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A course of study, based upon the above named outline, has been prepared and is now in use in the institutes of this county. This course provides: 1st. A systematized plan of grading, with an outline of the work to be pursued in each grade. 2d. A system of promotion in which teachers completing the work in any grade are promoted to the grade or division next higher. 3d. A system of graduation in which the teachers who have completed the entire course, and taught three years, are granted diplomas of graduation from the institute, upon passing satisfactory examination.

The objects of a graded normal course are: 1st. To secure a uniform system of work. 2d. It will give teachers a definite aim to accomplish, namely: completing a prescribed course of instruction and receiving a diploma. 3d. It will give teachers who have completed the course and received a diploma of graduation from the institute in any county, an opportunity to receive credit for all institute work done in any part of the State. 4th. It will be a great aid to school officers in securing teachers, as now but those having had a stated amount of experience in teaching, and who have completed a thorough course of normal and mental training, will receive a diploma.

The classification under this plan as adopted in this county is as follows: Teachers holding certificates whose general average is ninety per cent or more, constitute the "A" division; those holding second class certificates constitute the "B" division; while those holding third class certificates and those who have never taught, constitute the "C" division.

Teachers holding first class certificates, who have taught three years and attended three normal institutes constitute a "normal" division.

The work of the institute is devoted as much to methods and manner of presenting subjects, as to the subject matter of the text-books. A knowledge of facts is not the only qualification required to make a good teacher. Much depends upon his ability to organize and manage a school, his skill in presenting subjects in a clear, distinct and comprehensive manner. Owing to the unsatisfactory results obtained from the primary work in our schools, this feature of our institute work is made one of the most prominent. Many persons seem to think that any one can teach small scholars, and that the larger and more advanced pupils should receive the most attention from the teacher. The facts are, the primary pupils are the ones who should occupy a great portion of the teacher's time and attention, as it is in this stage of the child's school life that the habits of application or indifference to study are formed. It is in this stage that the mind of the child is first placed in the mould and opened for development, and if his habits of study, of thinking, and of acting are once improperly formed, they are difficult to break up if ever overcome.

Realizing the importance of this branch of the work, we take pains to make it one of the leading features and spare neither time nor expense in securing competent and efficient instructors in that line.

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THE SCHOOLS.

The total school population of the county is, 8,365; of this number 6,057 were enrolled during the year ending September 15, 1886.

The total cost of operating the schools during the same period was $44,548; of this amount $35,125 was paid to teachers.

The average number of months of school was seven, while the average cost of tuition was one dollar and sixty-four cents.

The average price paid teachers (outside the city and village schools) was, males, $28.38; females, $23.30. The average price paid to principals of village schools is about $600 per year, and $1,350 is paid the superintendent of the Decorah schools. The intermediate and primary teachers in these schools receive a salary of $350 to $400 per year.

The Decorah public school is the only one in the county in which a special teacher of penmanship is employed. Prof. C. H. Valder, who probably stands at the head of his profession as a black-board writer, has had charge of this department for nearly ten years. His plan of teaching this important branch is entirely from the black-board, and the results of his earnest and untiring efforts in that direction have been most gratifying. Hygienic physiology, as required by act of the Twenty-first General Assembly, is being pretty thoroughly taught in every school in the county.

The school boards in every district, in order to meet the requirements of the law, have adopted and put into use, books which have been published in compliance with this legislation, while the teachers are earnestly endeavoring to perform their duty in this respect also.

THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.

About three years ago we prepared and published a graded course of study for the schools of the county, and the same has been adopted by the various school districts and is now in use throughout the county. Some of the principal features of this plan are: 1st. The quantity and quality of the work which is being uniformly carried out in all the schools. 2d. More systematic and thorough work done by the teachers. 3d. The pupils have been stimulated by a desire to complete a prescribed course of work and receive a diploma. 4th. No particular branch is developed at the expense of another, but, on the contrary, each branch is given due consideration.

In connection with this course of study we have a classification register in each school, which enables the teacher to leave a permanent record of the standing and progress of the school, together with the names of pupils promoted and those who have completee the course and received a county diploma.

Arrangements have also been made whereby pupils who complete the course and receive a diploma are admitted to the Decorah high school, where a scientific, classical or business course may be completed if desired. With this arrangement we now have a connecting link between the rural or ungraded school and the high school. Already fully one hundred pupils have completed this course, and from the encouragement the work is re

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ceiving, and from the interest and earnestness manifested on the part of the teachers, pupils and patrons, I am satisfied that much good can be accomplished.

SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

At present we have about one hundred and fifty school buildings in the county, valued at about $120,000. The general structure of the buildings is good in the main, although little, if any, attention has been given to proper facilities for lighting and ventilating.

During the past few years there has been a general tendency to furnish the buildings with suitable and comfortable furniture, and at the present time nearly every house is furnished with seats, desks, tables, etc., of the latest and most improved styles.

With but few exceptions the out-houses and fences are in good condition, while there is scarcely an undesirable school-house site to be found in the county. In some cases, to be sure, the location is not the most convenient to accommodate the patrons of the schools, but this time and circumstances alone can remedy.

WOODBURY COUNTY.

BY J. S. SHOUP.

The advancement of the public schools of this county during the last ten years has been one of regular, steady, healthful growth, both so far as number of pupils enrolled and actual work done.

Considered geographically, this is a large county, consisting of more than twenty-four full congressional townships, or about one and one-half per cent of the entire State. This county, until a few years ago, was but thinly settled, and consequently many of the schools were small, but within the last few years the population has largely increased. The teaching of the county generally, has been good. Every year quite a number of new teachers have engaged in the work. These new teachers generally begin during the spring, and their first term is considered probationary to a certain extent. It has been the aim of the superintendent to retain the best of these, while the others naturally drop out of the work. The better class of teachers have always taken much interest in the normal institutes, and by keeping steadily up with the work as it advances from year to year, have succeeded in retaining their places from year to year.

The normal institute of this county is graded, and has a regular course

of study, the completion of which requires regular attendance at least three sessions of the institute, although many require a greater length of time, as promotion from one grade to another is determined by examination, and actual experience in the school room.

The course of study provides for thorough drill in all the common branches, and also algebra, geometry, and botany.

It is required of teachers of the advanced grade to have sufficient knowledge of algebra and geometry to enable them to teach systematically and ‹ scientifically, any thing in connection with the subject of arithmetic. No text-books of any kind are used in the institute. About one hour each day is devoted to the subject of didactics. Here, also, the work is different in the different grades. The regular session of institute is three weeks, although this year there have been held three special sessions of two weeks each. These sessions were held during the spring vacations, and werẻ designed chiefly for the benefit of the younger and less experienced class of teachers. As so many teachers commence teaching for the first time during the spring term, and as a cousequence go into the work without any normal training or instruction whatever, I think the spring session may be made to be of great benefit to them.

At the regular session of institute, a portion of the time is devoted specially to instructions in primary methods.

The public schools of this county are now using a course of study, viz.: the one prepared by the committee appointed by the superintendents' convention for the northern district of Iowa. This course of study is also used in the institute in connection with the regular institute course of study.

SCHOOL-HOUSES.

The school-houses of this county are generally good, and kept in good repair. They are mostly of sufficient size that no difficulty has been experienced with regard to ventilation. With the exception of some of the buildings in Sioux City, and the building in Correctionville, they are heated by means of stoves. The school-houses in the country, with one exception, are wooden structures. Many of them are seated with single seats and desks, well supplied with black-board, dictionaries, maps, etc.

GROUNDS.

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School-grounds in the country consist of one acre, mostly prairie sod, in some cases seeded to blue grass. They are generally fenced with boards, few with wire cables and flat wires. The out-houses are generally in good condition, but not all of them. The subject of planting trees has not received as much attention in this county as it should have received, although some of them are surrounded by very nice groves of box elder, maple, cottonwood and other forest trees. Some of the school-houses were built when the country was comparatively thinly settled; as population increased and the conditions of the neighborhood changed, it was found necessary to move some of them, and more of them will yet probably be moved to new sites.

This is perhaps one reason why more attention was not paid to planting trees.

SCHOOL-YEAR.

The length of the term varies, several of the districts having nine or ten months, some eight, some seven and a few only six; but there seems to be growing a general disposition for longer terms. Teachers' salaries in country schools during the summer vary from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars per month, and during the fall and winter from thirty to forty dollars per month. Algebra is taught in quite a number of the country schools, drawing and book-keeping in a few of them; vocal music, as a branch of study, is not taught in any of the country schools. Hygienic physiology, as required by school laws of 1886, is taught in every school, and, so far as I have been able to observe, is taught fairly well; lessons on this subject are given daily to all classes, and teachers report monthly the amount of work done. Text-books on this branch have been adopted by the various boards of directors, and the law in all respects has generally been well complied with. I have at this date, May 10, received notice of but one class having completed the subject.

UNIFORMITY OF TEXT-BOOKS.

Some of the boards of directors have adopted books to be used in their respective districts, but there has never been any attempt made toward county uniformity.

CITY AND TOWN SCHOOLS.

Sioux City has six brick and six wooden buildings, containing in all fortyeight rooms, with a seating capacity of 3,000. In addition to the city superintendent fifty-one teachers are employed; four of these are gentlemen, the rest ladies. The salary of the city superintendent is $1,800 per year; the salaries of teachers vary from $250 to $900 per year. The year consists of thirty-eight weeks. The high school course embraces four full years.

Correctionville has a school of four departments; principal's salary $800; teachers' salaries $400 each; high school course of three years. Danbury has a school of three departments; there are also three other schools outside of town under the supervision of the same principal; principal's salary $720; teachers' salaries $350; high school course of three years. Sloan has a school of three departments; principal's salary $650; teachers' salaries $400; no high school course. Sergeant's Bluffs has a school of three departments; principal's salary $750; teachers' salaries $300 and $400; high school course three years. Smithland has a school of two departments; principal's salary $750; teacher's salary $350; high school course three years. Salix has a school of two departments; principal's salary $450; teacher's salary $300. Sergeant's Bluffs has two brick buildings. The school-grounds are very large, and all planted to shade trees and seeded with blue-grass. The buildings at Correctionville, Danbury and Smithland are good build

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