River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-01-18

rst ciass rural schools but will confess that am
not doing anything in that direction at present.
I am convinced that nothing short of inspiration
from on High" will convince these districts that
the $3.50 received from the state Will more than
pay for the improvements called FIR. Three
schools have ventilating plants that do not COM
ply with the law.
Every year there are few teachers who are not
doing strong work, nor we expect anything
different as long as we have many young and
inexperienced teachers. This year / have %
teachers in the county who have never taught be-
fore Some of them are doing strong work from
the start, others have much to learn, but L am
also pleased to report that they all willing to
take suggestions and improve We must have
inexperienced teachers in our schools Tor how else
can thew get start? 1t is true, however, that
the older the teachers are and the more OF Normal
training they have when they start teaching the
only thing that will demand better prepared
teachers and consequently that is the chief rene
dy as see it.
School Visitation
This wear | have visited every school in the
county at least once and many of them twice;
Altogether | have made 21S visits My total
number of days travelling, including examinations
and teachers meetings is no Inc county IS
binding TO permit effective supervision but have
done ali that the time and weather permitted
Transportation
Last year I reported the transportation of the
children in No. 10 Ut. K. T. to the Kock Elm
given satisfaction both districts voted to continue
the system In Joint No. 10 the vote was 20 to
in favor of transportation. am heartily IN
favor of consolidation and transportation where
conditions permit. 1t not be denied that a
graded school with two or more teachers with half
as many classes or less, do more effective
work than the one teacher with ali the grades in
the rural school. This system Will be proposed
to the voters in and around Olivet and | am
hoping that they will also decide to try 1t tor a
year. .,
All notifications under the compulsory attend
ance law were made by Factory Inspector L. A.
Walby during the past year. Fifty-hve parents
were notified altogether. One person was prose-
cuted and convicted This year Mr.. Glass sends
out the notices from reports sent to me by the
teachers. law by the last legislature also re-
quires me to notify the Industrial Commission
of Wisconsin of all delinquent cases at the end OF
each month.
School Board Convention
The school board convention was held in the
court room on Nov both. About 100 school
the program were Rural School Inspector w. I.
WaibW and PETERSON and F. R. Grain of the Dunn
County School of Agriculture. This year the
convention takes place on Nov. 18th. in the Court
~ Teachers Meetings
One day institutes were held at Ellsworth,
River Falls, Diamond Bluff, Elmwood, Spring
Valley, Plum City and Maiden Rock. a licensed
conductor was secured for each place and was paid
from the Institute Fund. In connection with
five of these institutes an educational meeting
was held the evening before; AT these meetings
the institute conductor and the superintendent
gave talks on topics of educational interest.
Contests
Contests in Speaking and Spelling were success
fully carried on during the past year. am salts
fed that the results fuly justly Inc fn ne
coming year. In a few localities there is little
opposition to the speaking contest on account OF
the i'll feeling that results from the decision OF the
Judges This do not consider serious and will
remedy itself if left alone Anyway, school
with fighting spirit is more desirable than one
with no spirit at ALL The spelling work seemed
to win general favor and the results during the
past year were above expectations The Corn
Contest which l had charge Of this year and IN
which $50 boys and girls took part consider a
splendid means of interesting the boys and girls
in farm work. The corn from this contest was
exhibited at the Pierce County Fair and the ex-
hibit which had 201 entries was one OF the pest
and largest in the state of Wisconsin. Prof
Moore of Madison acted judge and was more
than pleased with the contest. list OF the Win
ners will be found elsewhere in the Annual.
Babcock Milk Tester
special effort will be made this year to in
troduce the Babcock milk tester into the rural
and graded schools of the county. Farmers are
calling for practical education and DeleVe thaI
the introduction of milk testers in the rural school
is another move in the RICH direction. This
subject is discussed elsewhere in the Annual
Teachers Examinations
Spring Examinations were held during March
in Maiden Rock Spring Valley, River Falls and
Ellsworth. Fall examination was held on the
week following the summer school. This year
granted 10 first grades, 10 second grades and
As third grades. This year the supply of teach
ers was about equal to the demand.
Diploma Examinations
Diploma examinations were held in eight places
in the county on Feb. %, May u, and june 5rd.
Graduating Exercises were held in Ellsworth on
Tune 18th The graduating class from the rural
schools numbered 68 which is the largest on re.
cord in the county. II finished the Sth grace OF
the graded schools.
Fair Work
The educational department of the Pierce
County Fair was larger and fully up to the stand
ard of other years 119 first premiums and w
second premiums were awarded. Total number
Of entries was 36l
Teachers Wages
Female
600 80 .,,oa+1, Male. &