Year: 1876

THE YOUNG MANS BOOK ACCOUNT.


A gentleman who is one of the first
teachers Of Mahaska county, came into
this office last week and in the course Of
conversation spoke of his school, its close,
pay, ETC., etc. He said, II came to this
country last spring with one hundred dol
lars, attended school one term at Penn
College, then month at your Normal In
stitute. In the intervals labored on the
farm when found labor, and this winter
taught four months of school On look
ing at my books to-day, 1 find that have
balance of about twenty dollars" This
remark called to my mind fact which is
every day apparent. Our best teachers
are, as fast as possible, getting into grad
ed schools where better wages can be had,
or they are leaving the profession entire
ly. Two young men and as many young
ladies of our county are this year leaving
the teachers desk because the tendency
on every hand is to lower the wages. l
would be the last one to ask for extrava-
CANT expenditures in the way of salaries.
I want to see every teacher of Iowa earn
every cent that is paid to him, but let us
elevate both the standard of qualifications
and the wages. Let the, people call for
better teachers, and say that the salary
shall equal the ability, and they will be
forth coming The demand must in
crease the supply, and if that standard so
much needed were required, remarkable
change would take place. Let no commu-
nifty say, ave do not need teacher much
advanced, as our pupils are all small"
You need a person aoho possesses first class
qualifications, and you can better pay
a good salary for such service than half
or even one fourth the same for third rate
instructions.


This matter is worthy of careful atten-
ton The public needs better teachers.
How shall we get them? The question
must be answered by those Interested
the people.


State Superintendent Abernethy has
issued very elaborate report to the Gen.
eral Assembly. 1t is very complete and
calls for various articles of enactment
some of which we give as follows:


l. That school officers be held to
stricter accountability in the management
of school funds.


2. That some action be taken to pre-
vent the further rapid multiplication of
school districts.


3. That provision be made for the
more efficient supervision of the ungrad-
ed schools Of the State, by paying County
Superintendents an adequate salary and
excluding incompetent persons from the
Office.
| 4. That State board Of examiners
be created, with authority to issue perma-
nent diplomas and State certificates to
professional teachers.


5. That drawing and elementary ply
sizes, vocal music, or some other branch be
added to the list in which applicants for
certificates are required to be examined.


6. That at the earliest practicable
moment one or more normal schools be
established by the State for the training
Of teachers.


7. That the law providing for county
Normal Institutes be amended so as to
increase their usefulness; especially, by
relieving of portion of the expense at
tending their management.


8. That more adequate provision be
made for establishing county high schools.


8. That the commencement of the
school year be defined and fixed at such
a date as to afford better opportunity
for making the annual returns of school
statistics. ..........


WHAT Our NoRMALs HAVE DONE
When any new thing is undertaken there
is curiosity on the part of US all to know
the result. have been trying TO note
the progress, if any, made by our teach
ers since our normal system was organized
two years ago. There is manifest i'm.
provement. Teachers, in general, prepare
better Mss, more attention is paid to
punctuation, spelling, methods of teach.
ing, and such topics as these. There is
rapidly growing up in the teachers mind
an ideal course of instruction. They see
more clearly what education is. What
our schools require, and among othe,
things they see that good instructors art
needed. All these, and much more are tt
great degree, the work of the Normal
, Let every live teacher be ready to begir
with the very first hour of our Centennia
) Institute. and give Mahaska the best il
,, the State.


ExAAINATIoNs.-This is the bus,
season, and applicants are numerous. I