Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-04-24
RURAL SCHOOL NOTES.

The rural eighth grade examlna-
tons will be held Thursday and
Friday, May 14th and 18th.
! Bessie Smith, a recent graduate
of the High School Normal Train
ing Course, is teaching in District
3 Howard Center.
Arbor and Bird day will be OBJ
served April oath. The teachers
have been asked to have suitable ex-
ercises for this occasion. Special
Day booklets have been sent 0 them
giving programs and outlines for
special day celebrations. Some very
good suggestions are given in con-
nection with Arbor Day exercises.
The County Superintendent con-
ference at Iowa City was most
helpful and Interesting meeting.
State Superintendent Deyoe officiat-
ed and the majority of the sessions
were conducted on the round table
plan. Special addresses were CIV
en- by Pres. Mcbride of the State
University and by DR.. w. A. Jessup,
Dean of the School Of Education,
also of the State University. Some
Of the most important subjects dis
cussed We're "Plans for more uni
formity and effective reading by the
teachers and uniform requirements
for the renewal of certificates;
methods of conducting the eighth
grade examinations, fitness of the
questions, time needed, and grading
of the papers; and the present sta
tus of consolidation of schools"
There was a special plea from the
state department that we recon-
mend the renewal Of no certificate
whose holder has not shown real
professional spirit, that we may in
this way eliminate from service
those teachers who during the lives
of their certificates do not show
real professional growth and inter-
est in their work
1t was found that the majority
of the superintendent were holding
the eighth grade examinations in
central places, and that the majori-
ty were marking the papers in their
own offices instead of having them
marked by the teachers 1t was
quite generally conceded that the
questions in February were too
technical or impractical, and that
the lists were too long We are
working over these things and hope
to get them adjusted as nearly as
possible in short time.
Mr.. ]. A. Woodruff, inspector of
rural and consolidated schools, in
formed US that forty new consolidat-
ed districts have been organized in
Iowa since year ago this April, and
that previous to that time there
were only twenty real consolidated
schools in the state. He also stated
that these consultations were prin-
cipally in groups, showing q tenden-
cy on the part Of thef neighboring
districts to follow after they see the
efficiency of the first. In one of the
counties a $4,000 building has just
been voted. 1t is thought that not
all this amount will be used, but
the people are willing to give it If
needed. This will be a much higher
priced building than the average.
but the district is very near other
consolidated schools SO the people
believe it will be a success and they
are not afraid to put the money in-
to it.
We believe that we can all go
out into the field with better ideas
for carrying on the work and shall
look forward to the next confer
ence, which will be held sometime
in November, anticipating a more
definite solutio of many Of the
questions considered at this time.
Your attention is again called to
the Big Five meeting which will be
held at DEBORAH Friday and Satur-
day, May and Q. We anticipate
a good meeting, and hope that all
the teachers will make special eff
forts to attend.