The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-01-06
lieve this is due to the interest taken
Ii oil In Al,

lieve this is due to- the interest taken
by all in better schools.
Boys and girls who are interested in
school will be in school every day Il
1t is possible to get to school,.
Eighty-one boys and girls gradual
ed from our country schools last year
The examinations are hard and the
questions are carefully marked, but
they were able ito pass with credit
Several of these pupils have entered
the ninth gradesiin the schools of the
county and are ''making good" Only
one town school iobjected to their en-
trance into the ninth grade. This is
the largest class ever; graduated in
the county.
One Of the greatest factors in the
accomplishment OF the above work is
the spirit the teachers have shown. A
more loyal body OF teachers could not
be found in any, county in Iowa. They
have worked together for the uplift OF
the schools of the county. Four years
ago there were nearly thirty teachers
who held provisional certificates; to.
day there are six who hold regular
PROFESSIONALS. The teachers have
worked and studied, gone to school,
attended educational meetings and in
other ways prepared themselves for
better teachers and our schools are
going ahead because OF this improve.
ment. Where thu teachers are inter-
ested and working the same spirit
shows, in the schools.
The law requires that the county
visit each school in the
county once each year. The town and
city schools elect superintendent
who has charge OF the schools and we
visit these schools once or twice u
year. The country schools need the
most of our time SO we visit them at
least once year and lin most cases
we have visited them two or three
times each year. Where there is
trouble or where the school is not 60.
ing as it should we visit several times
each year. This lras taken an i'm
mense amount Of work, but 1t is worth
more than the cost.
Most people know of the new law in
regard to the election of county SUI
perintenfent and the reason for pass
ing this law. In some counties there
is a two terms and out' rule and this
aW affected the county superintendent
as well as the other county officers.
The office of county superintendent is
one of the most important, il not the
most important. in the county and
when a capable county superintend-
ent had to leave on account of the
rule" and poorer one took his or
her place It was "a set back to the
schools and dlstinct loss to the c0un-
". For this reason the law was
passed taking the election out Of pol
itics AMI placing itri in; the haaas Of the
men who, because OF their position,
should be the most interested in good
schools for the county. This gives the
board q right 70 select the same cOun-
ty superintendent for term Of years
or to choose q more capable one. If
the board members use their best
Judgment and select the man they
think most capable, then there is no
question about the law being a good
one.
1t takes nearly two years for a coun-
ty superintendent to become acquaint-
ed with the schools and conditions in
his county before he is able to go
ahead and do his best work and to
change ut the end of four years is not
the best for the schools OF the county
II the schools are going ahead and the
county superintendent is capable. The
same thing is true of the town or city
school. At the present time We have
in Iowa fourteen county superintend-
ents who are serving their fourth
term. two who are serving their sew
enth term and one who is serving his
ninth term. know these superintend-
ents personally and most of them are
the live county supdrintendents OF
the state. One term is enough for any
Superintendent who fails to make
good"
The town and city schools select the
same superintendent year after year
ii he is capable of doing good work,
and they get better results by doing
this. 1t is true that good school men
observe certain amount OF etiquette
in applying for the positions of others
and that school boards do not consid-
er the applications of other candidates
as long as the other superintendent is
making good and wants the position.
This is not true of political offices.
1t is difficult task to take charge of
a system OF schools and to help lift
it to higher plane. The work in the
country is more difficult than that of
u town or city on account OF the
schools being SO far apart.
Inc people of this county as well as
the school boards know what has been
done for the schools of the county the
past four years. am willing to leave
my case with the men who have the
election of county superintendent for
the next three years.
II have made the schools better, ii
| have led your boys and girls to be
better and to take more interest in
school and in life. IL there has been a
general uplift in school work. then
wish to be favorably considered
With best wishes for 1916.
Respectfully.
F.. N. OLRY. Co. Supt.
Denison. Iowa, Dec. 80, 1914.
Judge Prouty's speech in congress
H. Il