COWLEY COUNTY TEACHER, PUBLISHED MONTHLY, OCT. 8, 1879.

For three years my labors have been earnestly put forth to advance the cause of education in Cowley county. Thro' the columns of the county papers, in visits made to a large part of the schools and districts of the county, and in addresses in many neighborhoods this work has been untiringly pushed. The territory is so large, the district so numerous, the interests so vast and so varied that the question of meeting the demands made upon me compels me to seek new and additional forces with which to carry on successfully the duties of my office. In the hope of meeting these demands and duties, and in the broader hope of reaching more widely and more deeply all who are concerned in the welfare of our common schools, this new venture is undertaken. There will be much labor and little money in it. The means to meet the expenses of publishing and editing this paper come from the generous businessmen who advertise in its columns. The full tax however may not be met this way, but the balance will be gladly met should the paper prove to be serviceable in promoting the cause for which it appears.

Its constant aim will be to reach and benefit the pupils and teachers in the public schools, the families from which come teachers and pupils, and the district officers, who are the educational guardians of their people.

R. C. STORY,

Co. Supt.

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The attendance at the late Normal Institute was all that could be wished by anyone. For the first time the number of teachers enrolled exceeded the number of districts in the county. SKIPPED THE REST.

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The question is often asked by parties living in the east, what wages do you pay teachers in Kansas? In this county wages for female teachers, in 1877 and 1878 averaged $25.99; for male teachers, $31.52 per month. The average number of weeks of school was 18.08. The returns for last year are not all in, and no exact estimate can be given. Probably the wages will range about as they were the year before.

The length of terms and the quality of teaching are increasing, while districts are growing stronger in value of property and in the number of children. These are the causes that determine the wages of teaching. As districts get out of debt; and grown in school population and in resources, it is natural to infer that better wages will be paid.

Occasionally one hears that teachers have formed a combination to put up wages; or that the examining board advises teachers to demand higher wages; or that the county superintendent is seeking to raise the pay of teachers. How or why these silly rumors begin no one can tell. The pay of teachers, like the wages of all working classes, depends on laws which are above the control of superintendents, examining boards, and teachers. The factors that make the wages given teachers are three: the financial resources of the districts, their freedom from indebtedness, and the quality of teaching. Only one of these factors can be affected by any influence from teachers or school officials, and that is the quality of the teaching. Who can exert the greatest influence on this factor? Who would be benefited most, financially, by its increase in worth? Those who labor in the school-room in the position of teachers. In this county, as elsewhere, good teachers are sought for, and are paid good wages for their labors. When teachers cry out for better wages, they should be told to increase the worth of their wares, and their pay will increase proportionally.

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Resolved, That monthly reports should be made by teachers strictly in accordance with the blank reports sent out by the county superintendent, and that such reports should be made promptly at the close of each calendar month.

Resolved, That both written and oral class examinations should be held as often as once a month, and that oral reviews should be had at least once a week.

Resolved, That county schools shoul be divided into primary, intermediate, and grammar grades, and that the teacher should grade his school according to its needs and advancement.

Resolved, That written work in schools should consist (1) of written preparation for recitiations; (2) of written work at recitation; and (3) of writen work at monthly examinations.

Resolved, That this work should be prepared frequently, and kept by the teacher for the inspection of parents, officers, and visitors.

Resolved, That while we, as teachers, do not condemn the judicious attendance of pupils and teachers at socials and lyceums, yet we recommend that such meetings be held only on Friday or Saturday night.

Resolved, That no class of entertainments should continue in session later than 10 o'clock, p.m.

Resolved, That such entertainments should not be held oftener than once in two weeks.

Resolved, That the teachers of Cowley county hereby tender Hon. Allen B. Lemmon their sincere thanks for his recent visit, and for his hearty words uttered in behalf of education. We deeply appreciate the worth of his devoted and untiring efforts in the cause of common schools, and we trust that all true friends of education will recognize in him a worthy and conscientious co-laborer.

Resolved, That our thanks are due, and are hereby tendered, to all who have been engaged in working with us in our normal, in the capacity of instructors.

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The examinations held in September and October disclosed two serious defects in the education of a majority of our teachers. The lack of accurate knowledge of general literature and of general information is indeed lamentable. What shall be said of applicants who class Shakespeare, Tennyson, Cowper, Dryden, Byron, Milton, among American poets? Of what use has the study of history been to those who locate Bunker Hill, Lexington, and Yorktown in New Jersey, and who make Franklin and Hamilton generals in the Black Hawk war? What does that teacher know of curent events who says that the Isthmus of Darien is the "body of water" that connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean? Why should so many applicants say that John Brown's raid was one of the most important events in Kansas history?

One other serious defect in the education of our teachers is shown in the bad spelling, bad composition, and erroneous use of capitals and punctuation marks. Many papers were given in which contained not a single mark of punctuation. Others were found in which capitals seemed to have been scattered broad-cast, in the old manner of sowing wheat.

Such ignorance and such errors must be eradicated. It will take time, labor, and perseverance, but it must be done. Applicants for certificates must show an ability to use correct English. They must know something of the present generation and of the current events of national importance.

To secure these two ends follow this course: Take Swinton's or Pinneo's Composition, and study it, making it a basis for much original work in writing. Read a selection, or memorize one--then write it out on paper, and compare this work with the original in regard to capitals, punctuation, spelling, and language. Subscribe for some leading paper of national reputation, and read and study its contents, using atlas, dictionary, and note-book constantly.

To those whose standing has been running low, let a word of warning be given. Make such use of the fall and winter months as will find you next spring able to pass a thorough examination in every subject in which your standing is low. A hint to the wise is sufficient.

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Five teachers sent in reports for September, districts 29, 42, 48, 77, and 99.

The Winfield teachers are over-worked, and two of them think of going out of the service.

Miss Fannie McKinlay is seriously ill. Hopes of her recovery have been given up by her friends.

Sixty-seven teachers have reported contracts made for teaching school, while only 39 have sent in reports for work done in October.

A supply of the new edition of the School law has been received, and district clerks can get copies by calling at the Superintendent's office.

Six hundred copies of the first and seven hundred copies of this number of the TEACHER have been sent out. This paper goes into the hands of every teacher and school official in the county.

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NOTE: NOVEMBER, 1879, ISSUE GAVE A TEACHERS' DIRECTORY.

THE DISTRICTS FOR TEACHES LISTED WAS GIVEN.

I SKIPPED THIS....NOTED AFTER LISTING:

"This list is made from postal cards sent in by teachers. Those whose names are not in this list will please report

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Miss Fanny McKinlay has recovered from her late serious

illness.

The problem given in the November TEACHER was solved by Miss Fannie Skinner, Miss Henrietta King, Jerry Adams, and Harry C. Shaw, the last named being a pupil of Miss Lizzie Landis and aged thirteen years.

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T. J. Floyd has gotten married, and of course will make no school reports during the next few months.

Foster Tucker came home from the State University to spend the holidays. He likes his school well, and reports all interests flourishing.

George Thompson, of Baltimore, now a student in the Agricultural College, Manhattan, writes us a pleasant letter about that institution. He seems well pleased with the school, and is making good progress.

Miss Nina C. Johnson, one of our county's leading teachers, was compelled to quit teaching because of heart disease. We are glad to say that she has found a complete cure. Her name now is Mrs. Ira McCommon.

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Out of one hundred and twenty teachers in the county, about thirty-five have put their names on our subscription list. A few district officers have also shown their good intentions and wishes in a substantial manner.

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An examination of applicants for teachers' certificates will be held March 19 at Winfield. The work will begin at 9 a.m.

precisely.

Certificates will be issued as follows: Grade B to every applicant whose average standing is 90, and who falls below 80 in no one subject. Grace C to every applicant whose average standing is 80, and who falls below 70 in no one branch. Answers to questions will be carefully examined and rigidly graded. Candidates must show good scholarship in the papers submitted to entitle them to certificates. The standard herein mentioned will be insisted upon invariably.

The subjects on which examinations will be made are Orthography, Orthoepy, Reading, Penmanship, Geography, Arithmetic, Grammar, U. S. History, U. S. Constitution, and Theory and Practice.

R. C. STORY, County Superintendent.

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My school is running delightfully, not a single case of tardiness this month; the concentration of mind to business is excellent, the daily results very gratifying. We have a young class in bookkeeping, full of promise, one in physiology, one in botany, and rigid and exacting reviews. The work in defining words and using them has grown fascinating, and the buying of dictionaries is becoming lively. I am much encouraged by the enthusiasm that has arisen to dig to the bottom, to the very root. The large boys have left for work, but I am surprised and pleased that our best classes go on climbing, with plenty of good scholars. O. PHELPS.

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ART. VI., SEC. 1, School Law: It shall be the duty of the teachers of every district or graded school to keep, in a register for this purpose, a daily record of the attendance, and the deportment of each pupil, and of the recitation of each pupil in the several branches pursued in such school, and to make out and file with the district clerk, at the expiration of each term of the school, a full report of the whole number of scholars admitted to school during such term, distinguishing between male and female, the text books used, the branches taught, and the number of pupils engaged in the study of said branches, and any other information the district board or county superintendent may require. Teachers: how many of you kept the records required in the foregoing law? How many of you made such a record of the standing of each pupil in your schools that your successors can follow you without any loss of time, or trouble in organizing their schools?

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District 124 was organized last week.

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One hundred and seventeen schools were in session in Cowley county during the last fall and winter.

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About fifty percent of the applicants at the February and March examinations failed to get certificates.

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District 116 had an arbor day this spring and put out 81 forest trees about the school-house. Good! Who else can say as much?

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C. C. Holland, formerly a teacher in this county, returned recently from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He comes back with a sheepskin marked LL. B.

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Arrangements have been partly made for the Normal of the coming summer. It will come off in July. Miss Hoxie will again be with us and assist in work.

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No March number of THE TEACHER was issued. The examinations and other duties threw the issue of the paper so late in the month that it was deemed well to publish the number as the April issue.

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EXAMPLE:

District 1: 1878-1879 $5,910

1877-1878 $3,069

1876-1877 $2,358

1875-1876 $ 853

1874-1875 $1,540

1873-1874 $ 867

[THESE FIGURES WERE SHOWN FOR 114 DISTRICTS.]

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The Normal Institute will open the first Monday in July.

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Miss Lillian F. Hoxie, Orlin Phelps, E. T. Trimble, and

R. C. Story will be the teaching force in the July Normal.

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Purchasers of school lands should carefully comply with the provisions of the law regarding these lands. Several purchasers in the county have forfeited their lands by failure to pay interest when due.

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Miss Carrie Morris and Miss Ella Davis, determined not to be behind Misses Strong, King, Buck, Johnson, and Scott, and Messrs. Floyd and Robinson, have taken life certificates. A few other teachers are quietly moving in the same direction, but we won't mention their names at this time. Send us some of the cake.

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The course of study will be sent to anyone who wishes to attend the Normal.

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Scovill & Co. have a fine assortment of gent's underwear. Scovill & Co. are north of the store of Lynn & Loose.

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Several young men went from this county to Newton to attend the examination for West Point.

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An examination of applicants for teachers' certificates will take place the first week in August.

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THIS MARKS THE END.