Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-04-06

poultry raising and in directing their
interests to the farm and farm life,
will fully repay for the extra obliga-
tons that the work throws upon the
| office.
! believe If I remember correctly
| that made a statement before this
convention on the day Of my election,
that it would be my policy at all
times to be progressive and yet con-
sentative. have tried to live up, as
far as possible, to this ideal. Our
rural schools have undoubtedly made
progress during the past three years.
To be sure, the progress has not been
such as l had hoped for. Many of our
buildings are pretty much the same as
they were when I came. In many in
stances, very little equipment has been
added. Perhaps should have insisted
buildings and modern up-to-date
equipment. This, I believes, is a usual
procedure of the newly elected county
superintendent who comes into the
office with high ideals and new-fang-
led theories which look very nice
on paper but which are liable to prove
very expensive to the pocket books OF
the taxpayers. felt, Of course, at that
time and still feel that these things
are needed. However, during the war,
building materials and labor were
abnormally high. Equipment could be
bought only at exhorbitant prices. So
we plodded along the best we could
and waited for better times to coma
when prices of material and labor
would be more favorable. We have
almost reached that point now, but,
unfortunately, the rural people find
themselves facing an even more diff
ficult situation than they did. With the
value of farm produce reduced out OF
all proportion as compared to the
profits of other business enterprises,
and with the taxes higher than ever
it would be rather inconsistent to
ask for more improvements than are
absolutely necessary for the proper
maintenance and operation OF our
schools. 1t has been my experience in
dealing with the rural folks that they
are of rather practical turn OF mind,
unwilling to waste their money on
fads, and yet, ever ready to equip
the schools to the extent that, with a
competent teacher in charge, efficient
work may be done.
The past three years Of my work
in the Delaware county school holds |
many pleasant associations for me. 1t
is true the work has not always gone |
There have been disagree
ments, stormy sessions and sometimes
merely misunderstanding. Through
out it all, 1 have tried to be con-
scientious in my work, fair in my
honest and outspoken with
the directors, but above all things,
loyal to my profession as teacher
serving the best interests Of the boys
and girls under my charge. AS l said
at the beginning Of my report, it
would be quite impossible for me to
begin to touch upon all the phases OF
my work that was done among you
and your schools. have merely men
toned a few matters touched upon to
refreshen your memory on some points
and to give you the assurance that
if l should continue to serve you it
would be my highest endeavor to in
crease my efficiency and the value OF
my services to the county in proper
ton to the experience, the deeper in
sight into your problems and the
larger appreciation of rural life that
have gained in my association with
Delaware County folks. ...