MITCHELL COUNTY.

BY R. C. BARRETT.

I believe that Mitchell county stands high among the sister counties of the State in educational work. Her prominence has however been attained, not by spasmodic effort but rather by an onward movement which bids fair to continue and develop.

Our normal institute has been steadily growing in interest and continues to gain in favor with teachers and people, generally. From an enrollment of 123 in 1882 it has grown to 207 in 1886.

The institute is divided into four grades and a course of study similar in many respects to that recommended by the Superintendent of Public Instruction is followed. At least twenty-five per cent of the teachers of the county have completed the course of study but each year finds them again in attendance. Diplomas have not as yet been given but teachers are granted optional studies after having finished the course.

We believe that few counties can show a better class of teachers than we can, but we are seeking for still higher qualifications on the part of teachers and working to remedy the defects noted in school visitation as well as to present better methods of instruction. The normal institute is doing a grand and noble work in this county and in words similar to those of Sancho Panza we say, blessed be the man who invented the normal institute. During the past year four new school buildings have been erected and a number of others have been put in good repair. Nearly all of our buildings are reasonably well provided with necessary school apparatus. We regret that our boards of directors have given so little thought to ventilation, heating and lighting; but these important matters are beginning to receive the attention their importance demands.

School grounds are, generally speaking, kept in very good condition. A large number of them are well fenced and provided with trees which in a few years will afford an abundance of shade. I'do not hesitate to say that in many cases little or no attention is given to the condition of our outhouses and the evils arising from these places of pollution are allowed to continue through the false modesty of school officers and teachers.

School work has been carried forward the past year in a peaceable and prosperous manner, teachers in many districts have been retained throughout the year. On an average seven months school have been taught during

the past year and the tendency now is to divide the school year into three terms instead of two as has been customary.

The question of teachers' salaries has been frequently brought to the notice of school officers as it well needs be when a difference of nearly fifteen dollars per month is allowed to exist between the wages paid male and female.

The schools of the county are well classified and organized, each now having a definite line of work to pursue. Aside from the regular branches, under which is included physiology in compliance with State law of 1886, word analysis, civil government of Iowa, drawing and English literature are taught in many schools.

The best of interest still prevails in our teachers' associations and I cannot but believe that much of the enthusiasm that exists in our work can be traced directly to these meetings.

Our reading circle is yet in its infancy, but our teachers are enthusiastic in the cause and the indications are that the circle will be largely increased the coming year.

A teachers' library association, the object of which is to supply choice reading matter to its members, was organized at the last session of the normal institute. It already has a membership of fifty.

While we are well pleased with the results thus far achieved we hope during the coming year to eclipse all previous efforts and with the hearty cooperation of teachers, school officers and patrons success will crown our endeavor.

MONONA¿COUNTY.

BY F. P. FISHER.

Our schools are improving and educational interest is increasing. Our teachers, as a rule, realize the importance of the work in which they are engaged, and are striving to improve in scholarship and in methods of teaching. No third grade certificates have been issued since the first day of July, 1887.

TEACHERS' NOR AL INSTITUTE.

We had the best institute ever held in Monona county. The teachers were wide-awake and attentive. We enrolled 130, which was the largest attendance we ever had. We are seeking to raise the grade of our country schools by giving the teachers instruction in methods. We had special work in

reading and physiology. The only criticism I have to offer is, that the work of our normal institute is not practical enough.

SCHOOL HOUSES.

Most of our school houses are frame structures. A few brick or log. They are heated by stoves and lighted by windows; ventilated by doors and windows; fairly comfortable and convenient.

GROUNDS.

Some are well fenced and set out with shade trees; others have a wire fence or none at all. The out-houses are in a bad condition.

SCHOOLS.

The length of term is usually three months. The teachers receive from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars per month. The branches taught are those required by law. Drawing and vocal music are taught in some of the schools. Physiology, with special reference to the effects of narcotics and stimulants, is taught in all of the schools. We need better houses, more. blackboards, maps, etc.

MONROE COUNTY.

BY H. J. BELL.

For many years the tendency in this county was to encourage pupils in advanced studies, to the great neglect of those engaged in elementary work. It was no unusual thing to find the common school programme burdened with such studies as advanced geography, advanced grammar, higher arithmetic, algebra, and even geometry and natural philosophy. The elementary work was hurriedly and very imperfectly done to give place and time for the advanced work.

Ex-superintendent W. E. Elder did a valuable service in calling attention to the importance of more careful elementary work, and in teaching better methods of instructing primary pupils. And the present incumbent has earnestly labored to eliminate from the common school course all higher studies, to confine the work to the purely elementary and practical, and to improve upon his predecessor's methods of primary instruction.

In these efforts, the almost universal co-operation of the teachers has been experienced. Of course, opposed to these efforts have been those of many advanced (?) pupils and their parents; but the great mass of patrons and

pupils are thoroughly in accord with the theory that the work of common school should be confined within the limits designed in the organization and maintenance of the system, furnishing the masses an elementary and practical education.

In 1884 a course of study for the country schools was prepared; teachers were instructed as to its meaning, and the use designed to be made of it. Many schools have been organized and conducted in accordance with the spirit of the course. But owing to the frequent changes of teachers and the neglect of many to leave an intelligible record of the state of the work at the close of the school, comparatively little progress has been made in the direction of systematic conformity to the course of study. Yet nearly every school in the county has been much improved in point of gradation, classification and instruction, in consequence of the hold the spirit of the course has taken upon the whole teaching force of the county.

In 1885 a careful inspection of the school registers revealed the fact that about three-fourths of them were not correctly kept. As a consequence, at least that ratio of reports to district secretaries must have been incorrect. What reliance, then, can be placed in the school statistics of the whole State, if those from Monroe county are an average in point of correctness? Effort has been made to correct the defects noted. Some improvement is noticeable. But the constant influx of new and inexperienced teachers is an insurmountable barrier to complete success in this direction.

Attention has been called to the educative force of the child's surroundings. If a love of, and a taste for the beautiful, should be cultivated, the child must be brought into contact with, and under the influence of the beautiful. If the child is accustomed to the unsightly at home and at school his taste for the beautiful can not develop. He grows up coarse and rude with the spirit of destructiveness unduly developed.

School officers have been urged to put and keep the school-house, grounds, fences, and out-buildings in proper condition. Teachers and pupils have been encouraged to beautify the school-room by polishing the stove, curtaining the windows and adorning the walls with pictures and mottoes; and in the summer season they have, in some instance, cleared the grounds of rubbish, and planted, and cared for, varieties of decorative plants. Much has thus been accomplished in the cultivation of the æsthetic nature of the pupils. Much remains to be done, but the way is now open, and in this particular, the prospects are promising.

Great care has been exercised in the issuing of certificates. The standard of qualification has again and again been raised; and yet some incompetents succeed in meeting the letter of the requirements.

The following are the present demands:

1. For third class certificate: (a) Of four months; a minimum standing of 65 per cent, and an average of 75 per cent.

(b.) Of six months; a minimum standing of 65 per cent, and an average of 80 per cent. Those who have taught one term must average 80 per cent, or be refused.

2. For second class certificate: (a.) Of eight months; one term's experience, a minimum standing of 75 per cent, and an average of 85 per cent. Those who have taught two or more terms must meet these requirements, or be refused.

(b.) Of ten months; the same requirements as for eight months, except that the average must be 90 per cent.

3. For first class certificate: Two or more terms' successful experience, a minimum standing of 85 per cent, and an average of 95 per cent.

The questions used in examination are those furnished by the Department of Public Instruction. The making of answers is very carefully done; the applicant is credited with all his MSS. are worth, but with no more. The course pursued in the issuance of certificates has, of course, improved the quality of the teaching force; but the general standing is still comparatively low, owing to the brevity of the teacher's professional life. Teachers are constantly dropping out of the profession, and their places are being filled by persons of inexperience. By this process the body of the teaching force is composed of those who have had but three or four terms' experience. And while in scholarship and in theory of instruction and government, the teachers of to day are much superior to those of ten years ago; yet, in practice there is not discernible so great difference. But in the midst of so many discouragements, that there is any perceptible improvement is certainly ground for encouragement.

TEACHERS' NORMAL INSTITUTE.

Organization.—The Iowa graded course of study is the basis of the institute work. The members of the institute are arranged into four classes, named respectively, "first-year," "second-year," "third-year," and "fourthyear." Those who have never attended institute compose the first-class; the other classes are composed of such as present normal certificatas of promotion showing them entitled to position in the class into which they seek entrance.

Design.—The purpose of the institute is to instruct teachers in right principles and methods of education; to inspire in them high ideas of their work; to develop in them a greater love for, and a deeper zeal in, their work; in short, to produce good teachers.

Methods.-Instructors of extensive and successful experience are employed. These are expected to become model teachers in the presentation of their several subjects. The subject is presented, not so much for the matter of it, as for the illustration of right principles and methods in teaching. The instructors are expected to give, in addition to good models, preceptive instruction in principles and methods of instruction.

Special feature. Each member of the institute is expected to provide himself with the text-book in didactics designated in the course of study as the basis of the work in the class of which he is a member. And the instructor in didactics is expected to conduct his work in such a manner as that each member will experience the necessity of as carefully preparing his