Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-06
SCHOOL SYSTEMS
NEE0 LEADERSHIP
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT GET
ATTENTION At IOWA STATE
TEACHERS.

Les MONIES, NOV. 4.-Ine workings
OF the county unit system OF educa-
ton were discussed today before the
Iowa State Teachers convention by
Albert s. Cook of Baltimore. He said
in part:
1.-THE most important element in
rural school progress is leadership.
This ability for leadership in every
county school system must reside in
the county superintendent"
Mr.. Cook then described the coun.
'ty unit system used in Maryland, as
sorting that 1t made for standardiza-
ton OF the schools and saying that
ito all intents and purposes" 1t was
as effective as city system. OF the
more direct effects Of the system he
said:
THE expert rural school supervis.
or. possible under the county unit,
comes to know, not only the individu-
al teacher. but the individual child
and the parents of the child in every
community he serves. He, knows the
economic and sociological conditions
OF the communities better than any
other person; therefore all movement
for rural betterments may and should
SoAo IAAVuSA nAS byApo'AosAC CooPoi-
alton.
1.-THE rural school, no matter how
good or how inefficient, is the most
vital institution in every rural COM
munity. 1t is, therefore, essential
that all progressive movements for
rural betterment should center about
the rural school This is possible in
a county system of schools only
through expert rural supervision. In
dividual initiative has made many
single rural schools famous for ef-
hciency in one or more ways: but it
is only through constant growth I'M
der expert supervision that all the
schools in q county become efficient
and remain so.'
Many Teachers Present.
Fully two thousand delegates had
for the opening OF the
sixty-f1rst annual convention of the
Iowa State Teachers association here
today and it was expected that by
tomorrow there would be at least
8 500 teachers present. The morning
was taken up in the reception Of dele
gates while this afternoon was devot-
ed to departmental meetings and to
the initial sessions of associations af-
hliated with the teachers organiza-
ton.
The program provided for the first
general session of the convention to
open at $50 o'clock tonight. Presi-
dent H. B. Smith of Dubuque will de-
liver his annual address and be fol
lowed by Davis Starr Jordan, presi-
dent. emeritus of Leland Stanford, Jr..
as the principal speaker OF
the evening. The routine work Of the
will begin tomorrow and
the closing session will be held Satur-
day.
The Iowa Congress of Mothers and
associations and the
Iowa Home Economics association
opened their conventions in conjunc'
ton with the state teachers.
Bible Question Held Back.
The Iowa State Teachers association
will not be asked to pass upon the
question of bible instruction In the
public schools this year. The commit
Tee on bible instructions in public
schools, 1t was announced, had decided
10 defer such a recommendation until
Il had received the reports of the Iowa
Religious Educational association and
the committee of the international
Sunday School association, which are
expected in February Of next year.
The preliminary report to the educa-
tional council of the teachers associa-
lion this morning therefore merely in
Guided the outline of study Of systems
adopted by several states and by the
school district of Gary, Ind.
The committee on teachers pen
sions in it's report to the educational
asked for advice as to conduct
ing a campaign which would bring
about a favorable vote in the next leg
stature. The bill providing for retire.
nent fund for teachers failed at the
asst session. The committee reported
that 1t favored having the same Dill |
resubmitted.
M. essej Fs. Sch Sirnt,aches