Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-01-26
ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Honorable Board Of Supervi-
sors of Rusk County:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen
| take pleasure in herewith sub
hitting to you as required by Statute,
this, my fifth annual report OF the
progress and condition of the schools
Of this county.
Due to the rapid rate of develop
ment of our county, the problem OF
providing school facihries for the
children is a large and an interesting
one, but it is also one that school
officers and tax payers are giving
most earnest attention to-, and SO far
as possible, solving quite satisfac-
torily.
New districts call for new and i'm
proved highways, and as fast at least
as something in that direction is
done, still more calls are heard from
later settlers as the country settles
up, and SO from year to year more
schools are needed.
The number of school districts in
the county the last year was rs.
Number of Rural schools 70; State
Graded schools 10; High Schools 4.
New buildings in progress Of con-
struction, or completed since my last
report are, a fine modern brick build
ing at WeyerhauSer to accommodate
the high school and the grades be-
low; a model brick building at HaW-
kins for the high school department
alone; rural school buildings in No.
Grow; in No. 5 Grant; in No. 5
Atlanta; in No True; and it. :
Flambeau C Hubbard.
This fall four schools are being
conducted in temporary Or private
buildings until new buildings can be
completed.
New districts have by order of the
town boards of supervisors been Gre
ated in Grant, Grow, True, Marshall
and hurry.
In addition to the above named
new buildings, extensive improve
ments have been made in a goodly
number Of other districts; new furnl-
ture and equipment have been put
in so that most of the rural schools
have good and sanitary buildings,
and better advantages. This is evil
dence Of the improving sentiment in
our county for giving the children
school advantages they deserve.
The salaries of our teachers are
being steadily advanced, because pa
irons are determined to raise the
standard of teaching, and Of their
schools in various ways. To secure
this, they are willing to pay better
wages, but at the same time are not
satisfied with mediocre teachers, or
old time school teaching. They de-
mand the best to be had from their
teacher, both within the school room
and without, that their children may
be well trained for good citizenship
am pleased to say that most OF
Rusk county teachers are in full SYM
patty with this progressive idea, and
are rising to the occasion.
The county superintendent attended
the annual convention of superinten-
dents last January, called by State
superintendent G. P. Cary, at Mad1-
son.
During the past year I have held
two tWo-days teachers Institutes, and
three one-day sessions. In the insti-
ductors from Milwaukee, Oshkosh
and River Falls Normal schools.
Practically every teacher of the coun-
ty attended one Or more of these
meetings. Several of such institutes
are to be held during the present
year.
On October 18th, last. the annual
Convention of the School Officers and
Teachers was held at the courthouse.
Over one hundred and sixty were in
attendance, and a most profitable con-
vention was held. Mr.. w. E. Larson,
Rural School Inspector, assisted in
the meeting.
The various reports required by
law from the superintendent have
been made to the several departments
and officers of the state and the
the county.
Spelling and Arithmetic Contests
A very profitable contest was held
in the schools of the rural districts
last spring. 1t consisted of spelling,
arithmetic and penmanship, and was
participated in by majority of the
home schools, the winner entering
the IOWu COuLCSC, ol1o LHS W11iuO1
there. attended a county contest held
at the Training School building. At
that contest Miss Hilda De Pew, OF
No. Grow, won the county honors,
and she was given free trip to and
from the state fair at Milwaukee, ana
two days free entertainment there.
Such contests are of incalculable val
ue to all who take hold of them and
do their best. This is the second such
we have held in this county.
In cooperation with Mr. G. NJ.
Householder, Agricultural Representa-
tive, a potato growing contest was
successfully carried out last summer.
Three hundred twenty eight boys and
girls entered the contest, and about
two hundred seventy five completed
it, and many had on exhibition their
potatoes at the county fair.
A few who especially distinguished
themselves as good judges of pota-
toes, were given free trip to the
State Potato Growers Convention at
EauClaire on the 21st of this month,
by Mr. Householder.
The subject of elementary agricul-
ture is now taught in all schools OF
this county and some excellent re