The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1914-10-07
SCHOOLS RlDlC ATE
GROW TIL OF COUN
Annual Report Of Superintendent
Stewart Shows Wonderful Develop
ment Of Beltrami Institutions.
MANY RECEIVE AID FROM STATE

Buildings Valued at $347, ,270 and
Number Of Pupils is 4,9e0-Is
600 Increase Over 1918.
Just what the increase of Bel
trami county's population during the
past year has been, is amply demon
|strated in report which has just
been completed by w. B. Stewart,
county superintendent of schools,
and T. S. Thompson, assistant super
intendent.
|. The report which tells Of the con-
[dition Of county schools for the year
ending July 81, 1914, is the result of
several weeks work and gives In
formation concerning the number of
pupils, kind of school, teachers,
books, cost of maintenance and ect.,
from every school in the county.
Many Receive State Aid.
There are three new consolidated
school districts, the result of the past
year, bringing the total up to ten,''
said Mr.. Stewart today, and it was
with a smile of pride that he made
the statement, for it is largely due to
the efforts of the Beltrami county
superintendent that the advantages
of consolidated districts have been
spread to all sections of the state.
There are but fifteen per cent of
the schools in organized districts of
the county which are not receiving
state aid, at least eighty-five per
cent having made the proper quail
fications to entitle them to assistance
from the state. This is gratifying
to the superintendent and others who
are interested in the advancement
and betterment of educational ia
cilities in the county
Increased by Six Hundred.
In the schools of the county, in
Guiding those of Bemidji, there were
4,196 pupils entitled to appNptiaNss
ment. 764 not being able to qualify,
a total of 1880. an increase OF just
500 oyer the enrolment OF the years
which closed In July,sI918. The ave-
erage days attended by each student
equals 111.7, wllilsjithere we're ! III
children between the ages of 5 and s,
3,484 between ages Of and 1S, and
328 between the ages of IS and IL,
enrolled in the county. Six boys
and girls above the age of 81 were
enrolled. There were 2,522 students
between the ages of s and 18 who at
tended entire terms.
Average $56.43 Per Month.
The superintendent reports that
the county last year had rs men and
178 women teachers, the former re-
ceiving an average of $90.67 per
month and the latter $56.43.
~.
A Well Educated Force.
OF the number of teachers in the
county schools, 80 were graduates of
a high school, FL of normal schools,
and 20 of some college. Fifty-four
attended high school. normal school
or college, but did not complete the
course. Nineteen taught continu-
ously in their district for three years,
and "a for two years.
Books Free to Pupils.
In the 81 school districts of the
county, 80 provided text books free,
while three sell at cost.
During the last year five frame and
two log school houses were built. The
value of the building done during the
year totals $3,454. In the county
there are 126 frame, brick and log
school houses and fourteen buildings
are rented for educational purposes.
Valuations Of Property.
School houses and sites are valued
at $347,27O, desks at $16,056, and
other apparatus at $17,679. There
are 81 school Libraries. Two years
ago Arbor day was not observed in
the schools of the county, but last
year ten schools planted total of
169 trees.
The aggregate Indebtedness Of the
school districts, As being included,
amounts to $210,072.
School Terms Lengthen.
Another satisfactory point in COM
necti0n with the report is that re-
ferring to length of terms. Last year
the terms averaged 8.35 months,
while this year they will average
about one week more.
During the year the county super
intendent made 223 school visits.
STORE MUCH IMPROVED.