The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-03-06


and creates a proudness in the district
to have their school stand out as a
standard for other districts to follow
and travellers form s good opinion of
the progress of the district by the APP
pearance of the school buildings and
grounds. In fact, the buildings are
receiving more attention as to the gen
eral appearance and equipment.
Let it be taken for granted that the
average rural district is financially able
to build school house that conforms
to the standard requirements in school
house construction. 1t would not be
very difficult to find many localities
where patrons of the local school, col
lectively, own six to ten automobiles,
any one of which is worth more than
the school house where the children
of the community are receiving their
instruction. Utility governs largely
other community interests. Why not
here? The school house should be
planned and built to serve the eommuni-
ty for twenty-five years. The following
points for essential consideration. The
school house must have sufficient capa-
city, ample provisions must be made for
heating, ventilating and lighting. In
cidental interests of humanity, cleani-
mess, convenience and safety must have
due attention. How many buildings in
Kenosha county are UP to this stand
ards Forty-three buildings and twenty
buildings need vast improvements.
A good deal could be said as regards
equipment. This year the teachers of
all schools were sent an equipment
blank to check their school by the
standard, one room rural school and al
so the state graded schools from the
state requirements. Then call a meet
! ing of their respective school boards
| and discuss the needs of equipment and
supplies. This method has been highly
gratifying in its results initiative
meeting of the teacher with the board
icaused us to realize the necessity of vast
Improvements and in some cases has
accomplished far greater results than
the method of the Superintendent writ
| ing to the clerk after his visitation.
Two years ago, only eight rural schools
qualified for the special fifty dollars
state aid, last year nineteen, and this
year twenty-five have fled application.
Many schools the last year have dis
carded the old seats and the steel adj
Unstable ones installed, new curtains,
few more bubblers and better equip
ment. A goodly number of buildings
have been painted and complete over
hauling, but the out-buildings need vast
improvements, of these little progress
has been made and in many cases a
disgrace to the school district.
School Boards are taking more inter
est in their schools and better wages
are being paid to the teaching profes-
sion due to the fact, better equipment,
buildings and attendance is going to be
the outcome of this awakened interest
on the part Of school officers. More
parent teachers associations are being
organized and it is hoped that Kenosha
County will be one hundred per cent
in the Adult Savings Societies.
The teachers deserve their share of
praise in the work of last year and so
far this year. Many patriotic duties
have been involved upon them and they
were met with the same true spirit as
our men met theirs. The Junior Red
Cross Societies were organized and re
organized this year. w. S. S. are MAX
ing great progress and it is hoped they
will continue to keep up the high
standard. A school society in every
school of Kenosha has been organized
for the main purpose of studying the
problems of the school and the manner
of conducting business-hke meeting as
they will in the near future be the eiti-
zens Of the tomorrow
In March and May one hundred and
twenty diplomas were earned by the
pupils in the rural and state graded
schools. Central graduation exercises
were held at Paddocks Lake and an
event that clearly demonstrated the
progress that was made in last year s
work Two hundred and fifty reading
circles diplomas were issued and our
mark for this year is five hundred.
Ten diplomas were issued for one Lund-
red perfect spelling lessons. This year 8
mark two hundred to be our goal.
The standards that have been intro
duced to improve our schools are uni
form text books. Uniform daily pro-
grams based upon the Common School
Manual-First Weeks Classification Re-
port. Monthly Attendance and Non
attendance Report. Unifor Report
Cards, Uniform Test Record, Uniform
Diploma Examinations, Final Classified
tion Records.
Teachers Institute Fund
Balance on hand June 20, 1918. .$16.03
Received from state treasury. 61.29
Total S77.32
Expenses ................. 22.90
Balance on hand November 1918. $54.42
Rural Schools.
Do1 -, bo,5 T,,,,o on 1o1o A7c 100 %