Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27

Of the Women's Federation has made
consistent progress in awakening an
interest in parents concerning the
welfare of their children in the
school. More parents now visit
school in a week than did in year
| four years ago.
These combined efforts OF parents,
teachers, and civic organizations hav
| brought about better teaching, a bet
ter understanding of the iadivid
ual pupils, and a better esprit de
corps on the part of the teachers,
OF the boys and girls in the schools,
and of the interested parents outside
of the schools.
1t may not be amiss here again to
call attention to the fact that a pc
titon to the Board of Education sign
ed by a large number of taxpayers
praying for a schoolhouse on the ives
side beyond the en- & ST. Paul
tracks has been in the office of the
City Super ntendent for. the past five
years. The coming year will be a
good time to begin the erection Of the
school building, for which ground has
already been obtained on the corner
Of 18th and Grand avenues. We are
now using the basement of the Low
ell school as a grade room, but this
basement is not a proper place for
the young people to spend many hours
of the day. All West Side Kindergar
ten children report at the Emerson
kindergarten building. Two ses-
sions are held each day-one in the
forenoon for those nearby and one in
the afternoon for those living at a
distance. A building west of the c.
NJ & st. Paul tracks would remedy
the present situation in the Lowell
and Emerson schools 1t would all
so provide against any accidents to
children of the lower grades who are
compelled to cross the railroad track
in order to get to and from school.
It is we'll known that small chill
d1>en have to be watched very careful
ly by parents, teachers, and railroad
employees while the children are go
ing to or from school to avoid posi-
bic accidents. The way to avoid dan
ger here is to provide such conditions
that danger need not be courted.
Not many years will pass before
nv To q
better school accommodations for the
children living on. the south side and I
in the Packing House district. Suf-
ficient Land for such a site ought to
be purchased at once before land
becomes so excessive in price that
a mistake will be made at some flu
ture time in not providing ample
play ground space
A report of the University Inspect
or of High schools by Professor E.
B. Skinner of the University of Wis
consin who inspected our high school
on February 2, 1912, reads in part
as follows:
Feb. II, 1912.
Mr.. C. w. Schwede, superintendent
of Schools, Grand Rapids, Wis.
My, Dear Mr.. Schwede:
| am making herewith a formal re
port of the inspection of your high
school made by Professor Henmon
and myself on February 2
We have rated your school as ex-
cellent in organization, in its teach
ing staff, and in the spirit of the
pupils toward their work.
Both Professor Henmon and myself
enjoyed very much the opportunity
of looking over your manual arts, do
nestle science, and commercial de-
partments. We feel that you have
succeeded admirably in properly Co
ordinating and controlling this work
in connection with that OF the older
departments We congratulate you
on the strong interest and efficient
backing of your school board. ......
Very truly yours,
(Signed) E.. B. Skinner.
The above rating was given us a
year ago. We have improved since
in our teaching staff and in the
spirit of pupils toward their work.
To bring about more independence OF
spnrit, greater self reliance, reader
response, and stronger determination
to succeed on the part of the pupils
has beeen the aim of the teaching fore
in the high school 1t was for that
purpose that a so-called Public,
Speaking course was introduced
and placed in charge of Mr.. jean T.
Sheafor.
To see boys take the platform and
compel more than $50 fellow stu
dents, some of whom expected to
see failures, to respect them, is an
experience that is one of the compen
sating features of the teaching pro
fession The value of such a piece
of work to the boys who brought a.
bout their own recognition must be
unreasonable.
The Board of Education has. been
repeatedly criticised as extravagant
in the running Of the schools by
some persons who have not the facts
upon which they base their criticism
as well in mind as they should have.
AS a matter of fact, the rate Of tax
alton for school purposes as levied
by the Common Council in this city
has been lowered year by year. In
1909, out Of every s22.90 taxes paid
on each $1,000 assessed valuation,
S816 was for schools. In 1910, out
of every s24.20 taxes paid on each
81 600 assessed valuation, S7S8 was
for schools In 1911, out of every
$500 taxes paid on each 81 900 as
sessed valuation 1888 was for schools
Of So1 e0