PALO ALTO COUNTY.

BY B. E. KELLY.

In compliance with your request, I now endeavor to give you a condensed report of what we have been doing in the educational line since my coming into the superintendent's office of this county.

In regard to the teachers' institute, will say: At the one held last year in this county, we virtually followed the course prepared by you for the work in this State, and graded our teachers accordingly. We had a larger attendance than ever before in the history of the county, which was obtained principally by addressing personal letters to nearly every teacher in the county, urging them to be present, outlining the work, etc. Our attendance was 93. This year the attendance came up to 103, and we substantially followed the State course. Both institutes were prolific of good results, and were, I believe, remarkable for hard work on the part of the teachers, and great interest was manifested by them in the work. We have been seeking to accomplish more fitness on the part of the teachers and a greater interest in the cause of education and school work, which, I am glad to say, is gaining ground very rapidly here. We have endeavored to nct only instruct in these institutes where needed, but we have endeavored to make them a school of the very best methods practically as well as in theory. Besides this general work, we have made a special feature of all important questions coming up in the work, and that were in any way new to the teachers, by discussing the subjects thoroughly and endeavoring to make clear what we found the teachers not well posted in, and never leaving a subject until fully understood by the whole class.

We have no criticisms to make on the normal institute work of the State, save and except the seeming lack of interest on the part of a great many of them, and whether this is due to the inefficiency of the superintendent and his instructors or of the teachers themselves we cannot say, but believe it is partially to both.

SCHOOL-HOUSES.

Most of the school-houses in our county are well built and are large enough to accommodate the pupils. The heating and lighting of these frame buildings is, we believe, as good as the average school-house in the State. The ventilation is without doubt good. The comfort and conven

ience of the pupils are not in all cases what they should be, there being a
lack of furniture and apparatus in a great many instances, and it is due to
the inefficiency, in our judgment, of the directors, who, because the office
is simply that of a school-director, wholly fails and neglects to perform any
part or portion of his duties save the hiring of the teachers; there his in-
terest, if any he has, ceases; there is an end of further effort on his part,
and should the teacher request anything of him he simply forgets to grant
such request, or willfully neglects it.

GROUNDS.

The general condition is on the average fair. In a great many cases the out-houses are in very bad condition, very many of them being unclean and without doors, and in very bad shape. Very few of our school grounds are fenced. Most of the grounds have trees planted, and they are doing nicely.

SCHOOLS.

The length of term in summer is, as a rule, three months, and in winter from four to five months. The salary of the teacher ranges in winter from $25 to $35, and in summer from $25 to $30 in the country schools, and in some instances they have not paid more than $20 per month in the summer. However, during the last year and a half teachers' wages have been getting a little better, I think, owing to the "weeding out" of a great many incompetent and leaving the supply somewhat smaller, and those who do teach being more competent; and, as a natural consequence, in order to get a teacher directors must pay better wages.

The branches taught are those required by statute, being the common branches. The special branches we have none at all taught in the country schools, save the hygienic physiology, to comply with the school law of 1886, which has been brought about principally through the teachers, they having had it discussed and taught in the institutes, and a course of study prepared thereon by me and given to every teacher to follow in the country schools.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

BY CARRIE BYRNE.

I. CONDITION AND PROGRESS OF EDUCATION.

Have succeeded in getting uniformity of text-books, nearly every school graded after the Welch classification system.

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II. TEACHERS' NORMAL INSTITUTE.

a. Organized about fourteen years ago; we are following State institute

course.

b. Am seeking to accomplish more systematic work, better gradation and more enthusiasm.

c. Methods-the best we can find.

d. General and special-Primary work and drawing.

e. Not enough methods-Instructors are not acquainted with the wants of country schools.

a. Construction-Mostly frame, and majority of good size.

b. Stoves.

c. Windows, doors, ventilators.

d. School houses kept in good repair; kept clean, and window shades for windows; most have wash-basins, towels, mirrors, etc.

b. Out-houses-Kept in good shape, as a general thing.

c. Fences-But very few school-houses are fenced.

d. Trees-Some school-houses have groves surrounding them; around others, a number of trees; and around some, none at all.

V. SCHOOLS.

a. Length of term for year-Seven, eight, nine months; majority eigh and nine.

b. Salaries-First-class teachers, $35; second class, $25 and $30.

c. Branches taught-All the common branches; in some schools, algebra, bookkeeping.

d. 1. Penmanship is given a great deal of attention. 2. Drawing is taught in nearly every school. 3. Not very much music. 4. Hygienic physiology given special attention. All, without exception, receive instruction. Boards of directors furnished automatical charts, and older pupils have books. The younger ones receive oral instruction.

POLK COUNTY,

BY C. F. SAYLOR.

I. Education receives very liberal attention in Polk county. There are four colleges for higher education; there are also three business colleges; also training schools; and industrial education receives some attention, with a prospect that the future will develop a great deal in this direction. Il. a. The graded system of county normal institute has been introduced in the county with four grades, following as nearly as possible, the work laid out by the State committee. b. We aim to get as much professional spirit stirred up among the teachers as possible, that each school in the county may have the benefit of good organization, thorough methods, and live, energizing principles of school work. c. We aim to accomplish this by bringing into the professional work of the county some of the most talented instructors in the country. d. We divide the institute work of the county into two departments, viz.: the county normal institute and the summer school of methods. In the county normal institute are four grades. This work is arranged for teachers who necessarily have all the branches, such as are usually found in the rural districts, and in the different grades the work is arranged to suit the demands of that grade; for instance, in the first grade are found teachers who have had but little experience, and in each grade are associated teachers of like experience, and the work arranged accordingly. In the second general department, viz.: the summer school of methods, are enrolled the teachers who are doing grade work, or whose work in the school-room is of a more specific character. In this department are three divisions, viz: the primary, the intermediate, the grammar. This is more strictly a school of methods, offering splendid opportunity for "specializing" in primary, intermediate, or grammar work. We had enrolled between four and five hundred teachers during the past summer, about one hundred and twenty-five of which enrolled in the primary department of the summer school of methods; among these were teachers from all parts of the State, who desired to confine their attention to primary work; the same was true of the intermediate and grammar departments. e. I think the institute work of the State has too much of a tendency to do “text-book” work; and I also think that not enough care is used in the selection of ininstructors.

III. I cannot say very much that would be favorable to the schoolhouses of the county outside of the city. They were built, as a class, in an

earlier day, and of course, the conveniences that they present are not in keeping with their environment, but I am glad to state that in building new school-houses boards are correcting this.

IV. I might say the same thing with reference to the grounds that I have said about school-houses, with the exception that the county has been pretty well wooded by nature, and most of the districts have found it very easy to start a few shade trees on the grounds.

V. a. The average length of time is about eight months. b. Outside of the city teachers' salaries are not very high, and, in fact, they are not what they should be. They range from $25 to $35 for spring and fall, and $30 to $45 for winter. c. The branches outside of the city are the common branches, with occasionally algebra, botany, geometry, rhetoric and bookkeeping. d. There is not much attention paid to the special branches, with the exception of “hygienic physiology,” which, I think, is taught in all the schools, in full compliance with the law.

VI. There are about one hundred and sixty teachers at work in the city of Des Moines. The schools are models in most respects; especially are they strong in the kindergarten and primary features. The high schools are doing good work; they are strong in the practical and useful sense. The teachers are mostly of the professional type, and keep generally abreast with progress of the age in educational matters.

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

BY J. W. W. LAIRD.

NORMAL INSTITUTE.

Our normal institute is not accomplishing the good it could under more favorable circumstances. The county superintendent being elected for only two years it is impossible for him to carry out his plans as he would if he had a longer term of office. The normal institute in Iowa should be entirely divorced from the examinations for certificates. They should be summer schools, where teachers who wish can prepare themselves to do better work, and not cramming schools where teachers (?) go to "post up " for examinations. The attendance should be voluntary and the county superintendent should not allow his teachers a credit of a certain per cent if they attend the institute; neither should he refuse to grant a teacher a first class certificate because he does not attend the institute.

Teachers who attend institutes are often disgusted and discouraged because the methods of teaching and the plans for management of schools,