the State Board of Education, a gen.
eral and uniform system OF public
schools is maintained throughout the
state of Wash. therefore a teacher
passing the requirements in Wash. is
certified to teach in any part of the
state. The State Supt. holds Office 4
years, and receives $4,000 per year.
Washington has its state university al
Seattle; the state college at Pullman:
state normal schools at Bellingham,
Ellensburg and Cheny.
A school day is 6 hours for all above
primary grades and 4 hours for those
belonging to primary grades, exclusive
of noon intermssion. Any primary
teacher may dismiss primary pupils
without order from her board of direct
ors. The length of a school year here
is not less THAI 9 months. Several
women hold the Office of Co. Supt.
throughout the state as we'll as being
appointed on the Board of Directors.
We have one woman on our board.
Any person who is holder of certi-
ticate valid in Washington may teach
providing he or she is free from tuber-
culosis.
This state has uniform text books
(basic) and a state and county manual
is given to each teacher. The county
manual has a biheX binding so that
changes and additions can easily be
made from time to time. In the front
Of the county manual are 1 supplement
tary pages stating the work in each
grade and.in each subject for each
month.
Every school is to display flag from
its flag pole while the school is in ses-
sion, excepting in stormy weather
We have all school ground apparatus
on our grounds, such as , teeters, A
swing, > turning poles, a basket ball
grounds, foot ball and base ball equip
ments.
Our rooms are also well equipped,
each room having its own organ, drink
ing fountain, lighting, etc. We have
district clerk and ) other members
who act as the Board of Directors.
Our salary warrants are given us on
the last day of each month. We are
to present them at the county auditors
Office in the city hall and after his
signature they may be cashed at the
county treasurep's office.
Fire drills are held twice in each
month in every graded and highschool.
If any pupil in any grade scores an
average Of 30 or above during the
school year, he or she is exempt from
the final examination in his grade.
This matter is not a state law-but is
left to the teachers judgment in the
matter. Those below the Sth grade
whose work does not score 90 or above
are examined by the teacher in charge
of that grade.
We have had an unusually rainy sea-
son the past week, so much so that
pioneer settlers claim they have never
bat once experienced such a long spell
Of rain. The rainy season is now on at
the Sound and we are getting the
moisture Of the upper layer on its