The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-12-12
Abstract Of Report for Month Ending Nov. 30. 1912


1886 1912 1850 sss s66s.sss4 1913 AZ
The special committee having the
matter in charge finds that In seven.
ty-tWo cities scattered over the United
states boards of education have spe-
eial committees on the wider use as
pect, while in many other places a
wider use is permitted by boards of
education, altho no special committee
has been assigned this work. Seven
reasons are offerd by the committee
for wider use of the school plant
as follows: 1.-The board of educa.
ton is responsible for three-thirds of
the sine school property can be util-
lied. Day-school sessions occupy on
ly One-thirtd; wider use" covers the
remaining two-thirds. q Making
good citizens is the chief justification
for state-supported schools. The
playground, the social center and the
public school lecture are among the
most effectiv means for accomplish
ing this end. 3--"Wider use" activi-
ties touch the non School going
members of the family more quickly
and intimately than those of the
school room. The board which pro.
vides for community use most ade
quately will receive the heartiest
community support. 4-"Wider use" is
developing a special literature. There
should be special body to keep up
with it. 5-The recreation center
and the class room need to be lookt
at from different viewpoints. g.
There Is a ground swell movement
for popular use of public houses. The
board with a wider useY will be
redy for it. Disqualification, the
essential factor in efficiency of any
sort, demands it.
Without doubt the most important
matter up for consideration at the
recent teachers association was the
report of Better Iowa Schools Com
mission. This commission was pro.
Iyided for out of a fund of $4,000 APP.
lpropriated by the association year
ago, said fund being to defray actual
expenses of the members of the com.
mission, no salaries being allowd.
THE commission appointed was q
bership Representative citizens of the
state engaged in farming, business,
household duties and professional
luife. The work of the commission
was divided up an given to nine sub
committees and most painStaking.
careful work was done. The investi-
cations Of the various committees
were carried on for the entire year,
special meetings. were held, including
a general meeting OF the commission
at Des Moines the later part of Aug
ust, and before it appeared experts
and committees representing special
lines of school work. The nine sub
committees were as follows: School
administration in Iowa, rural schools,
graded schools, high schools, indus.
trial education, state aid for public
schools, the school as community
center, comittee on publicity, facul.
ties for training teachers. The con-
denst report of the commission was
embodied in a report covering sixty
five pages and submitted TO the asso-
citation and il was well received.
lTwenty-three specific recommends
lions summarize the work of the COM
mission and should be given careful
consideration by all interested in the
public schools. Space forbids CON-
plete enumeration of the entire num-
Der, but we oner here those which
affect more directly the system OF
public schools as found in towns and
cities. The numbers correspond to
the order as submitted in the commits
sion's report. 3-Every high school
that meets the requirements of the
Normal Training Course shall receive
$500 annually. This methou of train
ing teachers for the rural schools
should especially encourage. -four
additional normal schools should be
establish within the next five years.
These schools should be limited to the
preparation of teachers for the ele.
mentary schools. 5-Applications for.
teachers certificates after July /,
1915, should have had at least twelv
weeks OF normal training. 15--The
offs Of school treasurer should be
abolisht, the county treasurer being
authorized 10 pay all warrants drawn
on the school funds. The school funds
should draw interest the same as 9th.
err funds. 16--All school elections
should be held the same day in
March and all school boards should
organize in the same day. lin
dustrial education in the schools
should be extended. r19-The school
laws of the state should be completely
recodifed. Flaws should be past
safeguarding all nomination and elec,
tions pertaining to school matters.
24-School boards should he empower
ed to contract with city superinten.
dents for period not TO exceed three
years. 2l-The department OF public
instruction should define and classify
high schools in the following specific
ways: (b) Amount of work a school
ought to do and character OF work
done; (b) minimum number of teach
ers for a definit amount OF work; tc)
minimum requirements as to qualih-
cations for high school teachers; I'D
requirements as 10 biiding and EQUIP |
ment s. s. & x :