The Kadoka press. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1923-current, 1923-11-16
COUNTY SUPT REPORTS
ON SCHOOLS
IMPROVEMENTS NOTED AND
SOME CHANGES SUGGESTED
FOR RURAL SCHOOLS

At the present time there are
thlrty-nine schools in session in
Jackson County. To great ex-
tent these schools are in charge
Of ambitious teachers who are in
terested in the work.
In order to improve the schools
provide comfortable buildings and
we'll qualified teachers a plan has
been devised to offer financial aid
to all districts providing school
buildings meeting certain stand
ards and employing teachers poss-
eSslng first grade certificate OF
known as state aid and is under
the direction OF the Department OF
Public Instruction. The legislator,
appropriates a definite sum of
money which is apportioned a
mong the schools qualifying fol
state aid The last appropriation
made for l923-23 and l924-25 is
$4,000 per year. If the sum is
sufficient each one room standard
rural school receives $3.50 whilt
the amount allowed consolidated
schools varies from $3.50 to $400,
depending upon the classification
There is also sum of $500 allow.
ed To districts having standard
teacherage.
Last year Jackson County had Z
State Aid Schools or nearly l3 pei
cent. This year there are sever
applications on file. When we COZ
slder that such counties as Mime
haha and Lincoln in the most pop
ulouS and prosperous part OF the
state have less than ten per cent
of their schools equipped for state
aid we are glad that we live ii
western South Dakota where peo.
pie have vision for their childreL
in spite of the hard times. VIZ
should provide better schools fol
our farm boys and girls. They
will have to meet the same respo.
slbilities as the town or city chill.
dren and should therefore be al
lowed the same advantages; but al
present we find that tins is ia.
from being true.
Many OF the districts in ouI
county are steadily improving this
schools either by erecting new
buildings or improving the ones Ill
use. "A great many more districts
should do this. There are at least
SIX schools in jackson County that
could qualify for state aid If few
dollars were spent on improving
the buildings and a teacher posS-
eSsing the necessary qualifications
were employed. School Officers
should get an idea of the require
ments and do everything possibl,
to standardize schools before tn.
opening of the next school year
In Brave Bull district there has
been as fine modern two room
building erected as can be founu
in any district in the state. 1t has
been equipped with indoor toilet
proper heating and ventilatlng
facilities, comfortable desks ana
the school course includes | year
of accredited high school work.
One of the teachers possesses a
State certificate while the lower
grade teacher has a first grde GER
tificate. Belvidere has a splendid
consolidated school employing 4
teachers. This year a large autc
bus has been pl divided for transpor
ting the children. Weta has :;
three room consolidated schoo
with large enrolment in high
school. This year they added a
standard teacherage to the equip
ment. The rural school in In
terror Ind. Dist. has been improved
and built up so thatan application
for State aid was filed this year.
South Creek No.44, Fairview No
%, and Franklin No. II qualified
for State Aid last year and have
made application again this year
1t should be possible to double tins
record next year. :,
In visiting the schools of the
county one lack will be noted, ano
that is the failure of somany
schools to float the flag as is pro
vided by law. There are only SIN
schools, aside from the town
schools that are found displaying
the colors. This is not the fault
of the teacher in most instances,
nor is it an indication of the lack
of patriotism, but is the result OF
neglect of the school board to pro
vide suitable flag poles. Every
school board should see that this
improvement is brought about i'm
mediately, if there is no means OF
flying the flag one should be sup
piled without delay.
While Jackson County is keep
ing pace with many counties in
rural education, that is not enough
1t is time that we forge ahead and
In this section where the greater
number of our 'children receive
their education in the rural schools
let us give them square deal byr
providing comfortable buildings
and well qualified teachers thus
allowing them an opportunity. to
meet the problems of living with
out handicap.