»r onditions and Needs of lo^va Rural ScKools. 1. Country School Statistics. 2. The Country School Problem. 3. Present Status of Consolidation. 4. One Phase of the Teacher Problem. 5. School Buildings and Grounds. JOHN r. RIGGS, Superintendent of Pviblic Inotruction. 1905. DES MOINES: B. M0EPI1Y, STiTE PRINTBB Conditions and Needs lo^wa Rural ScKools. 1. Country School Statistics. 2. The Country School Problem. 3. Present Status of Consolidation. 4. One Phase of the Teacher Problem. 5. School Buildings and Grounds. JOHN r. RIGGS, Superintendent of Public Instruction. 1905. DBS MOINES: B. MTJRPHY, STATE PRINTKR. MAY 17 1905 D< of D. INTRODUCTION. It was our purpose to secure accurate and complete reports from every rural school in Iowa, showing the enrollment, aver- age daily attendance, length of the school year and salaries of teachers; but many secretaries found it impossible to furnish the data asked for, but 10,019 schools reporting out of a total of 12,521. By reference to Table No. I the number of rural schools maintained in each county may be seen, as also the number of schools reporting. While the statistics are incomplete, they are sufficiently full to show conditions as they actually exist in this State. In Tables III, IV and V, showing average daily attendance, frac- tions of less than one-half are omitted, while fractions of one- half or over are counted as units. This report is issued in the hope of awakening greater public interest in the rural schools, to the end that country children may be gathered in better schoolhouses, trained by better teach- ers and have that training extend through a longer school year without the interruptions now so common in the frequent change of teachers. COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. TABLE No. I. Counties. (^ ^ m a oi '^ 10 CO t^ 00 oi '"' f.^ '"' 1 2 3 6 2 4 4 24 67 1 2 4 2 3 2 2 9 2 8 28 39 ' i 2 "i 2 4 6 2 4 4 20 23 "i 3 1 3 3 8 4 6 2 3 10 20 1 "2 2 5 "4 3 3 4 8 3 6 24 47 "i 3 4 S 3 4 4 7 8 9 5 31 31 ■"i 4 1 4 1 1 6 4 "i 5 4 2 4 6 2 5 2 7 2 3 6 8 3 4 13 5 43 55 19 30 1 1 4 "2 5 "i 5 3 1 10 "2 10 8 5 3 3 6 3 1 4 20 12 31 29 17 1 8 1 5 30 2 1 2 1 3 5 5 1 12 7 10 34 49 2 4 5 4 4 3 10 7 8 15 10 29 32 3 2 5 1 1 4 6 9 5 7 4 39 44 2 3 6 4 4 2 4 6 8 7 12 29 39 1 3 5 1 5 5 5 5 11 4 13 30 48 4 2 6 4 7 7 5 11 6| 2 9 30 35 3 ji 3 4 6 10 9 7 4 5 6 46 20 5 4 3 2 6 4 7 13 8 6 6 32 25 1 1 4 2 1 2 3 4 9 25 22 1 1 1 1 6 4 6 4 3 4 24 16 ' 'i 1 "i 2 1 3 4 3 4 8 10 18 a 2 2 4 8 6 6 2 3 3 18 20 4 3 5 1 2 4 7 7 6 4 7 31 38 5 3 5 4 4 3 7 6 6 5 6 25 27 4 4 2 3 4 1 7 3 6 3 10 30 76 5 2 1 5 3 3 3 4 7 1 7 32 48 4 2 2 4 7 2 9 4 4 2 16 16 6 3 5 5 5 4 4 5 5 4 6 11 • 9 2 1 1 1 8 2 6 4 19 27 2 2 4 2 2 2 5 7 8 6 16 14 1 ' '2 1 "3 "e 5 1 11 6 9 8 35 43 8 4 "3 4 8 5 9 10 11 10 10 30 22 7 2 6 5 4 11 7 7 6 4 6 22 22 7 6 10 8 3 11 9 8 9 8 5 19 15 4 3 7 6 6 6 6 7 1 2 21 43 3 6 6 6 7 7 6 8 6 4 12 28 18 1 1 "2 4 5 5 2 7 5 12 8 45 47 6 6 7 9 6 4 5 8 3 28 31 - .. 1 3 4 5 7 3 15 4 8 35 35 "2 "5 9 6 12 12 3 8 6 8 24 14 'i 1 1 1 2 2 5 1 2 2 14 23 1 1 1 1 2 5 2 3 2 14 18 ... 1 2 1 1 4 3 6 2 5 1 21 21 "i 1 2 5 6 4 3 7 6 7 17 23 4 2 4 4 4 8 6 11 14 8 5 32 24 5 3 7 7 5 12 8 12 8 6 33 15 1 2 1 3 1 2 4 4 6 7 22 32 2 2 3 2 5 7 8 4 4 4 29 21 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 "1 2 2 i 1 3 1 6 3 7 2 3 2 "i 2 3 11 9 16 5 49 39 46 ""i ""i 2 "i 2 1 1 3 4 2 4 3 2 ' *i 1 "3 2 ■"2 2 2 2 2 2 5 4 14 8 18 5 4 '2 2 "4 2 24 32 'i 31 "i 2 '2 6 3 1 ■3 4 3 4 22 33 " 4 1 6 "5 3 6 6 5 8 20 28 5 '2 2 1 3 4 2 1 2 3 4 15 20 ■5 3 2 4 1 3 3 3 9 16 2 1 1 2 5 3 2 5 1 6 4 6 7 8 2 5 4 6 15 31 30 45 3 3 1 1 3 3 7 3 7 1 5 2 6 2 32 3 3 ^ 6 41 ' 3 5 4 4 6 7 3 6 10 9 29 28 1 4 6 7 6 6 10 6 5 7 28 30 3 'i 5 4 2 6 6 15 9 6 25 39 3 2 6 7 9 2 7 9 4 9 24 18 '3 6 2 1 1 1 5 3 S 2 6 7 5 1 4 n 4 9 24 30 44 37 2 1 2 4 4 5 6 8 4 3 4 6 7 6 11 1 5 4 10 83 27 29 20 ' 'i 4 1 2 4 8 6 4 5 12 22 35 3 5 5 4 2 6 10 10 7 19 24 4 1 2 4 1 2 7 8 4 1 45 43 1 9 4 14 5 6 7 6 7 33 28 1 1 1 3 6 4 8 6 3 7 31 59 1 1 2 1 3 7 4 6 11 14 9 41 29 i 'i 1 2 1 8 3 4 2 1 2 6 1 2 5 5 4 6 9 23 37 30 1 2 1 2 "7 4 6 3 8 2 6 2 9 4 7 1 5 19 29 28 ■ 'l ■ 'i ■5 21 2 1 4 1 ] 4 3 3 4 4 18 37 3 2 4 2 2 1 6 7 4 1 21 24 1 '1 3 7 6 2 4 5 2 17 39 2 '5 2 4 6 1 10 7 8 16 33 ' i 2 3 1 3 3 7 7 3 5 27 36 ' i 3 1 3 4 S 10 6 7 "9 28 24 2 2 'i 5 3 8 9 6 2 8 6 26 38 5 5 7 4 9 12 5 6 6 7 30 14 1 1 10 2 4 7 3 2 44 24 1 1 3 2 7 g 9 g 2 7 9 9 25 14 30 'i '2 2 4 5 8 3 2 9 10 33 54 2 1 4 4 5 3 4 11 9 9 30 1 3 3 2 2 6 2 2 3 10 33 1 2 4 1 1 10 2 3 4 19 20 3 'i 1 5 5 4 10 6 S 5 27 45 2 "2 1 4 8 3 6 4 5 4 14 27 30 - . . 2 2 3 2 4 2 6 3 14 45 2 2 2 2 5 5 3 5 3 2 18 84 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. TABLE No. 2- County. Number of Districts Having a School Enumeration of : Number of Schools Enrolling Fall Term. id o d o CD id o o CO o 1" m m o •o CD 00 0^ d ^• oi CO -^ id CD Johnson 8 2 1 6 1 4 1 1 4 2 1 10 10 1 2 8 6 9 10 20 3 7 3 1 10 3 2 4 11 3 6 13 5 7 4 10 3 12 19 4 11 9 4 16 12 16 1 5 9 6 3 5 7 7 7 6 15 3 9 4 "15 1 7 773 19 10 19 47 16 8 5 3 6 10 12 1 19 8 13 11 8 17 9 20 11 17 20 24 24 9 14 22 22 26 4 6 16 13 17 8 9 18 9 11 19 9 29 9 6 14 4 25 1344 20 23 20 33 16 17 12 6 17 23 12 14 80 12 15 14 13 16 6 36 13 12 9 23 33 21 14 14 21 20 9 15 33 22 26 21 10 14 10 13 23 18 80 9 e 24 8 15 1606 80 69 76 55 '62 64 33 38 36 34 70 47 65 55 31 46 65 23 31 63 23 76 25 60 56 86 86 49 54 50 46 40 78 49 60 38 37 66 71 59 66 55 87 50 58 65 19 51 5299 "2 2 8 2 2 1 1 5 1 "5 "2 ■■3 1 "2 2 "i 2 "i 4 1 6 "2 2 1 5 1 2 1 "i "i 1 1 2 "i 168 "2 2 4 1 ■"1 1 3 "4 "i 3 1 i 2 2 1 2 "2 2 1 2 "2 1 2 1 2 "2 "5 "2 3 "i 138 4 4 1 9 1 3 1 ■5 1 1 "2 1 2 6 1 1 2 4 1 1 "2 2 1 "4 3 "2 4 2 4 5 2 "7 1 6 ■3 I 5 218 5 4 6 10 1 7 1 1 1 "i "7. 1 "6 "4 1 5 1 2 4 8 5 2 5 5 4 "3 2 3 4 3 2 2 1 5 "4 2 2 2 2 8 263 2 8 3 12 1 5 2 1 1 1 4 1 8 2 1 2 2 1 8 4 3 ! 2 4 3 6 10 1 2 4 4 4 1 7 1 4 "i "9 2 2 6 "5 335 6 5 6 13 2 4 2 2 1 4 2 1 11 4 ■■7 2 9 4 3 1 3 6 11 2 4 2 4 6 7 1 4 8 8 6 3 4 1 1 6 4 2 S "e 1 7 39E 7 8 3 11 ■'6 2 "4 "2 6 2 1 8 2 1 4 4 7 3 1 8 8 8 6 4 2 5 ■3 5 5 8 3 3 11 3 2 6 8 5 "3 4 2 3 393 5 4 2 12 2 1 1 1 5 1 1 ■4 6 4 7 1 5 1 5 4 1 3 5 3 6 12 10 4 11 "6 12 6 7 2 8 1 2 3 6 1 8 1 1 10 "7 448 7 7 7 13 "9 2 'ib 3 7 10 2 3 4 "3 10 8 8 6 12 8 2 10 3 3 11 4 4 8 6 7 4 9 8 2 2 8 3 8 493 4 5 7 14 "3 4 1 3 5 3 2 3 6 5 3 2 8 2 5 1 8 3 6 8 3 10 4 8 7 3 5 8 8 10 1 9 7 2 3 10 "5 2 1 14 1 8 511 6 2 4 7 4 4 1 3 4 6 5 5 6 2 1 ' "3 2 11 4 3 5 9 6 2 10 6 2 3 ■■3 4 7 9 7 2 6 2 8 5 2 8 "i 7 4 3 465 25 26 30 27 12 23 21 6 25 21 15 7 29 18 17 30 9 27 21 35 6 24 14 30 25 25 38 36 24 29 8 24 48 19 48 21 21 20 12 17 41 11 31 13 6 38 8 16 2258 47 Jones 4d Keokuk 47 KOBBUth 3 19 Lee 20 Linn 60 22- Lucas 30 14 Madison 27 Mahaska 57 1 1 85 Marshall 37 Mills 3a Mitchell 1 9 Monona 39 Monroe 23 Montgomery 4 1 1 2 2 4 2 6 28 18 O'Brien 1 1 1 2a 6 Page 54 Palo Alto 10 Plymouth 29 Pocahontas Polk 1 16 70 Pottawattamie 'i 2 2 3 7 58 20 Ringgold 41 Sac 28 Scott ... 23, 20 8 3 1 8 1 8 4 89 Story 27 Tama 34 Taylor 30 1 33 Van Buren 49 Wapello 65 3 1 2 7 1 2 5 52 32 34 44 5 13 43 18 21 'a to t^ 06 d> '"' " '^ »n CO t^ 06 05 ^ .-H ■^ '"' •"* 2 1 4 6 3 6 7 3 8 9 22 61 1 2 6 4 1 fi 3 6 2 5 7 27 48 "l 1 5 4 4 6 4 8 4 3 30 48 3 4 3 4 i 8 2 7 7 4 3 80 45 5 5 3 1 6 5 r 2 27 59 1 2 8 3 3 4 7 5 5 6 26 37 5 "3 "e 8 12 10 15 14 10 9 68 45 4 e 8 18 11 13 19 17 12 18 8 34 30 1 2 8 1 2 2 4 3 18 41 3 1 4 2 3 4 4 3 2 15 28 3 2 2 "6 4 "4 5 9 3 4 25 64 8 1 4 "4 3 4 5 9 7 7 "4 26 53 1 1 1 4 1 3 5 2 4 16 25 2 1 1 2 1 3 7 1 2 3 20 19 ^ 1 1 1 12 34 1 2 1 2 1 '2 3 12 28 ■'6 "1 "i "2 "i 1 4 "6 "e 4 28 32 "'6 "i 5 2 "i "4 3 5 7 7 7 24 22 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 5 3 20 33 1 1 4 4 2 2 4 4 6 4 16 23 "2 1 1 1 1 1 22 62 1 4 "i 2 2 2 2 2 4 5 21 51 "2 2 1 2 ■'6 15 36 "i 1 2 1 8 2 3 4 1 15 30 "2 4 ■'6 B "2 4 9 "3 9 82 47 4 "4 3 "7 6 8 3 8 9 8 30 34 "i 3 2 4 3 4 5 8 19 86 2 2 "2 4 3 1 2 2 ■ 7 3 19 32 "l 2 5 "i 2 4 4 5 4 16 18 1 "i 2 2 6 3 1 3 5 4 3 18 14 1 "7 3 5 7 3 1 11 8 5 31 46 3 1 3 4 5 7 10 3 5 8 8 29 37 1 1 2 1 2 2 11 60 2 3 2 3 2 4 16 49 "2 3 "i "i 3 2 5 3 6 ■4 80 84 ■3 "4 "4 8 7 8 5 7 5 ■■4 13 22 1 1 2 3 3 1 2 2 16 27 2 "i .1 4 1 3 3 3 3 6 12 21 1 1 1 1 8 4 3 6 9 8 30 40 2 2 1 5 6 3 6 10 6 13 16 29 20 2 2 2 4 3 3 3 3 22 21 8 2 2 8 3 1 6 5 5 8 5 14 6 4 1 2 6 1 2 i 3 5 8 35 53 2 2 2 1 3 3 6 8 8 5 2 29 39 1 3 3 1 3 1 6 5 6 22 20 3 5 2 4 7 6 8 4 7 5 8 15 2 4 2 7 9 10 3 2 6 39 46 2 3 '4 5 8 7 8 8 9 7 11 31 33 "i "i 2 5 1 4 6 10 2 17 37 44 3 2 3 6 13 9 10 7 10 5 82 24 2 2 4 4 2 2 2 9 23 79 2 "3 1 8 3 5 2 8 8 3 20 6S 3 "i 4 3 5 e 5 9 8 38 78 4 1 ■■3 6 6 5 13 12 8 7 47 53 "2 "b 4 5 1 1 7 6 6 3 7 30 31 5 2 8 "2 7 4 9 4 9 6 6 22 25 1 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 3 31 34 1 2 4 4 5 4 5 3 8 4 21 21 2 2 1 3 3 2 5 7 11 12 8 32 39 3 3 1 4 4 8 6 5 9 8 11 40 20 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 5 44 3 . 1 1 2 1 1 2 5 16 36 1 1 "i 4 1 4 4 3 16 40 "i 1 ■'2 9 2 4 2 4 9 9 23 16 "2 2 3 4 3 8 4 9 9 52 67 1 4 3 8 5 8 9 2 10 7 43 55 2 "i 3 3 6 3 6 5 27 38 1 1 10 4 3 9 11 8 1 23 20 1 1 4 2 2 3 6 2 8 1 11 43 58 6 7 4 5 7 7 6 1 5 9 5 43 30 1 1 2 1 1 4 2 4 4 16 35 1 1 2 4 1 8 2 5 6 3 14 32 1 2 5 2 5 5 3 7 6 8 '27 34 5 3 3 10 4 4 5 5 3 4 6 21 29 2 2 3 3 2 2 6 6 4 6 28 43 2 2 1 2 3 6 3 6 5 22 31 , 2 2 5 2 3 3 1 12 47 2 2 4 4 1 5 3 5 4 20 43 "i 2 2 "2 2 3 1 1 3 23 56 1 "i "i 1 5 4 4 6 3 2 27 36 2 "i "2 1 5 2 7 6 5 3 9 82 47 "3 2 5 2 5 5 8 4 9 9 6 33 33 "2 1 5 "6 ■5 7 8 1 11 1 3 ib 1 12 18 39 52 52 1 8 2 9 2 13 2 11 2 7 8 10 4 10 21 34 87 2 "6 "4 ■5 "2 38 3 1 1 2 2 20 42 1 4 2 4 5 3 9 5 21 22 "i "i "'i "i 1 2 3 "2 2 1 2 13 62 "i 1 ■3 "2 3 8 6 3 2 3 19 43 2 1 2 2 1 4 8 7 6 14 12 27 64 1 4 2 6 "5 10 9 8 7 10 11 81 45 2 4 2 4 6 5 20 27 1 1 3 2 6 4 4 6 5 5 20 28. "2 90 '■3 I154 isi 3 271 3 335 3 366 "4 437 6 469 7 462 5 521 32 39 "3 213 2 171 8 257 3 305 5 391 7 462 6 486 8 4 8 6 24 20 182 2,498 3,974 542 549I576 549 2,324 2,774 10 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. TABLE No. III. Fall Term 1903. Number of schools having an average daily attendance of : Counties. 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 to 20 More than 20 Audubon 2 "3 "i 1 I 1 7 3 6 5 1 1 B 6 6 2 7 6 2 1 4 7 6 8 10 11 4 5 1 3 6 3 4 4 3 6 i 12 3 9 3 6 1 6 3 3 6 9 10 10 8 14 10 4 5 2 6 3 2 2 ] 7 7 5 10 6 7 6 8 9 9 5 7 2 7 8 3 6 5 6 6 3 4 5 9 1 6 6 11 4 12 5 3 8 1 8 6 5 8 (1 7 10 2 5 13 7 4 4 t 10 6 6 9 10 5 7 7 6 3 5 3 3 2 6 5 8 4 5 8 4 7 3 6 9 11 11 8 8 5 2 3 6 7 2 12 4 7 13 3 4 5 5 3 1 1 1 3 10 2 1 7 12 7 5 10 7 10 16 9 1 3 4 1 5 10 10 4 12 3 10 2 7 3 3 9 11 14 7 10 8 4 8 4 8 9 14 10 3 12 10 "6 13 8 3 5 3 i 4 1 7 6 7 8 8 7 11 8 7 5 1 7 5 5 5 11 6 6 5 8 7 10 4 1 6 7 11 8 5 9 6 5 "8 4 6 4 7 11 7 2 9 13 6 ] 4 2 2 3 7 1 12 10 5 7 7 6 13 10 6 8 4 7 5 9 12 5 2 6 5 9 8 10 5 1 7 8 8 9 5 7 1 17 4 1 3 12 9 10 5 12 3 1 11 3 1 1 4 2 6 7 2 4 7 9 10 12 4 5 6 7 4 5 4 6 6 8 14 3 8 13 6 6 15 4 2 10 11 5 6 5 6 4 7 9 4 5 15 6 6 10 7 4 1 6 7 ■■3 4 10 4 1 4 7 9 2 5 9 9 6 4 7 4 3 8 4 6 3 4 6 2 8 4 3 1 3 12 11 5 17 4 1 9 "2 ] 4 6 3 10 8 2 6 11 4 1 5 4 3 6 6 9 2 e 5 9 2 8 7 2 4 5 5 3 9 7 6 7 9 4 23 16 22 11 3 24 25 24 25 28 5 8 34 17 9 16 18 15 13 31 22 8 22 29 21 6 16 14 13 21 12 2 27 17 9 29 19 16 30 27 12 7 21 16 21 11 18 24 11 27 21 18 Adams Adair 7 11 20 Allamakee 3 Benton Buchanan 1 3 1 "i ■ 5 3 1 "2 1 "3 2 3 2 3 2 2 7 3 4 4 3 3 3 6 2 5 2 1 10 4 1 5 "3 3 2 2 7 9 2 1 2 3 1 2 2 6 5 8 12 6 1 7 1 4 1 3 15 16 Butler 13 Boone 15 Black Hawk i 1 ■3 3 2 2 2 13 Buena Vista 1 Bremer 5 Oass g Clayton 2 17 Carroll Crawford 1 g Calhoun 6 Cerro Gordo Clay 2 4 g Clinton 18 Cherokee 3 Chickasaw 6 Clarke 11 Cedar 3 13 Dallas 12 Dickinson 2 Davi.s 27 Des Moines "2 2 4 1 ■■5 "4 5 1 1 6 8 6 5 4 2 7 5 2 i 3 6 6 3 5 4 7 2 1 1 3 5 2 5 6 4 3 6 3 & 2 3 2 7 4 3 2 10 5 3 8 5 6 8 5 "6 5 8 4 1 6 3 2 18 19 Delaware i '3 12 22 17 Floyd 5 Fremont 1 1 16 Greene g Orundy Guthrie 1 i 1 3 1 1 i 2 2 "5 3 10 18 17 Hamilton Hardin 1 1 3 12 12 22 5 5 Henry 2 2 1 1 3 2 5 2 2 4 Humboldt 2 Ida Iowa 2 1 24 13 12 23 Jasoer 1 Jefferson COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. 11 TABLE No. Ill— CoNTrtTUED. Fall Tbrm, 1904. Number of schools having an average daily attendance of : Counties. 10 11 12 13 Johnson . Jones Keokuk . Kossuth. Lee. . . , Linn . . Louisa Lucas Lyon . . Madison , Mahaska Marion Marshall Mills Mitchell Monona Monroe Montgomery Muscatine . . . O'Brien Osceola . Page Palo Alto Plymouth Pocahontas Polk Pottawattamie Poweshiek , Ringgold. Sac Scott. . Shelby . Sioux . Story.. Tama . Taylor. Union . Van Buren. Wapello Warren Washington , Wayne Webster . Winnebago . Winneshiek Woodbury . . Worth Wright. Total. 3 28 85 14.5 29.S .^46 459 517 576 581 1616 595 616 555 533 1. 832 1,303 6 11 12 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. TABLE No. IV. WiNTKR Term 1903-04. Number of schools having an average daily attendance of : County. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 lb to 20 More than 20 2 "4 1 2 5 2 3 4 2 3 2 4 5 8 3 3 2 3 2 3 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 "■3 1 1 3 "4 .... 5 8 6 3 4 3 3 4 3 2 5 6 6 10 3 4 1 2 3 8 4 "2 3 6 3 8 6 3 5 2 5 4 6 1 2 3 4 5 1 8 1 6 3 4 4 2 5 7 9 6 4 6 2 2 6 2 b 6 11 10 10 5 2 8 5 3 3 3 3 2 4 8 8 .5 4 4 12 4 8 b 4 6 3 1 11 2 3 1 6 4 e 1 4 4 2 3 7 6 3 9 3 2 6 5 8 9 8 6 11 7 8 11 '"5 7 6 5 3 1 '"8 6 4 10 5 10 6 3 5 6 7 8 4 4 5 7 4 6 6 8 7 6 5 8 6 8 10 2 11 4 8 4 2 8 6 11 6 9 10 15 4 5 5 7 6 3 1 8 8 4 8 3 9 9 9 7 4 2 5 7 7 5 5 5 9 2 4 7 11 1 3 5 2 6 7 9 11 6 12 8 6 4 7 6 3 8 7 6 15 8 4 "ii 6 4 3 8 9 2 2 6 12 10 10 8 13 7 15 9 8 4 3 7 7 4 12 9 2 7 4 4 6 6 I 8 7 6 12 12 4 3 5 6 '"e 10 8 6 8 15 3 2 9 5 2 3 1 4 5 4 5 10 9 10 5 9 10 10 12 7 6 3 5 5 6 5 14 7 14 4 7 7 9 3 9 10 11 11 13 10 8 13 8 8 6 12 11 6 13 4 3 7 10 5 8 3 3 4 11 1 8 7 5 9 9 10 11 11 6 9 5 5 6 15 10 13 10 2 6 4 5 11 6 3 11 10 8 12 5 6 5 4 9 8 2 8 5 7 8 4 7 5 12 7 4 4 2 6 8 4 4 7 8 9 13 4 8 7 10 6 B 2 4 5 5 g 9 2 4 8 3 6 8 3 11 8 8 9 7 7 3 8 9 5 3 8 7 9 12 10 3 6 8 7 1 2 3 2 10 3 2 11 12 6 2 11 5 11 6 6 8 5 3 5 2 6 6 8 S 10 6 10 7 3 5 10 15 7 8 3 4 13 10 8 5 8 6 8 18 9 1 3 10 8 8 2 4 8 5 2 6 7 5 2 9 7 2 11 9 8 6 1 5 6 9 2 11 8 12 38 12 27 13 7 24 85 25 40 35 5 11 27 31 10 13 29 20 20 34 27 14 17 81 22 26 19 22 21 6 9 S 24 24 29 17 20 31 36 22 19 20 18 23 20 36 26 12 25 22 1 16 Adair .. 1 2 18 33 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 3 2 6 2 8 8 7 5 .... 1 4 2 1 2 1 14 16 Butler Boone Black Hawk. . . . 15 21 12 4 Bremer 1 1 3 2 2 ■ i 3 5 Cass 21 Clayton 38 Carroll 1 1 "i 3 Crawford 9 Calhoun Cerro Gordo Clay 12 7 12 Clinton Cherokee 1 16 5 Chickasaw 8 Clarke 16 Cedar 2 2 1 2 "2 4 5 8 7 Dallas 11 Dickinson Davis 1 2 23 Des Moines 1 14 Decatur 18 Delaware Dubuque 1 1 2 2 7 Emmet 3 Fayette 16 Floyd Franklin 1 "2 8 5 2 8 3 2 1 1 2 '"'2 4 4 2 2 3 4 3 "2 4 1 2 a 2 4 6 Fremont . Greene 12 Grundy 1 "2 1 2 1 18 Guthrie 13 Hamilton 23 Hancock Hardin 1 10 10 Harrison 11 Henry 1 " '1 17 Howard 9 Humboldt Ida 1 6 Iowa 3 1 i 18 Jackson 1 15 Jasper 1 10 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. 18 TABLE No. IV— Continued. Winter Term 1903-1904. Number of schools having an average daily attendance of : County. Jefferson . Johnson . Jones . . . , Keokuk Kossuth Lee . . . . Linn.. . Louisa , Lucas . . Lyon . . Madison Mahaska Marion ... Marshall Mills Mitchell Monona. Monroe Montgomery Muscatine . . O'Brien. Osceola. Page Palo Alto Plymouth Pocahontas Polk Pottawattamie , Poweshiek Ringgold ... Sac Scott Shelby Sioux Story Tama Taylor Union Van Baren. Wapello Warren Washington Wavne Webster .... Winnebago. . Winneshiek Woodbury . . , Worth Wright Total .... 1 . 166 10 11 13 14 445 554 6471 746 661 621 2,160 14 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. TABLE No. V. Spring Term, 1904. Number of schools having an average daily attendance of : County. 1 2 3 4 5' 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 to 20 More than 20 2 .... 1 2 " 5 4 3 4 1 2 4 5 b 6 4 6 4 5 5 7 6 7 14 e 6 5 2 6 4 2 3 1 2 2 2 2 4 2 8 7 10 6 8 8 2 8 6 2 4 2 4 5 5 4 4 1 2 6 6 2 1 6 6 7 3 7 1 8 2 4 6 9 8 7 5 10 1 4 8 6 3 1 4 5 2 3 1 10 9 6 5 4 7 8 3 6 5 1 4 5 6 8 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 3 1 9 6 10 6 4 5 6 4 6 5 5 3 8 11 11 17 2 4 4 10 6 2 2 1 7 2 3 6 10 9 6 3 10 9 11 2 4 4 4 9 14 7 7 8 5 3 5 6 1 3 14 12 10 10 10 6 5 8 7 8 9 13 10 9 9 10 1 5 11 8 5 3 2 6 8 6 8 5 15 9 7 11 10 6 6 6 3 9 7 7 9 5 6 12 8 5 5 18 3 4 6 10 20 5 9 4 9 7 5 10 6 16 4 8 7 8 3 10 11 2 5 1 2 3 14 4 1 7 6 11 6 14 6 9 12 11 10 3 11 11 6 10 10 4 8 6 4 5 10 2 3 6 7 7 9 7 5 3 12 5 6 10 11 11 10 6 11 6 7 11 12 4 4 4 2 6 1 3 6 6 12 7 10 8 11 16 8 4 5 6 6 9 6 11 3 10 2 7 10 6 3 2 11 13 11 11 13 7 6 5 3 6 2 9 6 8 8 8 2 8 6 6 3 ■"i 6 5 S 9 10 3 6 11 10 11 9 6 2 8 4 8 7 8 8 5 6 6 6 4 10 8 3 12 13 6 11 7 7 5 8 13 5 7 11 9 9 4 6 5 3 10 3 5 3 3 5 9 8 7 6 9 7 8 11 16 4 6 5 4 5 5 7 10 4 9 1 3 6 9 2 2 9 8 8 14 9 6 5 6 12 5 4 7 8 7 6 7 4 5 5 5 .... 11 7 2 2 2 11 4 4 6 9 11 13 8 7 2 5 6 8 5 12 6 4 1 7 3 6 5 8 4 4 4 7 12 2 2 3 6 1 1 6 4 6 12 7 3 4 8 8 1 3 3 3 6 4 1 7 6 e 6 6 2 7 10 9 4 4 3 6 6 2 6 6 4 6 41 9 22 12 5 21 23 21 22 29 9 9 29 21 10 12 22 15 16 32 17 14 18 32 16 5 12 20 12 22 3 15 6 jtdair 2 1 4 19 ] 5 4 ] 2 4 2 3 5 2 4 5 5 7 7 3 6 '"4 1 2 '"4 4 1 1 5 1 2 6 8 3 3 5 5 "■5 2 2 3 4 2 2 1 9 2 4 1 5 1 4 1 2 4 3 ""2 '""5 1 3 1 "3 8 1 13 2 19 Butler 18 1 21 Black Hawk 13 Buena Vista 2 1 9 Cass r... 2 2 4 1 10 23 Carroll .. Crawford 1 2 5 3 6 Cerro Gordo Clay "i 1 5 1 5 6 Clinton 9 1 3 Chickasaw 7 Clarke 1 1 1 1 5 Cedar Dallas 8 10 2 15 Des Moines 1 1 1 1 1 "2 3 "i 1 "■"2 2 2 1 2 3 1 2 4 "2 1 .... '"4 1 2 12 Decatur Delaware 10 9 Dubuque Emmet 1 1 3 a Fayette 37 20 16 30 17 19 29 25 19 14 12 12 20 11 19 IS 16 23 19 2a 4 Floyd 1 1 Franklin 7 Fremont 5 8 8 12 6 7 11 15 20 12' 4 Grundy Guthrie 1 Hamilton Hancock Hardin Harrison 2 1 Henry Howard 1 1 "2 1 3 Humboldt Ida Iowa 19 10 11 21 Jackson Jasper 3 2 1 Jef^rson ... COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. 15 TABLE No. V— CONTINTTED. Spbing Tebm, 1904. Number of schools having an average daily attendance of ; County. 1 2 a 4 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 to 20 More than 20 2 3 1 4 2 1 2 1 4 1 1 7 4 4 11 4 3 2 1 6 2 9 5 1 5 1 2 2 3 2 3 4 6 4 3 6 4 5 3 3 3 1 3 7 8 7 8 6 4 19 2 4 2 ■"6 3 3 1 3 2 4 8 4 4 2 7 3 6 6 7 5 7 6 6 3 6 1 1 12 3 6 2 5 2 2 2 7 2 8 8 6 14 8 6 11 4 3 23 4 6 4 2 7 3 1 2 6 4 4 8 2 11 1 9 4 1 9 13 7 1 5 8 2 10 1 4 6 8 10 5 5 4 1 7 4 "■9 7 5 12 3 4 8 7 5 23 4 5 1 4 10 "3 2 10 6 4 13 2 6 5 11 10 10 14 18 11 10 7 5 7 6 "'"e 9 4 7 3 4 2 3 4 6 5 13 4 5 14 6 11 5 10 7 17 ■3 5 9 5 5 1 7 5 2 4 15 1 14 1 12 6 9 13 6 11 6 20 12 9 10 5 4 9 7 8 1 7 3 4 7 5 2 15 5 5 9 12 4 11 6 4 10 5 13 4 4 3 3 15 4 4 10 3 11 8 7 6 3 12 16 10 12 8 7 9 4 6 9 3 7 2 8 6 6 5 4 6 9 8 5 7 4 11 5 11 8 10 4 9 7 4 6 3 4 4 7 5 7 7 3 5 3 12 5 10 8 11 12 6 17 5 6 8 5 5 15 8 9 5 5 5 6 3 7 7 9 5 7 13 6 11 7 3 6 16 6 7 5 5 6 3 9 6 11 8 3 7 4 8 5 13 6 5 8 12 9 15 13 6 9 11 2 7 13 9 5 10 7 6 5 4 8 9 7 8 3 15 8 9 7 6 8 15 5 8 5 1 5 6 5 3 11 5 7 7 2 2 5 9 3 5 2 3 6 7 12 5 4 13 4 8 16 9 12 4 6 8 5 7 11 3 12 9 4 9 3 7 12 5 7 9 6 7 5 4 7 6 5 4 5 5 2 6 3 2 9 3 5 4 5 6 14 9 6 6 12 6 7 13 5 9 5 6 6 5 2 10 7 10 2 6 4 5 6 4 8 8 9 4 3 7 8 9 6 7 6 8 4 2 5 4 5 7 5 3 9 2 5 5 6 9 4 6 5 4 6 3 10 7 4 5 6 4 5 7 7 9 6 7 9 3 6 36 29 26 20 8 29 13 17 15 19 22 18 23 16 15 21 28 12 11 21 5 27 10 19 28 23 36 23 15 21 17 11 35 19 28 23 16 20 14 19 37 20 23 18 23 28 18 24 19 Jones 1 1 22 19 4 2 1 1 1 9 13 Linn 1 35 Louisa 11 Lyon. 1 1 3 4 11 21 1 19 1 1 2 1 2 10 Mills 12 Mitchell 8 3 6 24 1 2 4 13 O'Brien 2 S 4 1 2 3 '"2 4 2 2 1 3 4 1 1 5 1 1 1 18 Palo Alto . . 2 1 7 1 8 Polk "i "i 30 15 11 7 Sac 1 1 Bcott 16 Shelby "i ... ■■7 1 3 5 6 9 ytory 8 Tama 3 1 2 19 Taylor 6 12 15 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 33 25 1 9 12 Webster 1 3 5 6 2 3 7 1 5 18 4 16 Woodbury Worth 2 5 10 14 Wright 1 1 9 Total 9 29 91 170 318 474 521 645 707 705 698 708 660 600 525 1,917 1,114 16 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. TABLE Monthly Salaries Paid Rural Teachers for the School Year 1903-04, $20 More than $20 Less than $25. $25. More than $25 Less than $30. $30. County . a s u CI a u i en s fa a a a a a a be a ft CD a fa a D U a a u n a 03 a s- fa a a Z a •s 0. CD 1 1 3 1 44 19 38 10 1 40 82 73 63 73 21 1 2 24 6 24 39 32 22 22 56 8 19 65 19 8 17 21 12 19 26 2 16 15 40 32 24 30 59 25 8 24 85 21 22 21 1 36 4 57 4 ■'15 32 13 14 19 27 11 22 30 22 27 6 80 9 46 19 19 19 23 8 88 2 9 10 31 9 22 27 15 7 57 29 10 9 25 19 29 7 18 15 13 2-4 1 6 21 30 10 11 14 3 12 -15 37 6 13 9 13 16 "ii 3 13 2 2 29 4 11 20 42 8 15 2 21 21 1 48 3 "2 1 1 3 11 1 2 32 5 21 85 44 9 26 15 11 14 7 9 10 7 88 42 25 42 2 18 88 6 9 21 15 2 '"5 ■■■3 7 28 13 1 20 "e 6 10 14 4 ""7 39 6 1 11 24 49 19 25 22 22 17 6 26 9 12 26 22 6 28 1 38 18 4 1 1 8 10 23 14 46 63 £0 1 11 10 23 6 34 1 21 S 1 1 1 22 5 .... 1 1 3 1 1 46 27 1 44 M 88 3 21 12 23 5 3 3 1 20 6 1 Cliickasaw 1 23 Clayton 18 1 6 18 29 1 1 ■"2 5 22 41 41 41 1 5 1 29 1 7 11 5 .30 14 74 Cherokee. "i 3 24 88 22 7 4 15 1 "■3 5 'ii 12 2 19 6 29 17 24 10 "13 ■■9 1 4 .... 20 13 41 40 15 2 29 1 1 10 2 9 28 31 2 28 80 15 1 13 10 85 8 10 2 16 1 9 1 21 14 1 1 4 "ii 1 2 15 2 7 4 "6 3 18 7 8 21 7 1 2 1 21 1 24 32 2 1 21 Floyd Franklin 30 41 4 5 1 2 22 28 48 1 31 13 Hardin 1 2 4 7 17 26 23 3 42 11 15 1 5 1 7 10 ""2 21 4 ■"8 51 25 "37 17 15 18 22 2 3 9 16 81 7 2 2 43 5 28 '^0 ?,fi Ida 1 1 5 14 30 32 1 1 1 25 39 4« Jasper 2 8 22 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. 17 No. VI. Showing the Number of Schools Taught at the Salaries Named. More than More than More than th'n 45 More .$30 Less $35. $35 Less $40. $40 Less $45. $50. than than $35. than $40. than $45. th'n50 $50. S a a a a a a 01 a a ^^ a a g a a g a a a a a g' s a 4^ a t. be . . . . 1 1 10 34 27 28 10 36 17 2 25 t> 14 r 1 2 43 26 31 13 53 12 14 7 17 2 36 7 oo 2 8 1 1 27 46 81 19 29 26 8 16 9 10 9 9 b 1 12 7 S 69 9 4 9 2 4 10 10 2 2 19 1 1 10 6 2 11 2 1 1 4e 46 30 47 3 12 : 16 22 20 10 3 38 1 20 11 2 1 'i i 9 1 m 24 16 9 18 6 12 1 8 IR 22 56 20 37 2 7 4 25 4 11 1 1 1 44 8 Ifi 16 7 1 1. . 2S 63 43 4 21 15 7 3 8 5 33 35 21 49 10 20 5 23 41 20 7 9 2 14 25 16 1 13 27 3 "i 28 29 27 ,52 46 62 10 21 10 8 12 1? 9. 3 18 22 9 6 2 1 2 6 1 5 13 13 11 65 2 1 36 1 1 9 1 1 32 15 37 26 39 24 9 20 12 5 22 5 10 6 13 12 18 30 1 1 2 4 10 3 1 ? 13 12 8 1 9 1 9 8 15 1 5 2 11 '"3 ■3 "3 1 3 2 "i '2 ■? 14 6 5 4 5 25 1 5 1 4 44 3 17 25 5 3 2 16 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 31 5 12 2 16 6 2 3 8 3 1 2 17 2 16 2 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 fi 59 4 2 1 3 1 1 85 56 38 6 27 3 16 4 1 6 44 44 68 33 38 29 1 4 2 14 19 12 22 5 41 19 15 21 31 46 18 16 2 27 25 3 8 2 16 8 6 3 2 4 1 1 1 40 15 35 32 24 22 21 4 26 5 8 29 80 43 27 42 31 1.^ 20 9 7 35 6 4 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 30 86 43 32 23 24 16 21 W 12 8 25 26 28 8 21) 16 10 17 17 4 10 2 1 1 ? 6 8 10 14 26 24 3 ■ 6 4 S 3 1 15 57 1.3 7 32 7 3 12 10 2 9 2 4 1 16 'M 52 18 35 19 8 38 11 42 8 51 1 15 6 6 2 6 1 15 27 30 22 4 31 18 27 7 "84 6 5 2 42 12 47 4 I 1 22 1 53 ! 22 5 1 1 1 4 46 1 1 .. ..1 18 COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. TABLE Monthly Salaries Paid Rural Teachers for the School Year 1903-04, More than $20 S20 Less than $25 125 More than $25 Less than $30 am County. a u e a a u a a to a •E ft QQ a a 0) a bo a 'C a a u a u a a b (D .♦^ a •■H U ft CD a 1 a u u a a •c ft QQ Jefferson 2 2 1 5 2 3 2 1 3 1 2 1 17 49 47 15 26 24 18 8 7 1 1 1 2 28 "1 4 46 36 13 25 33 17 3 14 1 2 1 13 "io "22 "9 2 14 43 40 10 4 6 53 5 6 2 16 11 10 "ie 9 2 18 1 3 '"s 4 5 8 5 ... .... 6 ""i 7 10 8 45 22 18 1 46 5 11 3 15 3 17 '26 7 1 17 8 5 1 12 36 37 35 39 9 33 55 23 10 30 51 25 10 11 15 79 10 28 19 11 6 38 24 58 13 4li 10 47 38 25 2 16 19 31 46 44 22 17 22 21 69 12 36 4 13 49 10 20 2713 11 46 18 24 37 20 8 3 7 5 3 3 12 "22 59 28 4 £ 16 3 "h 41 9 3 "2 30 28 .... 16 1 9 32 38 19 11 4 27 16 21 19 9 21 7 625 ?7 4R Jones 62 Keokuk 1 31 25 10 2 11 7 Linn 39 Louisa 48 Lucas . 20 Lyon 11 Madison 11 1 12 "io "26 9 26 "3 "4 "i 44 Mahaska 58 Marion 2 "i 3 7 22 Marshall Mills Mitchell "l 2 7 19 Monona 1 .... '"8 63 ] 2 36 Montgomery 50 Muscatine 1 1 21 O'Brien Osceola 11 1 Page 42 Palo Alto 17 8 6 1 7 4 26 9 1 3 26 Plymouth 57 Pocahontas 1 29 Polk 1 43 Pottawattamie 12 17 10 5 12 9 14 25 26 8 12 7 33 26 48 Ringgold Sac 32 19 Scott 2 Shelby 14 Sioux 2 3 4 6 32 14 20 9 18 25 9 14 4 6 4 14 13 1422 1 5 21 1 "5 4 12 4 "i 4521 4 7 14 7 7 2 15 11 13 7 14 1 18 2 1305 18 Story 38 9 1 11 36 4 24 19 34 3 "'7 9 1 "2 4 1 12 43 12 31 7 49 3 4 9 67 Taylor 41 Union 16 li 'ib ■""7 1 "2 5 17 ""i "io 26 Van Buren 6 1 8 "2 "4 2 Wapello 44 25 61 5 Washington Wayne "3 Webster 30 Winnebago 1 2 5 19 Winneshiek 1 26 Woodbury 43 Worth 3 978 29 Wright 2 962 144 34 Total *75 5 *88 199 22 233 3784 • In addition to these footings there were three fall terms and ten spring terms taught COUNTRY SCHOOL STATISTICS. 19 No. VI — Continued. Showing the Number of Schools Taught at the Salaries Named. More than More than More than More th'n 45 Less th'n 50 More $30 Less $85 135 L. oSS O (S w 00 Oi C .« ^• -3° CO P County. o o oS ? 0) 1^ ^ o t~ fl o •S?^ .2 S O !U 2 m aj to ^. O S « o 1 tat m ? 03 »: « C o C 3 B 3i $ 34, 579. 14 79, 958. 02 $114, 537. 16 Mills Tax levy for school purposes in cities and towns (on basis of 388 reports) — Teachers' f and Contingent fund Tax levy for school pur noses in country districts (on basis of averages reported from 70 counties)— Teachers' fund Contingent fund 15.1 7.9 2.6 TEACHERS EMPLOYED in the 134 towns and cities of Iowa, having a population of 1,500 or over. Total number employed 3,974 Number who are graduates of the Iowa State Normal School 367 Number who are graduates of other state normal schools 136 Number who are graduates of some college or university 719 Number who are graduates of academies, private normal schools or high sohools maintaining a four-year course 2,269 Total who are graduates 3, 491 Number with no experience , 82 Number who hold state certificates or life diplomas 552 PRESENT STATUS OF CONSOLIDATION. 57 EDUCATION OF THE FARM BOY AND GIRL. * * * Have the advantages for the education of the farm boy and girl kept pace with the advancement in all other lines of society? Is the little schoolhouse, with its poor equipment, with the poorly trained teacher in many instances, and with very poor work in the common branches sufficient to meet the demands of today for the common school education? Have we not reached the period in all the central western states where nothing short of a well equipped schoolhouse, a iirst-class teacher and a course of study revised to meet the demands of the times, are a necessity for our children? I believe that every farmer who reads this article will agree with me that conditions have changed since he was a boy, and that it takes a better trained mind to be a successful farmer or business man today than it did even ten years ago. It is safe to say that the time has come when the farmer must have within comparatively easy reach of his home a well constructed schoolhouse, thor- oughly equipped for giving the best of modern education. He ought not to have to send his son or daughter away from home to school until at least two years of the work of the modern high school has been completed. The farm boy and the farm girl should be at home at nights while they are get- ting their general education. These conveniences may be had everywhere by the consolidation of schools in localities of mutual interests. This has already been done to a large extent in Indiana, and the plan is under good headway in Iowa and some other western states. There is no reason why the farmers should not provide these conveniences of education for their children. It is nothing more than they are doing; to provide themselves with better means of breeding and handling their stock or improving their farms, and certainly their children's welfare is of much more concern than any farm or stock improvements. * * * The new conditions of life on the farm demand improvement in general education for the farm boy or girl. It is presumed that the course of study will contain a good course in bookkeeping, and facilities should be provided for a certain amount of industrial work. The children in the grades should be taught to make various articles, such as cardboard modeling, clay model- ing, weaving of rugs and hammocks, baskets with raffia, reed and willow, doll houses with raffia furniture and various articles that may be easily made under the direction of a trained teacher, and both the children of the grades and the high s;hool should have access to a shop where they may learn to make articles by the use of simple tools. This work is not to be carried on with the idea of making carpenters or artisans of all, but with the thought in view of cultivating a desire and an appreciation for such work ani the further idea of giving the pupils the opportunity to acquire the ability to help themselves an thereby to help others. A few hours a week at such work as this will prove invaluable to any child. Parents have not come to the realization yet how much this industrial work means to their children. The expense of providing this equipment is nominal, compared to the good to be received, and the pupils need very little instruction in order to acquire the training it is intended they shall secure from such work. * * * The proper education of the farm boy and girl can not be neglected 58 PRESENT STATUS OF CONSOLIDATION. without bringing ruin upon the farming communities. If these advantages are not provided the farm boys and girls will drift away early into other call- ings. If the right kind of schools are provided for the country boys and girls they will remain at home until they receive this general education, and then if they have gifts in other directions it will be time for the u to seek special schools. — Fres. O. H. Longwell in Twentieth Century Farmer. A NEW ARGUMENT. The arguments commonly advanced for the township consolidation of rural schools are, first, the increase in the efficiency of the teaching, second, the economy in financial expenditures for the support of the schools. A third argument which we have not heard advanced is the increase, with- out extra expense, of the size of the school grounds, which, considered in the light of fifty or a hundred years hence, is as potent an argument for rural consolidation as either of the first two. The instituting and observing of Arbor day the past few \ ears has sug- gested the idea of preserving the native woods of, for instance Iowa, by planting on school grounds all trees and shrubs that are indigenous to Iowa soil. This, to be efifective would require larger plats of ground than at present is set off for school purposes. No rural school plat should contain less than ten acres of ground, which should be set out, in large part, in the form of small groves each containing trees of a kind; there being as many small groves as there are trees indigenous to the soil. What an ideal for a school environment, where the pupils have an opportunity to commune with nature direct, and under conditions best fitted to stir the proper emotions of the soul and inspire to higher thoughts and aspirations! And yet how fea- sible and easy of attainment, while land is comparatively inexpensive, espec- ially by consolidating the eight or nine districts of a township into one, and appropriating the amount of ground to the one district, that is already appropriated to the nine. Now is the time to inaugurate such a movement. One hundred dollars an acre for such a purpose would be economically spent. The time is coming in the future when America shall have reached the density of population, already attained in some of our European states, when land will have risen to such a value as to prohibit such a proposition as presented above. County Suprintendent Cole, of Cerro Gordo county, asks in the Novem- ber number of the Midland schools, the question, "Would the migration to the city be so great if our rural pupils were offered that which would develop and make them intellegent and scientific farmers, thereby making rural life more attractive?"— A very pertinent question.— 6^«/o« County Public Schools . One Phase of the Teacher Problem The Greatest Need of Any School is a Trained and Competent Teacher. ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. 61 THE LICENSING OF TEACHERS Address Delivered before N . E. Iowa Teachers' Association Dubuque^ Oct. 22, 1904. by John F. Riggs- Superintendent of Public Instruction. I have a purpose in discussing at this time the hackneyed subject of teachers' examinations. In a little more than a year from now the Thirty- first General Assembly of Iowa will meet. At that time some important school legislation will be urged , and doubtless one of the most important measures will relate to the examination of teachers. But all efforts looking to the change of our laws on this important subject will be utterly futile unless the strong teachers in the ranks, and the county and city superin- tendents of the state give earnest support to the measures which may be brought forward. I am, therefore, discussing this year in the four district meetings of the state the question of licensing teachers in the hope that the leading teachers who attend these meetings may be set to thinking on this subject long enough in advance to have well-grounded convictions when our legislators shall again meet in general assembly; and if you shall come to agree with me that radical changes in our system are needed, I ask earnestly that you make known your views on this subject to the men who may represent you in the next general assembly, and that you use your influence in creating a public sentiment in favor of the changes proposed. I am of the opinion that we now have much needless examination of teachers. I am also of the opinion that, by some hook or crook, a great many persons secure certificates who never, in their lives, passed a satisfac- tory examination. The theory of our law requiring teachers to hold a county or state certifi- cate showing qualification is, that without the barrier of an examination, incompetent persons would occupy the teacher's office. In so far then as incompetent persons secure certificates despite this barrier, the purpose of the law is defeated; and, in so far as competent teachers are re-examined simply because the law permits or requires it, no benefit results, but a need- less burden is imposed upon the teachers. If none but the scholarly and well prepared were to seek positions as teachers we might abandon examinations altogether and have free teaching, i. e. , teaching without certificates. But with the conditions as we have them — with rnultitudes of the illy prepared clamoring to enter the teachers' ranks— examinations become a necessity. But, they are a necessity only for those whose scholarship and general fitness for the teachers' office are not 62 ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. fully determined. That is to say, after a teacher by an honest entrance ex- amination demonstrates that she possesses adequate scholarship, and then by practical experience in teaching demonstrates her ability to govern and instruct youth and is withal a student and actively intereted in the educa- tional movements of her city or county, there is little reason for calling her before the county superintendent once a year to find out whether she has forgotten anything or has learned anything new. I have a very high opinion of the integrity and ability of the county superintendents of Iowa. There is, doubtless, not one of them who does not earnestly desire to deal justly with every applicant and to issue certifi- cates to those candidates only who are fully prepared for the work of teach- ing. But the superintendent who attempts to adhere strictly to a high and uniform standard is so beset by friends of illy prepared candidates that official life becomes a burden and under the pressure it would not be surprising if the less resolute should stifle convictions and yield at this point and that, and thus subject the schools to the rule of immaturity and inefficiency. Former State Superintendent Harvey of Wisconsin in one of his excellent reports says that 90 per cent of the countv superintendents of that state, in the year 1900, bore testimony to the fact that they were unable to limit the issue of certificates to people whom they believed to be thoroughly qualified for the work of teaching; that they were beset by political influence demand- ing that certificates be issued to friends and relatives of the political sup- porters of this officer without reference to qualifications. Wisconsin is not Iowa, but if this condition existed in 90 per cent of the counties in Wisconsin in 1900, may it not exist to some extent in some of the counties of Iowa in 1904. I contend that it is both impolitic and unjust to subject the county superintendent to this tremendous pressure. It is evident to anv one familiar with the facts that the standard in some counties is very much higher than in others. We may now have ninety-nine standards in this state, and the standard in any county may be changed whenever a new superintendent is installed in office. And the law recog- nizes this in that it does not permit any recognition in one county of a cer- tificate issued in another county. It is not even permissible under our law, as it is interpreted by the attorney-general, to have an examination written in one county and have the manuscripts forwarded to another county for grading. The county line in Iowa, so far as certificates are concerned, is an absolute barrier. But our present system not only gives us varying standards and subjects our county superintendents to the persistent importunity of unqualifled persons who seek certificates, but it requires that the superintendent devote time to this work that he could more profitably spend out among the schools, nspiring teachers and pupils and creating a healthy school sentiment among the people. I am aware that many people believe the county superintendent has two essential duties: one to examine teachers and the other to draw his salary. But some of the live county superintendents of the state are demon- strating their greater value in awakening teachers and pupils and patrons to their best endeavor for the improvement and strengthening of the schools. ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. 63 In such counties it is a distinct loss to the school to withdraw the super- intendent from thi- essential work and set him to poring over examination papers. In more than 80 per cent of the counties of Iowa examinations are held every month, as prescribed bylaw, and sometimes two or more exami- nations are held in the same month. The week following most of these ex- aminations, is largely devoted by the superintendent to reading manuscripts and in making out and mailing returns. Last winter I asked our county superintendents to state the number of days spent each year in this work, and from the answers received, I find that the average is fully fifty days a year for each county. Indeed, the time spent would be much more were it not for the fact that in more than four-fifths of the counties of Iowa the institute instructors assist in reading and marking manuscripts written at the beginning or close of the summer institute. But this class of help is expen- sive, costing the counties from five to ten dollars per day for each person so employed. So it comes about that the examination of teachers in this state is attended with very considerable expense. Now, instead of this county system with its many inherent weaknesses, it is proposed to adopt the state system of qualifying teachers. The essential diflferences would be, first, in the number of examinations; second, in the persons who would mark the examination manuscripts; and third, in the value of the certificate issued and its effect on standards and salaries. Instead of having examinations every month of the year, there would be four examinations. Two of these would be held in the summer — one in June and one in July. A third examination would be held in October for the accommodation of those deprived of attendance upon a summer examina- tion, or who were to teach the winter term only. Then, for emergency cases, a fourth examination would be assigned for February'. So, with ex- aminations the last of February, June, July and October, the entire body of teachers in any county could be accommodated quite as well as with twelve examinations, as now provided by law. The examinations would be con- ducted in the several counties under the direct supervision of the county superintendent as at present. At the conclusion of the examination the county superintendent would forward all the manuscripts, with possibly one exception, to the bffice of the state superintendent, and the scholarship of each applicant as shown by the examination manuscripts would then be determined by readers appointed by the state board of educational examiners. The certificate issued would be effective in anv county of the state, when registered with the county superintendent and receiving his offi- cial signature. Under this system a standard uniform for this state would be secured; county lines, so far as certificates are concerned, would dis- appear, and the value of the certificate would be greatly increased in that it would be practically a state certificate. And, further, an incentive would be held out to teachers in that the higher class of certificates would be sub- ject to renewal solely on the condition of continued successful teaching. The effect of such a law would be seen in a raising of the standards and in an increase of the salaries of teachers. We have heard much of low salaries of teachers in Iowa, and the demand for better salaries has been repeatedly made through the press and from the public platform. Most of our teachers are underpaid. We will all agree to 64 ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. that proposition; but I say to you that there are teachers who would be over- paid at any salary. The strong teacher is in a sense in competition with the weak. It is, therefore, to the interest of the good teachers and to the interests of the people and of the people's children that the poor and incompetent teachers be eliminated. I want to see the time in Iowa, and I hope I may see it very soon, when the strong, successful teacher can demand reasonable wages for her services, and when she can say to the school board: ' 'If you do not wish my services at a fair salary, I will teach somewhere else." She can do this when her certificate is good in any county and when there are more schools hunting teachers than teachers hunting schools. Fortunately we are not left in doubt as to the practical workings of a system such as I have suggested. For ten years New York has had the state system of licensing teachers. Minnesota has had such a system five years, and South Dakota two years. The reports I have received from each of these states commend the system as satisfactory and as a great improvement over the old method of county certification. Since the conditions prevailing in Minnesota and Iowa are not greatly different, a law that works well there ought, if adopted, to work well here. I want, therefore, to read to you the testimony I have received from a few of the leading county superintendents of Minnesota. I will read brief ex- tracts onh to show the general trend of the answers received to my questions as to whether the law was satisfactory and whether it had tended to raise the standard of teaching. Every superintendent to whom I wrote made reply, and 95 per cent of them commend the law as just and eminently satisfactory. Supt. Geo, F. Howard, of Rochester, says: It secures tiniformity of certificates throughout the state, and teachers are not caused trouble and expense to secure another certificate when they cross county lines to teach as many do. It takes the marking of the papers out of the hands of the county superintend- ent and relieves him of a large amount of drudgery. It eliminates the matter of favoritism in the granting of certificates, which is one of the greatest evils of the county system of certification. It raises the standard of both teachers and schools and, combined with special state aid to rural schools, is doing more to elevate our schools to higher and better things than any other agency that has ever been at work in our state. Supt. G. E. Parkhill, Fergus Falls, says: Otter Tail county, the largest in the state in number of school districts, employs about three hundred teachers. Eighteen of this number hold county certificates granted upon private examination. This was made necessary last fall on account of a shortage of teachers. Otherwise every teacher in the oounty holds a regular state certificate granted by the state superintendent of public instruction. We have always had training schools and still have a six-weeks' summer school and four county teachers's meetings yearly, yet nothing has so effectually raised the standard of our whole teaching force as has our strict observance of the spirit and letter of our present certificate law. The privileges granted under our present law for the issuing of local certificates should be trimmed again. We are now ready for more rigid uniformity and equality in the licensing of teachers. You will see by the above paragraph that we are willing to go on record for a still higher standard of qualifications and that this standard can be best obtained by a more rigid law for the examining and Licensing of teachers. ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. 65 Supt. Martin L. Pratt, of Granite Falls, says: The strongest point in favor of the law is that the teacher must depend upon his own exertions, and not on his political influence, in order to get a certificate. There can be no valid objection to the law. It is fair and impartial. Supt. Fanny G. Gies, of Austin, says: I believe the work of the rural schools in any state would be improved by the state licensing of teachers. There will be opposition at first from some of the- best county su- perintendents who had high standards and ideals and felt that their authority may be cur- tailed, and of course opposition from that class of superintendents who occasionally use the granting of certificates for political purposes. But this opposition will soon die out, as it has here, when the majority realize that the standard for teachers of the state as a whole is gradually being raised through this system. Supt. F. L. Williams of Watertown says: I am well pleased with it. It has now been in force for more than four years and in that time it has accomplished much good. First, it has practially done away with political grafting. Second, it has increased the standard of education among our teachers, permiting them to prepare on a special line of work instead of a constant repetition of all the common branches. Third, ic has had a tendency to raise the wages of the teacher. I believe the wages in my county have increased from 12 to 15 per cent since its passage. I see no serious draw - backs to the law at present. Supt. Geo. D. Goodrich, of Anoka, says: The advantages of the Minnesota law may be summarized under five heads: First — Absolutely impartial, or as nearly so as human arrangement can be. Second — Uniformity throughout the state. Third — Certificates are good anywhere, and teachers can take the examination wher- ever it is convenient . Fourth— The county superintendent is relieved from the criticism or enmity of those who fail; also from the work of looking over Ihe papers, and has more time for other important school niatters. Fifth— The work of examination is put largely in the hands of experts who have usu- ally been broad minded people of sense and judgment, as well as culture. Supt. S. J. Race, of Redwood Falls, says: We have never had such excellence, such fairness, such uniformity and such com- pleteness, as now exhibited in the Minnesota state certificate law. The law, while only in operation six years, has raised the standard of teaching and teachers' scholarship fifty per cent.*^ There can now be no partiality, nor political unfairness in teachers' certificates. Supt. Julius Boraas, of Red Wing, says: The system of state examinations for teachers has- established uniformity throughout the state, done away with ' 'pull' ' and local influence in securing certificates, and elevated the standard of teaching as a whole. It provides for a reasonable system of renewals placing teachers on a more permanent basis than before. Though there are defects in the system they are far less numerous than those of the old county system. Supt. Mary A. Hanson, of Detroit, says: After four years of state examination and licensing of teachers, the result manifest in our county is a constantly rising standard of scholarship in the teaching force, and a larger percentage of our teachers attending normal and other higher institutions of learning, in order to meet the requirements. Supt. G. M. Cesander, of Winthrop, says: The Minnesota law relative to the examining and licensing of teachers has given a universal satisfaction throughout the entire state. It has establis-hed under the careful svipervision of the department of publicinstruction a uniformity of[grading and marking examii ation papers. I know of noother plan which would be more compltte and more accurate as an imj artial test of the applicant's 6cholastic[qualification. 5 66 ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. Supt. G. C. Borchardt, of Madison, says: It has in this county raised the standing of the teachers over 33 per cent, I am sure. We have better and stronger teachers as a result of the lavt^. The average salary of teach- ers in this county for this year will be $44 per month. I can truthfully say that it is my experience that a teacher who can not pass our examination is not prepared to teach in the schools of the state, or any other state, for that matter. Supt. W. E. Freeman, of Mankato, says: It has been my observation that the state system of marking teachers' examination papers has raised the educational standard of the teaching force of the state and has dignified the calling. Some tax payers object to the state system because teachers are demanding and receiving higher salaries. Such objections are not founded on good grounds for the superior scholarship and better work of the present teaching force of this state demand a higher salary than was paid five years ago. Such is the testimony of men, many of whom have had experience as officers under both systems and all of whom, because of their official posi- tions, and their professional standing, are well qualified to speak with authority on this subject. The teacher who is prepared for her work should welcome the change proposed. The examination questions would be no more difficult than those that have been furnished by the state department of education for the past twenty years. The only difference would be a more critical reading of the answer papers, and a possibly closer marking. I am perfectly well aware that a great wail would go out from those unable to pass the state examina- tion; but for such there would be one remedy only, and that, to become proficient in the branches of study covered by the examination. To those sufficiently well informed in a subject to teach it successfully, an examina- tion would have no terrors. Should the marking of examination manuscripts come under state author- ity, the greatest care would be exercised to secure a perfectly fair return for each applicant. Aside from the readers, who would be carefully selected, a review board would be retained to re-read the papers of those candidates who fail by a small margin or who fail in one or two subjects. Teachers would also be given the privilege of combining the results of two consecutive state examinations. That is to say, if one examination were successful in a part of the subjects, it would not be required of the candidate to write on the same subjects at the next succeeding examination. This is the method followed both in New York and Minnesota . It would seem that with this assur- ance any qualified teacher would feel safe under the state system, and since it opens the way to professional recognition in a manner not possible with our present county system of certificating teachers, our best teachers should, in my judgment, welcome this change, and should use their influence to bring it about. The legislation I have outlined in this address will, I believe, commend itself to the good judgment of the men who will constitute the membership of the Thirty-first General Assembly to meet early in 1906. But no important school legislation can be expected except as the strong teachers and super- intendents of the state stand united in its earnest advocacy. I have, therefore, presented to you, at this early date, proposed changes in our laws governing examinations in the hope that a candid consideration of the same may enlist your hearty support. ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. 67 FREQUENT EXAMINATIONS NOT NECESSARY. The Iowa law requires that the county superintendent devote the last Saturday of each month and the Friday preceding to the examination of teachers. Taking the average for the state the examinations held in the different months are attended as follows: January 3+ per cent of all the applicants for the year. February 5+ " " " " " March 10— " " " " " April 4+ " " " " " May 1+ June 7 — " " " " " July 13- August 33— " " " " " September 9— " " " " " October 5— " " " " " November 5— " " " " " December 5+ " " " " " Four examinations would serve all interests quite as well. If the teachers of the state were made to know that the examination could be taken only the last of February, June, July or October, they could attend one of these examinations. Minnesota and South Dakota get along very well with two examin itions for the yea-, while the great state of New York has but four examinations. A CHANGE NEEDED IN OUR LAWS GOVERNING THE EXAMI- NATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS. 1. The number of examinations should not exceed four in any one year. 2. The county superintendent should be required to conduct examinations under rules prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction, using state lists only. 3. The county superintendent should not be permitted to admit to the examination any person morally or physically unfit to have charge of children and youth. 4. The county Euperinfendent should be required by law to forward all answer papers, except the papers in theory and practice of teaching, to the superintendent of public instruction immediately upon the completion of the examination, said papers to be read and graded by readers appointed by the superintendent of public instruction or by the state board of educa- tional examiners. 5. The county superintendent should be required to grade all papers in theory and practice of teaching, taking into consideration the knowledge he may have of each applicant's success as a teacher or fitness for teaching other than scholarship. He should also examine each applicant in oral reading, his markings in theory and practice of teaching and in oral reading to be forwarded to the superintendent of public instruction not later than one week after the close of the examination. 68 ONE PHASE OF THE TEACHER PROBLEM. 6. An applicant passing a successful examination should receive a certfi- cate signed by the superintendent of public instruction, the same to be valid in any county in Iowa when countersigned by the county superintendent of that county. 7. The life of a certificate should be longer than now permitted by law, and reasonable provision should be made for the renewal of first-class certificates. 8. In any change made in the method of examining and certifying teachers, adequate support of the county institute fund should be maintained. d ' 'The uniform certification law has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of this department in its effects upon the standard of the teaching force of the state. In fact it has produced a veritable revolution in its brief history. * * * The new law dignifies the profession of teaching, places every candidate entirely upon his merits, destroys all possibility of favoritism and gives to the worthy teacher a credential in which he may take pride, and which is good, or may be made good, in any county of the state. " Hon. G. W. Nash, State Superintendent of South Dakota. ' 'It is everywhere conceded that the present plan has decided advantages over the old one, where every county superintendent had a standard of his own, or no standard. " Hon. J. W. Olsen State Superintendent of Minnesota. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 71 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. ' 'Children as well as older people are affected by their environments, and nowhere is this more clearly shown than in the schoolroom. The silent beauty radiating from the harmononiously tinted walls and ceilings; from beautiful decorations consisting of picturea , casts and plants, quickens and purifies the taste. Such beauty of surroundings has a subtle, silent, ethical influence which is not so much seen as felt. " INTRODUCTION. The past twenty years has witnessed a marked advance in school archi- tecture in our larger towns and cities. In many country districts, as well, great care is taken in the construction, ventilation and lighting of the school- house; but in more cases where the smaller schoolhouse is to be erected, little effort is made to secure architectural beauty or improved methods of construction. Many country school boards do not secure plans and specifi- cations from an architect because of the expense involved. As a result, the new schoolhouse is likely to be built on the general pattern of the old one it displaces. The following pages have been prepared to assist country school boards in the important work of schoolhouse construction. A number of cuts are shown. A low price for complete plans and specifications of each, including the blue prints, can be secured from the architects. For information, the county superintendent should be consulted. I can not urge too strongly the need of an enlightened and liberal policy in schoolhouse construction to the end that the schoolhouse be attractive in appearance and scientifically constructed. It may require a few dollars more to secure such a schoolhouse, but it shonld be remembered that the district is building for half a century at least, and only the best should be considered. The schoolhouse with its surroundings should be the most attractive place in the district, in which every child and every patron will take pride. And the schoolroom should not only be inviting, but it should be so ventilated, lighted and heated that the physical health and mental energy of the children shall not be impaired. RURAL SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE, (The articles on "School Site," "School Building" and "Ventilation" were prepared by Mr. W. H. Gemmill, Superintendent of Dallas Center Schools. ) THE SCHOOL SITE. In selecting a site, the area of the lot, the elevation, the character of the soil, the drainage, the direction of the slope, and the central location, should be considered. No school ground should ever contain less than one acre, with a frontage of 180 feet and a depth of 240 feet. In the larger con- 72 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. solidated district it should contain not less than two, and may very properly contain three acres. If possible it should be an elevated piece of ground, a small knoll, or a gentle slope, and the drainage should be away from the yard and house. The soil should be light, dry and porous. A sandy or gravelly subsoil affords the best drainage, while an eastern or a southern slope secures rapid evaporation. Under no circumstances should the stratum be clay impermeable to ground water. It is desirable that the schoolhouse should be located near the geographical center of the district, and the board should select the site with this in mind; but the site should be high and dry and the brightest and most beautiful spot near the center. Under no condi- tions should pleasant and wholesome surroundings be sacrificed if a better and more suitable site can be secured some little distance away. The additional distance in traveling will be labor well spent, if thereby, the pupils are placed in more beautiful and inspiring scenes. The house should be placed in front of the center with the play ground in the rear Where the house is heated by a furnace, the fuel supply should be stored in the basement. If there is no basement, a small building for fuel should be erected at the rear of the schoolhouse. SCHOOL BUILDING. The foundation walls of the schoolhouse should be brick or stone, and extend a little below ' 'frost line." The walls should be at least one foot in thickness, and extend about three feet above the surface. It is usually well to have a vertical air chamber; and if there is no basement suitable ventila- tors should be provided on each of the four sides so as to permit of thorough ventilation of the space between the surface and the floor during the summer months. Good shutters should be provided for these openings in order that the winter's cold may not affect the air within the room near to the floor. It would also be a step in the right direction if there were a basement under the entire building, partitioned into a furnace room, a work shop, and a kitchen. Adequate, but inexpensive tools for manual training can be bought for twenty-five ($25) dollars. Here the boys would learn to con- struct simple things in a scientific manner, and even supply the apparatus necessary for the school. A good stove and some kitchen utensils would be sufficient for the teaching of the simple principles of domestic economy. These are practical things, and by their introduction we are but meeting the crying demands of the hour. The basement should be about 8 feet high, and should be well supplied with cupboards, shelves, tables, etc. The house should be simple in construction, yet dignified in its adorn- ment, and devoid of all attempts to be elaborate in appearance," writes an architect. As a traveler passes through Iowa, he soon lean s that white is the dom- inating color of our schoolhouses. Why this simple color is used so generally , we do not know; but we are confident that a more attractive building may be secured at no increase in the cost if other colors were used. The following has been suggested: "Colonial style of light yellow with white trimmings makes an excellent combination at once pleasing to the eye. Also gray tints and darker trimmings, or light yellow with SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, 73 dark green trimmings are both beautiful and reasonable in price. Plain walls and green blinds make a picture both attractive and pleasing." VENTILATION. "The simplest and most efficient form of ventilation for rural schoolhouses is a cold air box from an opening in the foundation wall, under the floor, to a point immediately beneath the stove See Pig. 9, page 80 and Fig. 12, page 81. It should be as short and direct as possible. The fresh air conduit should be covered at both ends with coarse wire, and in the shaft screens placed so as to exclude the flies. The opening beneath the stove should be provided with a slide which may be completely closed when the room is swept." "The stove should be surrounded by a Russia iron jacket, fastened to the floor and extended 8 inches above the stove. By this means, fresh air is admitted into the room in any required volume, and passed near the stove in such a way as to be warmed before passing throughout the room. " The register opening into the ventilating flue, or chimney, should be about two feet square, and about two inches from the floor. Any schoolhouse provided with this simple appliance, will be reasonably well ventilated at all times when the stove is used for heating purposes. During the remainder of the year ventilation can be secured by opening the doors and windows. Tre chimney and ventilating flue should be built together. Many rural schoolhouses are now heated by furnaces, and when properly equipped the subject of ventilation ceases to be a complex problem. OUTHOUSES. For rural schools the outbuildings should be located in the rear of the lot and as widely separated as possible. They should be screened from ob- servation. A row of White Spruce or Red Cedar properly placed will make an effective screen in a few years and will add to the beauty of the place. In eastern Iowa, Arbor Vitse may also be used. The closets and urinals should be so constructed as to provide for the separation of pupils using them, and they should be provided with vent flues so arranged that all foul odors and air will be carried out below the breathing line. Inside walls and ceilings should be covered with matched boards and both the inside and outside should be thoroughly sand rainted to prevent markings. In each of the buildings one seat should be provided so low that young children may occupy it and still rest the feet on the floor. These buildings should be well built. They should be raised at least one foot above the ground and placed on substantial foundations. The vault should be of cement or brick and made water tight. It should extend one foot be- yond and in the rear of the building. The vault floor should slope toward the rear to facilitate cleaning, and the projection of the vault at the rear should be closed by a tightly fitting door secured by a lock. The contents of the vault should be frequently covered with dry earth, dry ashes or chlo- ride of lime, and the vault should be cleaned at least once a year and thor- oughly disinfected. WATER SUPPLY. Every school building should be supplied with pure water. The well should be sunk on high ground and every possible precaution used to prevent contaminating matter of any kind reaching the water sup- 74 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. ply. If the well is of the ordinary type, the upper three feet should be built of hard brick laid in cement; and the top be securely covered. The water that has stood in the well through the long summer vacation should be pumped out a day or two before the school opens in the fall, LIGHTING. The schoolroom should be lighted by windows placed in the rear and side walls. Such windows should contain glass surface of not less tha i one-fifth of the floor space of the room and all desks and seats should be so arranged that the windows will be on the left and in the rear of the pupils. The room should be of sufficient size to allow not less than fifteen feet of floor space and not less than 180 feet of air space for each pupil. SKATING. In schools where two or more sizes of school desks are required, each separate row should contain desks of a uniform size. The prevalent custom in country schools of havi a g four or five sizes of desks in each row— the small ones in front and gradually increasing in size to the rear — can not be too strongly condemned. Under such an arraagement either the desk or the seat will be too high. If one fits the pupil the other will not. The physical welfare of the child requires an arrangement of desks in ungraded schools as shown in figure 9. Single desks should be used and in the one room country school five sizes are usually required, as follows: Single Desks. Size. Height of Seat. Width of Top. Length. Floor Space. Age Accom- modated. B C D E F 15 Inches 14 inches 13 inches 12 inches 11 inches 15 inches 14 inches 13 inches 12 inches 12 inches 24 inches 21 inches 21 inches 18 inches 18 inches 31 inches 27 inches 27 inches 26 inches 26 inches 17 to 20 13 to 17 10 to 13 7 to 10 5 to 7 In placing the desks the following rule should be strictly followed: For first primary pupils (size F desk) place the edge of the desk next to and in front of the child 9 inches from the back of the seat in which he is seated. For size E desks this distance should be 10 inches; for size D, 11 inches; size C, 12 inches, and size B, 13 inches. BLACKBOARD. The blackboard should be three feet six inches wide. Slate is recom- mended. It will cost more at the outset, but since no repairs will ever be required it is the cheapest in the long run. In ungraded schools the bottom of the blackboard should be two feet six inches from the floor. If the room is to be used exclusively for primary pupils, the bottom of the blackboard should be two feet from the floor, and if exclusively for advanced grades, it should be three feet from the floor. The blackboard should extend entirely around the room, except in the spaces occupied by the doors and windows. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 75 Fig. 1. The Underwood School Building. Built and furnished at a cost of a little less than .$5, 000. For floor plans of this Building see figures 2, 4 and 6. 76 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. inr ^ JliL II -^t ~gn- □I e T^sr ii foundition Plan ^ Fig. 2. ,V-- Fig 3. A two room sehoolhouse; convenient and inexpensive. For floor plan see figure 5. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 77 Fig. 4. r F -ea X30 T ClOhK ROOM HALL ^ JZi} X ^ O PORCH Fig. 5. ClOAK ROOM. I o 3r° 78 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 1=^1 -r- ASSEMBLY ROOM HALL ^ S -' I — '. 1^=^ I— I SECOND FLOOR PLAN Pig. 6. Fig. 7. One room schoolhouse so constructed that an additional room can be added when required. For floor plan see figure 10. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 79 Fig. 8. A model one i-oom country schoolhouse erected in district No. cf, Franklin Township, Monona County at a cost of about $800. For floor plan see figure 9. 80 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. FIG. 9 Flooe Plan Fig. 9. The letters B. C. D. E. and F. refer to the size of desks in different rows. il ll II || ll |l 1 1 plari showinff jj ^6-,kL ll il i! ^ ii — I' T E. b. School POECH. "C7 © ■BE FIG 10 fldoe Plan. Fig. 10. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 81 Fig 11 "Direct Radiation"— and Waste. The "comraonstove" has had its day. Great loss of heat can be avoided by jacketing the stove and controlling the radiation. The air will then pass in the circuit indicated by the arrows in the figure below. Fig. 12. "Indirect Radlation"-and Economy. A jacketed heater or ordinary stove with sheet iron ' 'jacket" will work on the plan sketched in figure 12. The jacket should fit down to the fioor in case the fresh air supply is brought from outside, to enter a register beneath the stove. Where no fresh air box is pro- vided and the supply is drawn from outside through seams in fioor, door and windows, the jacket may extend to within 6 inches of the floor. In either case, it should extend six inches above the top of the stove. A jacket costs from |4.C0to$7.00, depending on size, etc., and is open at the top to allow the air as it becomes heated to rise and spread evenly over the room. As it becomes foul it also cooU. aad becoming thereby heavier, settles, and passes through register openings in the base board to the foot of the flue, then up and out at the side of the smoke flue. This is the only rational application of stove-heati n g in public buildings. 6 LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 022 165 404 3 tf