SCHOOL-HOUSES. a. The majority of the houses are frame, constructed without any special plan, being mostly of the same size, 20x24 feet. b. One fine brick building at Lettsville is heated by furnace; all others with common wood or coal stoves. c. But three or four houses in the county have any means of ventilation, except by the windows and doors. d. About 75 per cent are comfortable and convenient, with entry way, shelves and hooks for dinner pails and wraps; the balance need repairs to make them truly comfortable. a. The general condition of grounds is very good; a few yards are uncared for. b. But a small proportion have good, clean out-houses. There is generally one in a passable condition, but it is rare to find two in good repair, and there are several districts in this county without any whatever. C. The greater number of yards are enclosed by good fences; a few are without, and two or three still cling to barb wire in lieu of an upper board. d. In many districts there are natural trees; in others, where not already growing, Arbor Day was generally observed, and from fifteen to twenty trees planted. a. The average length of school term in this county is 7.7 months. About 50 per cent hold nine months of school, 20 per cent eight months, and the remainder six and seven. b. The average salary paid male teachers is $43.37; females, $28.40. c. In the country schools the common branches, and sometimes algebra, are taught. In the graded schools, algebra, botany, ancient history, geometry, astronomy, etc. SPECIAL BRANCHES. d. (1.) Writing is done in nearly every school, but penmanship seldom taught. (2.) Drawing is not taught, except by merely copying patterns of objects as a recreation from study. (3) All schools learn songs and sing, but vocal music is not presented as a study, as a rule. (4.) Hygienic physiology is generally taught, and both teachers and directors are doing the best they know to fulfill the requirements of the law regarding it, although in many districts the patrons, and oftentimes the directors, are not in sympathy with it. In some instances, parents have refused to furnish text-books on the subject, and the instruction has been entirely oral. On the whole, the schools in Louisa county are doing good work. In some cases the want of proper text-books, maps, etc., is a great drawback, but in some way the teacher manages to go on. As a rule, the patrons need to be awakened to greater interest, and this I have made effort to do, in school and social visitation. The question of having good, clean out-houses on school grounds, needs more attention everywhere. I have urged this necessity upon directors, teachers and the people, on every opportunity, and shall, so long as there is cause. As a suggestion, if vocal music was made one of the common branches to be taught in the schools, the result could not be otherwise than for a good and moral effect. LUCAS COUNTY. BY J. M. HANLIN.. In compliance with your request of April 30, I herewith submit a statement of the condition and progress of education'in Lucas county. CONDITION AND PROGRESS. Our schools present a pleasing record of increase during the year in nearly all the items which indicate effective school-work; marked improvement in country school-houses; greater attention given to the sanitary condition and the general care of buildings and premises; a greater demand for better qualified teachers; more attention given to primary instruction; an increase in the enrollment and average daily attendance. Reasonable efforts have been made to increase the interest of the people in education; to bring before the directors the responsibility of their office, and to induce teachers to seek a higher standard of preparation for their profession. We have a fine educational library of several hundred volumes, well patronized by the teachers, while ninety-five per cent of our teachers read good educational journals. NORMAL INSTITUTE. Our normal institute has been steadily growing in popularity, interest and influence. In 1876 there were fifty-four members, in 1886 one hundred and seventy-four. Our aim is the improvement of the teacher in everything that pertains to the discharge of his professional duties. We seek to increase his scholarship by presenting higher standards of attainment; to inspire him with clearer conceptions of the nature and objects of education, and to acquaint him with those principles and methods of teaching and management which are the basis of success in his work. In my visits to the schools I note the defects and errors observable, and in the normal institute try to reach and correct the greatest and most prevalent. We also seek to establish a bond of sympathy and interest between teachers and the people. SCHOOL-HOUSES. School-houses built the last ten years are commodious, comfortable, convenient, well lighted, with better means for ventilation provided. The usual dimensions are twenty by twenty-four feet, and ten to twelve feet high, for thirty pupils. This gives sixteen square feet of floor surface and from 160 to 192 cubic feet to each pupil. GROUNDS. The grounds are very generally high and rolling, securing good surface drainage, and well removed from swamps and stagnant waters, where malarial and miasmatic vapors would endanger the health of pupils and teachers. In almost every instance the houses face the south or east. Nearly all the grounds are surrounded by substantial board or smooth-wire fences. Many of the grounds have natural groves of oak and hickory, and on most of the others, maple, oak, elm and box-elder have been set out. A number of schools in the rural districts observed Arbor Day in an appropriate and very beautiful manner, the patrons in many instances participating. SCHOOLS. The length of the school-year, the enrollment and attendance, and the increase of teachers' salaries, have increased the present year. Orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, language, history, and hygienic physiology as required by session laws, 1886, are taught in all the schools. Drawing, algebra, elementary physics and rhetoric are taught in a number of the schools. American and English literature, geometry, book-keeping and English history are taught in the schools of Chariton and Lucas. GENERAL. There is no open hostility to the law requiring instruction on the effects of stimulants and narcotics. While, in some districts, it has not been as fully enforced as it should have been, there has been a very general effort on the part of all to observe its provisions in good faith. LYON COUNTY. BY B. H. PERKINS. Replying to your inquiries regarding the condition and progress of education in Lyon county, I would say: Our schools are finely organized with the course of study found in Welch's Classification Register. We have been working to secure the unity of the rural schools and place them on equal vantage ground with town schools. Our methods proceed primarily from the teacher's enthusiasm. By this we seek to enthuse directors and people. Through them we endeavor to present to the people all reforms. No special features prevail. In general our work is done by correspondence and reports. We make annual visits and are able to reach some districts oftener. As to normal institute work of the State we do not venture to offer criticism. In our county, however, we have endeavored 1st. To secure professional in distinction to scholastic work. Our school houses are of the ordinary old fashioned gable roof style, ventilated often by broken windows, and heated by rickety stoves and with poor fuel. We have, however, some model of comfort and convenience to which we are constantly pointing for emulation. Grounds generally fair. No fences. Trees according to statute generally. The annual term is generally seven or eight months. Salaries range from $25 to $35 per month. Common school branches taught with occasional algebra, botany and zoology. Penmanship receives considerable attention. Drawing is neglected, save in map drawing. Vocal music is practiced but not taught scientifically. Physiology taught according to law. MADISON COUNTY. BY E. R. ZELLER. The graded four years' course was adopted for our county normal institute three years ago. The teachers and those about to enter upon the business were divided into four grades. An average standing of ninety per cent is required of the A grade for graduation, and the same per cent of the other grades for promotion. In addition to this the A grade is required to have an experience of nine terms in successful teaching before diplomas are granted. Two results are hoped for from this plan. First, regular attendance through four consecutive sessions by those who expect to make teaching their business, and to discourage and hinder those who would make of teaching a temporary expedient. Second, the gradual closing of our school houses to all teachers who have not completed the course, and offering greater inducements for those to enter who have. Since adoption of the graded course regular study and recitation in the staple subjects of common school work has been the special business of the lower grades, while algebra, rhetoric, civil government, general history and natural philosophy, are added in the higher grades. Penmanship, drawing and didactics are treated incidentally and in a general way. No attempt has been made at gradation in our country schools. Other objects to be accomplished are more essential while the circumstances are unfavorable. Uniformity in text-books, in length of school year, in ability of teachers, in attendance of pupils, and in a quickening of an educational interest, is what we seem most in need of. With this, uniformity of school work will be easily accomplished; without it, gradation only in name, is impossible. We hope for much in this direction from our county normal institutes. When a certificate of attendance for four consecutive terms at the institute and a diploma of graduation shall become a test of a teacher's qualification, there must inevitably be a uniformity of methods, of interest, and of teaching and ability. The want of uniformity in text-books is a great obstacle to uniformity of work. It is a great evil, and all the more annoying because easily remedied. Give us free text-books or statutory prohibition of the text-book traffic. During the past two years a persistent and systematic attempt has been made to arouse interest in the public school. Schools have been visited and revisited, township and neighborhood meetings have been held, in which directors and parents have been induced to participate. These meetings have been growing in interest and results have been far reaching, enduring and most gratifying. During the past year an effort has been made to bring out a special school exhibit at the county fair. We were successful far beyond our most sanguine expectations. There were over five hundred entries. Specimens of school work were classified under four heads as follows: Arithmetic, penmanship, map drawing and industrial work. This exhibition of school work has had the effect of wonderfully arousing the minds of pupils, teach· ers and parents on the grand possibilities of our common schools. Without awakening a vain hope for better school-houses, better teachers and better methods, the people can nevertheless be made to believe that now as formerly the "public school is the hope of our country." |