Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-04-14
THE EDUCATIONAL DEPT.
CONDUCTED BY COUNTY SUPT.
GEO. E. SANFORD
PIE TEAcHER.s cnNTRACT


Last week l took up the important duty Of
the school board Hiring Teachers" brought
Tout the Importance Of selecting competent
/ teachers, and the necessity of ADEQUATE salary
This week | want to impress upon teachers
the purpose Of the contract. and the obligation
Il imposes upon each Of the parties TO il. The
teachers contract in simple words amounts
TO this-For services properly rendered by the
teacher. for a certain definite period Of time.
the district agrees to pay a certain definite
sum at stated periods. II the teacher i ready
and willing at ell times 10 render proper ser
vices, and the district refuses to pay the dis
tTiet has violated its part of the contract and
the teacher may get her compensation and
damages, if any. through the courts. Teach
ers have collected salary before now because
the district had violated its part of the con-
tract On the ether hand il the beard Is ready
and willing at all times 10 pay what the con-
tract calls for. and the teacher refuses to rem
der proper services, then the teacher has vi0lat-
ed her part OF the contract, and in justice the
district has right TO bring suit for damages
against the teacher for such violation. I have
never known of district TO do so. Now
contract is just binding TO the party or
other side Among business men and people
in general, a contract is regarded as a bind
ing instrument. They live up TO the condi-
tioHs of the contract even at a considerable
loss Of money sometimes. unless there is q
mutual agreement to cancel or change the con-
contract. Every teacher should consider her
word and contract just sacred. and having
made n legal contract, live up TO il even at a
loss of money unless there is a mutual agree
II.
your name to a teachers contract for the COM
ing year, be sure that you know the cond-
tlons of the contract, and are willing to ac-
cept those conditions and the salary mentioned
or else don't sEree TO do so. Get the salsry
you need and then go ahead and fulfill your
part Of the contract TO the end. How a teach
er can stand before class in civics citi-
zenship to teach boys ana girls to be good law
abiding citizens. and then violate her con-
tract with the district is not clear 20 the
mind OF am ore who believes in the theory of
aFf rEIn hat We 4 rffs
this article as a reprimaBd, bat as a warning
So far as | can recall. no teacher in this coun-
~ has broken contract during the year
There have been several of mutual agree
ment to cancel the contract but no blame can
be attached 70 that, a teacher has a per-
feet right TO ask the board TO be released. and
! believe no fair minded board would refuse
TO release teacher If the reason given is suf-
hcient- In some parts Of the state there comes
word OF much contract breaking. Therefore ]
am writing this warning TO teachers.
Don't sign contract until you are satisfied
with the salary, and then having signed il stay
satisfied. In the past many boards have been
morally TO blame for the discomfort, as they
have taken advantage Of inexperienced young
people and driven unfair bargain, but this
year, with all the publicity and agitation going
in all kinds Of papers and magazines no teach
er can shift any blame. The time 60 get a
satisfactory contract is Just before you sign
it: not one week, one month, or any other time
after it.
THE MADISON MEETING
At the request of MIR. en- Of the Reedsburg
school board, State Superintendent Cary issued
an invitation 10 boards Of education through
out the state TO send one Of their number 90 a
meeting at Madison ON Tuesday Of the past
week. TO go over the present teacher shortage
problem. and see Just how serious IL really is,
and how much Of ii Is far fetched. According
to the daily papers, the meeting contained las
most meetings dO) some wide visioned, broad
minded members and few narrow visiOned.
seif-centered members. But on the whole we
feel that much good viii grow out Of that
netting. The big Fly in the ointment is lack
Of cooperation between the school boards and
patrons on one side and the teachers ON the
enough to see what a really hkeable person
the other one is. There is too much looking
at the situation from one point Of view only.
Let's put ourselves in the other fellows place
occasionally and then cooperate for the good
Of the school, forgetting our puny selves the
while.
SCHOOL NEWS
Green Creek School, Dist. No. S, Greenwood.
Winnie Bruce, Teacher--Clafence Onsager and
Hazel Ryman have been neither absent nor
tardy for the entire year. As the pres
ent school year is over. l wish every teacher
who has pupils having perfect attendance
tneither absent nor iardy) would report the
names Of such pupils 10 me at once.
The Vernon County Normal is closed this
week for Easter vacation. Members of the SEN
ier class who expect 10 graduate this spring
are taking this opportunity to get some first
hand knowledge Of their future work.by spend
ing at least three days in sons rural school.
To be sure that the time is well spent, Prin-
thoroughly inspect the building, premises and
equipment and observe the work Of the teach
err and pupils. Each prospective teacher is al
so expected 70 be given the opportunity 10
practice in the school at least one day. Upon
their return to the training school they are to
report upon their inspection, observation and
practice. We believe this Is a start In the pro-
per direction and hope that more complete and
cooperative plans may be worked out for the
coming school year.
At present not enough teachers have signi-
fed their desire for a summer school at vi
roqua, TO warrant holding one. l want to put
the situation squarely before the teachers as il
now appears to be- Since no provision has
been made for the financing Of a summer
school here, by the county this summer, and
none be made without special meeting Of
the county board, the Financing of the ses-
sion will have TO be done by tuition. How
ever, this should prove no obstacle as teachers
Of Vernon County attending summer school
at any fthc state normals will pay tuition
and in addition 20 that, much higher living ex-
pense than they will have TO pay here. There
Is decided advantage to the Vernon County
teachers to be able 10 attend summer school in
their own county near home and where they
going TO teach. Two subjects for each
grade Of certificate could be offered for the
entire six weeks. Credits gained in these could
be used upon certificates. The second or first
grade subjects would renew third or second
grade certificates providing you have the Read
ing Circle credits. Each teacher would be al
lowed TO take two Of the six weeks subjects
Additional work could be taken in reviewing
Two weeks on elch OIL thref SUBJECTS, as maj
vidual needs suggest. Such a program, in
Guiding the model grades in session, could be
handled by three instructors AT a cost Of from
$500 to $500 for the six weeks. Therefore an
enrolment of from rs TO 100 paying a tuition
of ten dollars for the session would be requir-
ed to warrant summer school here this sum
ner. Ten dollars is very reasonable tuition
to pay for six weeks summer school right In
your home county. The best time would pro-
baby be from June 81 TO July 80 with teach
ers' examinations Immediately following. II
Is necessary for every teacher who wishes TO
attend a summer school here at Viroqua TO
signify his or her desire at once in order that
arrangements may be made and instructors
engaged. Please notify the county supern- |
teadent your wish by postal card as II can
be easily iIed. Under the new eertiheation |
law If the holder Of third grade certificate |
does not renew by six weeks summer school |
attendance an examination must be passed in |
all Of the third grade sub sets (no filing Of |
previous standings is now allowed in renewing |
a third grade eerti6eatel This does not apply |
70 holders Of second grade eertai6cates. FIX |
cepton--wTiters renewing either grade cerai- |
Eeates may at the discretion Of the county .
81 perintendent substitute extra reading cirels |
W Tk for an examination IN one subject.
Prank Wise has commenced ex-
cavating basement for his house on