The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-08
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
By Mabel Horner, County Supt.

For the last twenty-five or thirty
wear the Decatur County Normal In
stitute has been held in June in ac-
cordance with provision in the
School Law of Iowa fixing the 1nsti-
tute at a time when schools are gen.
orally closed This is our last June
Institute. The law was so amended
by the thirty-tifth general assembly
that hereafter institutes must be
held when schools are generally in
session. The new legislation also
provides for shorter sessions, and for
the payment of teachers salaries dur
ing the time of two days attendance
at institute.
Some of the recent school legisla-
ton is perplexing teacher and school
officer and perhaps county superin-
tendents most of all. A superintend-
ent from neigboring county, who
is serving a third term, writes, This
is proving to be the most annoying
and perpleXing year of my superin-
tendency" There is strong ten
dency to criticise much OF the legls-
lation. But let us suspend Judgment
until adjustment is made to the con-
ditions of these new enactments, and
they have been submitted to the test
of time. Most of these measures
were recommended to the legislature
by the Better Iowa Schools commits
sion, body of leading educators
and honest men who have TAT heart
the betterment of Iowa schools. We
may believe that they were all bene-
ficient in their purpose, and even IT
some of them prove unjust in their.
operation, we may still believe that
step has been taken in the right di-
rection, and that in time wise school
legislation will do all that legisla-
ton can do to restore to Iowa her
former prestige in educational af-
fairs.
Miss Mabel Constance who has
been teaching the Evergreen school
in Fayette township, has resigned
her position to move with her par
ents to Montana. This was Miss
Constance first school but her work
has been highly satisfactory. Miss
Daisy Hall is finishing the term. r
:: :: .: *
Miss Anna Hoadley of Garden
Grove, has been elected to a primary
position at 500 per month in
Helena, Montana. Miss Hoadley is
among our best prepared teachers.
While we wish her success, we re-
greet to lose her from the state and
from the county.
The May rural examination was
given last Thursday and Friday, and,
in accordance with the ruling of the
State Department, the papers are be-
ing graded in the superintendent
Office, Announcements will be made
i next week as to the awarding Of
diplomas. S
:: :: -: r.
| 1t was announced last week that a
six-weeks summer school would i'm
mediately follow the Institute. Since
then it has been learned that the
! minimum wage law recently enacted
allows an extra credit to teachers
who hold second and third grade GER
titicates, and who atteno an approx
ed normal training school for per-
iod of six weeks following year of
successful teaching. In order to take
advantage of this provision of the
law many of the teachers who would
have attended our county summer
school, will find it desirable to at
tend elsewhere. This raises the
question as to"whether the attend
ance at the summer school will justi-
1 fy the expense for the summer school
must pay for itself. At present this
| much can be announced definitely:
The Institute will be held from June
9 to IA inclusive. This will be fol-
lowed by an eight days review, max
ing in all IA days of Institute and
review preceding the examination
June 25, 26 and Fl: All who desire
Ia longer session please inform the
County Superintendent by postal
mot by letter. 4s
On returning to your old home
5tttown5 if you don't see any familiar