Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-12-24
REPORT OF COUNTY SUPERIN.
TENDENT
To the Honorable Board of Supervis-
nrS of Vernon COurfv WiSconsiu

10 the Honorable Board OF SupervlS-
Ors of Vernon County, Wisconsin.
Gentlemen; In compliance with
the statutes and a fixed custom, |
hereby submit for your consideration
and approval my first report as Coun-
ty Superintendent of Schools of Yer
non County (city of Viroqua not in
cluded) for the school year ending
June 30, 1919.
As an introduction to the report
wish to say that just as the schools
were well organized and started on a
what, no doubt, would have been a
most successful years work, an cpl
demic of influenza caused health au-
thorities to close schools and nearly
all other social and community as
semblages.
The records in the County Superin-
tendent's Office show that every school
in the county was closed-two for
only ten days, one for ninety-four
days with the rest ranging between
these extremes, but averaging az days,
or Il of the school year, for every
school in the county. Because of this,
the plans of the school year were
disorganized and the work of the
schools greatly reduced, while what
was done, had to be hurriedly gone
over in order to get through with the
minimum requirements for promo
tion and graduation. / call attention
to the abnormal conditions which OBJ
tanned on account of the influenza cpl
demic, because teachers, supervisors,
and county superintendent alike are
painfully aware at the beginning of
this new school year of the handicap
with which the schools have to labor
now, owing to the time lost during
last fall and winter.
No material changes were made in
school district boundries and no new
buildings were erected during the past
year. Quite extensive Improvements
were made in several rural schools,
and minor improvements in many 9th
ers in order to comply with the law
and urgent needs. The restraint
against building during the war, hav-
ing been removed, several districts
have already started plans for build
ing and other changes for improve
ment during the coming year. Dis
trict No. /, Town of Hillsboro, is to
have a new building. a new school
district is to be, or has been formed in
the town of Stark, they no doubt will
build next summer. A union high
school, including parts of four town
ships has been voted at Valley, Wis
consin. This is the only union high
school district in the county, but On
tario free high school district is think
ing seriously of changing over to a
union high school district plan.
The following statistics taken from
my annual report to the state super
intendent may be of interest as mat
ter of information:
GENERAL STATISTICS
Schools
Total number of schools 156, Of
which 142 are rural, 10 state graded,
and A free high school with grades.
Children
Total number of children between
the ages of and 20 residing in the
county June 80, 1919, was 1888, de-
crease of 81 during the past school
year. Total number of children be-
tween the ages of and IA was 4195.
Total number of children between the
ages of IA and 16 was 1101.
Enrolment
Total number of pupils enrolled in
the public schools 5402, of which $3.50
were in rural schools, 712 in state
graded, 697 in grades below the high
school and 293 in high schools. There
was one school with an enrolment of
less than 10, and two with an enroll
ment of over SO, these extremes are
no conducive to the most efficient
school work and no doubt will be rem
edied.
Graduates
Total number of graduates last
spring was 357, of which 229 We're ru-
raj school graduates, 80 state graded
school, SO grades below the high
school and SO high school.
Teachers
The schools of the county employed
pig teachers. of which four men and
IS9 women were employed in rural
schools. two men and &c women in
state graded. "a women in grades be-
low the high schools, four men and
thirteen women in high schools, max
ing a total Of 10 men and 202 women.
Qualifications
OF this number so held state GER
tificates, eight first grade county GER
tificates. AZ second grade, % third
grade, 20 county training school GER
tificates, and 3 special limited.
Experience
OF the PIP teachers, 90 were begin
ners, 45 had taught one year, 81 two
wears, "a three years, is four years,
and Il five years or more.