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SCHOOL-HOUSES.

The school-houses of our county are generally constructed of frame or timber. They are almost universally frame builings. I believe there is only one school-building in our county that is not frame, and that is a brick building located at Harlan, our county seat. Our school-houses are heated with coal, almost universally so, there being only one or two houses in the county where wood is used for fuel. Each school-house has from four to six windows which afford plenty of light. Ventilation is easily secured by lowering the windows from the top or by raising the lower window. The school-houses in this county are generally in a good comfortable condition for the health and convenience of the scholars. The school-houses are generally arranged so as to accommodate all the district, as nearly as can be done. Each township, with few exceptions, contains nine schools, and school-houses are generally arranged in order and number and are located two miles apart. Consequently all children of proper school age and ordinary health have convenient access to the schools of their respective localities.

GROUNDS.

The general condition of the school grounds in our county is good. School-house sites are generally selected with due regard to health, beauty and convenience. The outhouses I find to be usually in a healthful and generally convenient condition, although a little closer attention on the part of the president of some of our school boards would be right and proper. The school-houses with few exceptions are fenced, or at least partly so. They are usually fenced with boards and protected from the intrusion of stock or other trespassers. I do not find many trees in the school grounds, although I think that every school ground should be planted to trees that will give shade, comfort and beauty to the life and light of school.

SCHOOLS.

Shelby county has one hundred and sixty-three schools. Nearly every district has nine months school during the year, the average number of months taught being a fraction over eight. Our teachers' salaries are almost invariably thirty-five and forty dollars per month for country schools, no difference being made on account of sex. Our lady teachers get the same wages that their brothers get.

Orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, United States history and physiology are generally taught in all the county schools. Additional branches are frequently added in many schools, and the village schools generally have the higher branches. Much attention is being given to lessons in civil government and vocal music, and in many localities algebra and bookkeeping are taught. Many of our teachers teach civil government in connection with United States history, and they very pleasantly outline the two branches into one pleasant, important and useful branch, which, I am glad to say, is doing much to increase general knowledge of

both State and national government in our common schools. Penmanship is taught very successfully both in the country and graded schools of our county. Drawing is neglected to some extent, but more interest is being manifested in that direction. Drawing was taught in the D grade of our institute last year, and will be in two grades of the coming institute. Vocal music was taught in all grades of the institute last year, and the rudiments of vocal music are being taught by many teachers in our country and village schools. Physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic stimulants and narcotics upon the human system, is taught, I am quite sure, in every school in the county. Books to meet the requirements of the new law have been adopted by all boards of directors, and the feeling among all classes of people is to comply with the law.

SIOUX COUNTY.

BY D. W. AUPPERLE.

While the condition of our educational work is not all that is desirable, yet the work is in as good condition as can reasonably be expected, taking into consideraiion the fact that we are laboring under the disadvantage of being newly organized and having to bear the heavy expense of building schoolhouses, thus leaving us in a position where economy is necessary, consequently our supply of apparatus, etc., is limited. Notwithstanding our disadvantages, our people are much interested, and are pushing forward with a determination to place the educational interests into the front ranks. The number of schools has been increased from ninety to one hundred and forty in the past four years, and there has also been material improvement in the class of work done.

The annual teachers' institute has proven a very important factor in our educational economy. Only such work as can be taken into the public school room by every teacher of energy and reasonable ability, has been presented in the institute.

Most of our school-houses are roomy, well-constructed and comfortable. This is especially true of those built in the three or four years just past. Some of the "pioneer " school-houses fall below our ideal of a school-house, but these are being rapidly replaced by better structures. With very few exceptions our school-houses are furnished with good, comfortable school furniture.

Our school grounds have not received the attention due them. Only where teachers have taken the matter in hand have the grounds been placed in creditable condition. Our directors are "too busy" to attend to these

things. But few grounds are fenced; in fact, we find it not practical to fence; this being a prairie country the fences stop the snow and the school ground becomes a solid snow drift in winter.

In some.localities trees have been planted, and are in a thrifty condition, but our people were never really aroused to an active interest until this year. Arbor Day" was very generally observed, and about two thousand trees planted, teachers, scholars, parents and directors all taking an active interest in the matter.

Out-houses, as a rule, are in fairly good condition, and constructed on good plans. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule.

The average length of terms the past year was eight months, and the average salaries were, males, $39.75, females, $33 25 per month. There is no discrimination between male and female teachers. Salaries are based upon grades of certificate. This includes graded and ungraded schools. Only the elementary branches are taught.

There are no high schools. Some attention is given to special branches, and hygienic physiology has been taught in all schools since the law requir ing it went into effect.

A graded course of study has been introduced and used, and the results are highly satisfactory. The educational work of the county, we believe, is in a healthy condition, and with the united efforts of all our citizens, will make rapid advancement.

STORY COUNTY.

BY O. O. ROE.

NORMAL INSTITUTES.

The attendance at our normal institute, and the interest taken in its work, have been steadily increasing from year to year. The State graded course of study was closely followed in 1887, with the very best of resultsnine persons creditably finishing the course. Teachers who follow a graded course know that they are working toward some definite end; and this consciousness adds much to the efficiency of the normal as an educational agency. While much attention has been given to methods, the importance of scholarship has never been lost sight of, and considerable academic work is done, especially during the first two years of the course. No teacher can intelligently master or successfully apply educational principles unless he first possesses scholarship. One noticeable feature of Iowa normals, dur

ing the last few years, is the large attendance-in many cases twice as large as the entire teaching force of the county. While such attendance may be very gratifying to the ambitious superintendent, it is often detrimental to the best interests of those for whose benefit the normal institute was created, namely, the "teachers and those who may desire to teach.' "" The fact that such institutes partake more of the character of grammar schools than schools of methods, keep many teachers from attending them.

In this connection it may not be out of place to suggest, that persons who have creditably completed the normal institute course be given due credit for work done, when presenting themselves as candidates for State certificates before the State board of examiners.

SCHOOL-HOUSES.

As to their general condition, the school-houses of our county may be classified as follows: Seventy-six per cent good; seventeen per cent fair; and seven per cent poor. The buildings erected during the last few years have been well constructed, convenient, and comfortable; yet comparatively little attention has been given to the best methods of heating and ventilating. Some general plan of lighting, heating and ventilating should be submitted by the department of public instruction to the school officers of the State. Until this is done, there will be but little reform in this direction.

GROUNDS.

With a few exceptions, our county school-houses are located in the geographical center of the district, and nearly all districts consist of four sections of land. The appearance of the grounds is not always the best, many being without, fence, and as a consequence the trees once planted have been destroyed. Arbor Day was duly observed in many of our districts, and several hundred trees were planted on that day.

SCHOOLS.

The average length of term during the past year has been a trifle over seven months. The salaries of teachers have remained unchanged during the year, except in two or three districts where the hard times have effected a slight reduction. During the past two years we have given special attention to the better teaching of reading, language and drawing, and are highly gratified with the success of our efforts. There has been a general compliance with the law requiring the teaching of physiology and hygiene with special reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks, etc., upon the human system, in our schools. What has been lacking in the way of specific directions from boards of directors as to how this work should be conducted, has been supplied by the faithfulness with which our teachers have applied themselves to the task of carrying out the law in letter and spirit.

In conclusion it affords us pleasure to be able to report that the cause of education is steadily advancing in our county. The common school, sus

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tained as it is by an intelligent and appreciative public sentiment, is yearly growing in power. The Iowa Agricultural College, and the two most excellent high schools at Nevada and Ames are doing much in the way of furnishing desirable recruits for the ranks of our profession. Too high an estimate cannot be placed upon the further influence of these institutions in directing the thought of our people toward the desirability and value of higher education.

No little credit is due our school officers for the promptness with which nearly all make their reports to this office. The great need of our school system is better organization. With this accomplishment, our present supervision may be doubled in efficiency. The presidents of the different school boards should form a county board of education. This board should have power to adopt courses of study, and to make rules and regulations governing the schools of the county; they might also be given the power to adopt text-books. Such board need not meet oftener than twice a year, and need be of no expense to the tax-payers. Will not our next Legislature do something in this direction?

TAMA COUNTY.

BY W. D. REEDY.

To indicate the progress of education in the last ten years the following data consisting of extracts from the annual reports of county superintendents for the year ending October 31, 1876, and October 31, 1886, respectively, is submitted:

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