GROUNDS.

The school-house site usually consists of one acre of ground, and about five out of six are enclosed by a pine or oak-board fence. Many of our school yards appear naked and bare, owing to a lack of shade trees; yet, there are a very few yards in which trees have not been set out, but in many the trees have perished. A new supply is put out each season, and we hope that within a few years the school yards of this county will be well shaded. Many of the out-houses in our school yards have been neglected. A good deal of pains has been taken to bring about a remedy by reminding our school officers when meeting them, and by circular and private letter.

SCHOOLS.

The gradually increasing zeal on part of our teachers and patrons tends toward keeping our schools fully abreast with the times. Grading our normal institute in 1882 was followed by the grading of our common schools in 1886. Our graded course of study consists of six grades or years, each grade to be completed by the average pupil in ten months, making sixty months for the common school course. The course of study gives the branches that should be taught in each grade, with the nature and extent of the instruction for the same. It also contains rules for promotion from grade to grade, a few sections of the school law, and makes provision for graduation and diploma. The grading was begun in sixty-four schools of our county during the fall and winter of 1886, and at present eighty-one out of the ninety-four common schools of our county are working upon the graded plan. The teachers and patrons are taking great interest in this measure, and we firmly believe, even at this early date, that it is a decided success in Jefferson county. The number of months of school in each district, per year, vary from six to nine months, with an average of about eight and one-third months. The average summer wages for teachers was a trifle more than $23.00 per month, and the winter, $32.50. This was for the year closing July, 1886.

All the common branches receive due attention in our schools, usually ; in a few instances they do not. Drawing and vocal music are taught to a limited extent, and, so far as known, special physiology is taught in all schools of the county.

COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

Our County Teachers' Association is a source of much good in our school work. The association was organized at the close of the normal institute in August, 1882. A constitution and by-laws were framed, adopted, and officers, consisting of president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, elected. From four to six of these meetings are held each year in the towns and villages of the county. They are well attended by teachers, school officers, patrons and pupils.

The credit given these meetings as a help in school work has increased with each succeeding year. They are beginning to be looked upon as a necessary thing to successful and progressive school work.

JOHNSON COUNTY.

BY O. A. BYINGTON.

Considering Johnson county as a whole, the conditions of our schools is not discouraging, and fair progress has been made in advancing our educational interests. The general public seem to be giving an increased attention to our public schools.

The attendance at the normal institute of 1886 was the largest in the history of the county, and the prospects are favorable for an increased attendance this year. There seems to be a more general disposition on the part of the teachers to attend, and its importance seems to be more fully appreciated than formerly. We are attempting to make the sessions of the institute what the law contemplates they should be—a normal training school. In arranging our courses of study we are seeking to give more attention to the study of methods. However, it is still necessary to embrace some academic training in our Institute work. We are making a special effort to impress upon our teachers of experience the value of an annual study and discussion of the most approved methods. Our aim is to make the institute an annual meeting of all the teachers of the county for the study of normal methods.

There is such uniformity in the construction of our school-houses, and in the character of the school-grounds, that little can be said concerning them. Our school-houses are nearly all frame structures, with no attempt at architecture; painted white; with a seating capacity of perhaps fifty; about thirty by twenty feet in size; heated by coal or wood stoves; lighted by windows on both sides, and with no special means of ventilation other than the doors and windows. Except in extreme weather they are reasonably comfortable and convenient. The grounds generally comprise about one acre. Many of our school-houses are located in natural groves, others have numerous planted trees, while a few are without shade. Many trees have been planted of recent years, and in the near future our school-grounds will be much better shaded.

The average length of term during the year is about eight months. The wages of the teacher have been unusually low during the past year, but they were frequently thus fixed because of the prevailing low prices of all articles of produce.

During the past year a greater number of educational meetings were held

in the county than during any previous year. Meetings were held in various localities, and thus local interest was enlisted. As a general rule the meetings were well attended and productive of good results.

During the past year the board of supervisors, at the request of the county superintendent, purchased a classification register for each school in the county. We anticipate excellent results from its use. The object is to make a record of the school work of the term. It enables a new teacher to classify the scholars without difficulty.

In conclusion, the educational interests of the county are not being neglected. It can confidently be said that our schools are improving. The qualifications of our teachers are better and the standard of education is raised higher each year.

KEOKUK COUNTY.

BY NANNIE TORRENCE.

The normal institute of 1886 was a grand success in point of attendance, numbers, enthusiasm and work accomplished; the enrollment being 265, the largest in the history of Keokuk county. The one object kept steadily in view at our institute was the elevation of the schools. We endeavored to inspire the teachers with a love for their work and to rouse such an enthusiasm that it would be felt in their schools. In 1883 a course of study conforming with the State course was adopted, which has been adhered to ever since with but few changes. That year a class of eighteen completed the course. In 1884 there were thirteen graduates, in 1885 seventeen, in 1886 twenty-one.

As a supplement to the normal institute we have a teachers' association, which is doing good work. We have township meetings each month and county meetings twice a year. They are well attended, and much interest manifested by teachers and patrons.

Three new school-houses have been built during the past year, two in the rural districts and one in Sigourney, costing $18,000. It is a beautiful, commodious, building, heated by the Ruttan system. The lighting is excellent. The greatest attention was given to the arrangement for the comfort and convenience of the pupils. The grounds of a majority of our schools are well cared for, being well fenced, and shade trees in good, thrifty condition. Am sorry to state, however, that in quite a number of our districts the reverse of this is true. We are doing all we can to better the condition of affairs by calling the attention of the directors to this neglect.

The length of term, as well as the salary of the teacher, is steadily increasing.

The school boards of our county, with but one or two exceptions, have taken what steps they could to comply with the law in regard to teaching the effects of narcotics and stimulants.

An effort (which we think will be successful) is being made to grade the country schools. We are blessed with earnest, hard-working teachers, who are doing all in their power to further any object they believe will benefit the schools. Welch's Classification Register is used in some of the schools, but has never been adopted and provided by county board.

The Teachers' Library Association is in a flourishing condition. The library, which is kept at the county superintendent's office, and of which he, by virtue of his office, is librarian, consists of nearly one thousand volumes. It is increasing constantly in membership and number of volumes, and is well patronized by the teachers.

The Reading Circle is doing excellent work. We have ninety-two members, an increase of fifty per cent over last year.

The circulation of the School Visitor, a county educational journal, is rapidly increasing. Nearly every teacher in the county takes it in addition to other journals. It is sent free to all school officers.

While there is much yet to be done for the schools, and many places where they can be improved, we feel that the cause of education is making rapid advancement in our county.

KOSSUTH COUNTY.

BY B. F. REED.

In submitting this report I feel that I am fully justified in stating that the educational interests of this county are advancing. A majority of our teachers are the ambitious and persevering daughters of pioneer farmers. They exhibit a fortitude and courage seldom witnessed in any other profession-many of them walking a mile and building their own fires during the winter term. In their tact and ability to govern, our teachers, even in the lowest grades, have reached a standard of rare excellence; out of the one hundred and twenty teachers employed during the last winter term only seven showed a weakness in this important qualification, but, owing to the fact that many of them entered the profession before they had strength of intellect or force of character to render effective school work, I regret to say that I only found about fifty who showed any marked degree of superiority in their aptness to teach. I am convinced that they are too limited in their

general knowledge, and found wanting in mental discipline and depth of education. I have done everything I could to have them realize their situation, and it is encouraging to know that they do. As our last institute examination, in which all of the teachers participated, was ten per cent more difficult than any previous one, it left many of the teachers on probation with a lower grade of certificate than usual. But judging from the way they are studying and working, I know it will not be long before they will overcome this deficiency. At present there is a general educational awakening all along the line. They are thirsting for methods, and are pursuing courses of study and seeking light wherever it can be found.

Notwithstanding the rigidity of the examinations and other exacting requirements, my teachers consult me as a friend and treat me with all the courtesy that I could desire.

Most of our village schools are in charge of experienced instructors, and very favorable reports are coming in in regard to their excellence.

Our city schools were never under the control of a better corps of teachers than they are at the present time, and now, that we are fully established in our commodious $19,000 school building, we have a system of graded schools that is a credit to our county.

In this county we have 125 teachers employed at the same time; although we have only 1C4 regular school buildings, and these contain all together but 745 volumes of library books and $3,270 worth of school apparatus. It further appears that these buildings were erected at a total cost of $47,650, and are surrounded by only 78 shade trees. During the past year over $29,539 were paid for the services of our teachers, in addition to nearly $6,500 that were paid for rent and repairs of school buildings, fuel, dictionaries, apparatus, insurance, salaries for janitors, secretaries and treasurers, and for supplies, brooms, chalk, etc. We have 3,846 pupils of school age; but for some reason 943 of them were deprived of free education, as only 2,903 became enrolled, and the average daily attendance in the county sank down to 1,736.

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The average cost of tuition per month for each pupil in the county is about $3.40. The Independent District of Algona comes to the front with an average cost of only $1.15 for each pupil per month, while some of the townships have reported an average cost of $5.95 for each pupil during the same length of time.

The Northern Iowa Normal School, located at Algona, under the efficient management of such an able and well known educator as Prof. J. C. Gilchrist, has already done much to inspire a spirit of educational activity among our teachers. This prosperous institution having attracted the attention of many of our sister counties, bids fair to be the leading seat of learning in this part of the State.

Our last normal institute was a decided success in many ways. Although we had an attendance of one hundred and seventy-four teachers, being the largest number ever enrolled in this county—and I think the largest in the State, in proportion to our population-we avoided the monotonous lecture