USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 15
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"No common school system." says Horace Mann, "can ever succeed, where the compensation is so meager as to encourage only those of the most ordinary talent and attainments to embark in it." The wages in many schools are too low to attract and hold the best teaching talent. Indeed, the advance in teachers' wages in recent years, has outrun but little the increased cost of living, and has barely kept pace with the advance in wages in other lines of work. So many remunerative occupations are now open to promising young men and women, that many whose services are sorely needed in the schools can not be induced to enter the teaching profession. The loss of men from the teacher's ranks is particularly noticeable. Forty years ago thirty-nine out of every one hundred teachers employed in Iowa were men ; twenty years ago thirty-one out of every one hundred were men; while for the year just closed there were but fourteen males out of every one hundred Iowa teachers. For the United States as a whole the percentage of male teachers had decreased from 48.8 per cent. in 1880, to 28.8 per cent. in 1900.
The advantages of the children of the pioneer, in the way of securing an education, were very meager, indeed, when a comparison is made in that regard with the bounteous provisions for teaching the present generation, it calls out the amazement and admiration of every one interested in the subject.
The early settler came to the county to better his condition, and, in many instances, it was a struggle on his part, from the very beginning, to make both ends meet from one end of the year to the other. If his children were large
136
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
enough they were put into the field, to help cultivate and gather the crops; and when winter appeared, the country was so sparsely settled and the elements so severe, as to prevent anyone going any great distance from home. It was not long, however, before schoolhouses made their appearance and the children eagerly took advantage of their opportunities. Teachers were scarce and the payment far from commensurate with their services ; but improvements rapidly took place in these essentials and today Clay county has scarcely a rival among her sister commonwealths, in the opportunities she offers to her youths to lay the foundations for a higher education.
In Clay county there are one hundred and twenty-five subdistricts and one hundred and thirty-one schoolhouses. For the school year ending June, 1908, two hundred and sixty-one teachers were employed, two hundred and thirty-four of them being females and twenty-seven males. The former received for their services on an average, forty dollars and twenty-seven cents; the latter, fifty-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents. A total of fifty-five thousand four hundred and thirty-five dollars and thirty-five cents was paid them for the year mentioned. The number of children of school age enrolled was three thousand five hundred and twenty-two.
THE CONSOLIDATED RURAL SCHOOL.
Some years ago educators came to a full realization of the fact that the coull- try children were not being treated equally with the children of the graded schools of the towns, and the idea of consolidating the schools of a township into one central school building in the township, met with quite general favor among those who had given the matter more than a passing thought.
In 1903 Moss Mason, of Lake township, long a member of the Lake town- ship school board, became enthused and very much interested in the plan of having one central, graded school in a township and went to work vigorously and valiantly to put the plan into operation in the township of Lake. Those he approached on the subject were either as enthusiastic as himself or indifferent ; others opposed the proposition as being impracticable and too expensive. But, in 1903, a vote was taken on the proposition in Lake township and it carried by a most gratifying majority; thanks to the efforts of its promoter, Moss Mason, and his able assistants, C. M. Varney, J. Cook, J. Chapman, and others.
The old school buildings were abandoned. In the exact geographical center of the township a commodious and modern frame building, consisting of four rooms, was erected, at a cost of three thousand two hundred dollars. The frame building that stood on the site of the central school house, was set apart for the drivers of the wagons or conveyances for the children. Of these wagons eight were especially constructed for the purpose, each having a stove for winter use and each having a capacity of fifteen children. Bids were offered for teams and drivers, which went to the citizens of the township, and the big boys of the contractors, as a rule, became the drivers. These omnibuses each morning are driven forth from their respective places and the first child called for by the driver at about 7:30 ; the last child to be taken home after school, as a rule, reaches there about 6 in the evening. This Lake township school has nine grades and a splendid corps of teachers : and in the school year ending June, 1908, there were
137
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
one hundred and five pupils enrolled. For their transportation it cost one thousand nine hundred dollars and fifty cents. The average cost per month for the tuition of each pupil was three dollars and thirteen cents. The annual salary of the principal of the schools was four hundred and twenty dollars, for seven months. The school has thus far been closing at the end of February, on account of the poor condition of the roads.
The following is a report of John F. Riggs, superintendent of public instruc- tion, which will give a fair idea of the working of the consolidation plan :
LAKE TOWNSHIP.
On January 10, 1905, in company with County Superintendent H. F. Fillmore, I visited the Lake township central school. The day was very cold, mercury registering ten degrees below zero. Our visit was unannounced and unexpected. We found ninety-eight pupils present out of a total enrollment of one hundred and nineteen.
The school is located at the geographical center of the township, and the nearest building of any description is three-fourths of a mile distant. The schoolhouse, erected at a cost of three thousand two hundred dollars, is the only building in the township of a public character, there being no church, hall, shop, or store of any description. This school is in its second year. The children are conveyed to and from their homes in hacks. Three of these are provided with stoves and the others have blankets and robes. All are completely covered. The average cost per team for transporting pupils is twenty-eight dollars per month. Two young men attending school are among the drivers.
As one of the direct results of consolidation in Lake township may be mentioned the fact that this winter four miles of excellent gravel road have been made-the first attempt in that part of Clay county at this class of improvement. The work was mostly done by farmers gratuitously. They expect to continue the work next winter, and it will be but a few years until this township will have excellent roads, and the value of every acre of land in the township will be enhanced thereby. Last year the roads were so bad that transportation was next to impossible for a considerable time, but the people of Lake township have staying qualities, and they are proving the practicability of consolidation in the one township of all others in Clay county most unfavorable for the undertaking.
Church and Sunday school are held there in the school building on Sundays and the hacks used to carry the children during the week are used to some extent to carry the people to church on Sunday.
The eight drivers furnish their own teams and hacks, and are under written contract.
The different routes are indicated on the map appearing in this report.
The first child called for on Route No. I must ride 6 miles. The first child called for on Route No. 2 must ride 41/2 miles.
The first child called for on Route No. 3 must ride 6 miles.
The first child called for on Route No. 4 must ride 6
miles.
The first child called for on Route No. 5 must ride 7 miles.
The first child called for on Route No. 6 must ride 412 miles.
The first child called for on Route No. 7 must ride 9 miles. The first child called for on Route No. 8 must ride 6 miles.
138
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
The driver for Route No. I receives $40.00 per month.
The driver for Route No. 2 receives 20.00 per month. The driver for Route No. 3 receives 28.00 per month.
The driver for Route No. 4 receives 30.00 per month.
The driver for Route No. 5 receives 31.00 per month.
The driver for Route No. 6 receives 20.00 per month.
The driver for Route No. 7 receives 30.00 per month.
The driver for Route No. 8 receives 25.00 per month.
For the purpose of comparison, I give the following table showing enroll- ment, attendance, etc., in Lake township for the years indicated, the first four under the old district plan and the last under the consolidated plan :
Years.
Enrolled.
Average Daily Attendance.
Total Paid Teachers,
Paid for Fuel Repairs and Janitor.
Month's School.
Average Compensation Teachers.
Males.
Females.
1900.
126
62
$1,479.00
$150.00
8
$27.12
$27.45
120
55
1,639.00
I 20.00
8
29.23
1902.
107
64
1,650.00
150.00
8
28.92
1903 . ...
96
70
1.102.10
380.00
5.5
28.00
29.60
1904 ..
116
IOI
803.25
150.00
8
50.00
37.50
The figures given in the above table are from the annual reports of the county superintendent of Clay county. Evidently the amount for the year 1904 for the amount paid for teachers' hire should be $1.000 if all the orders were paid.
It will be seen from the above table that the average daily attendance was sixty per cent. greater in 1904 than the average in the township for the four preceding years.
In 1905 the principal received $50 per month and the grade teachers $40 each per month.
The cost per month of maintaining the Lake township central school at present is :
Teachers' salaries. $130.00
Transportation (eight teams) 224.00
Fuel and janitor service (estimated ) 20.00
Total. $384.00
The assessed valuation of the township is $178,000. On the present basis of cost the levy for teachers' and contingent funds combined for eight months of school would be but 17.2 mills.
For the year 1902, when eight months of school was maintained in the seven separate districts, the levy was 10 mills (assuming that the assessed valuation was the same as now). But for the year 1902 the average daily attendance in the township was but sixty-four, whereas it is now over one hundred. The people are spending more in dollars and cents, but they are getting more for the money spent.
139
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Pupils are transported this winter from forty-one homes. To each of these homes I sent a letter requesting answers to the following questions :
1. Do you regard the school now being conducted in Lake township as being better than the school you had previous to consolidation ?
2. When the schools of this township were consolidated did you favor consolidation or oppose it?
3.
Are you now in favor or opposed to consolidation in this township?
4. Give reasons to your answers to question 3.
5. What advantages, if any, have resulted from consolidating the schools of this township?
6. What disadvantages, if any, have resulted from consolidating the schools of this township?
Thirty-two answers were received. Of these twenty-six patrons say the school is better than formerly, most of them say much better. Fourteen of the thirty-two were opposed at first, and ten are still opposed.
THE BENEFITS CLAIMED.
Those favoring the central school were very positive in their opinions. Mr. J. P. Livingston, a director in the township for eight years, answers the six questions submitted as follows :
I. Yes, far ahead of it.
2. Yes and no, because the roads were not fit.
3. In favor.
4. Better school. Better teachers. Better roads. Children like to go better and advance more in one year than in two the old way. Children go ahead instead of standing still as they ofttimes did the old way. Also better attendance.
5. The roads have become better. Property is worth more and a better feeling all around.
6. It has cost more so far. I don't know of any other disadvantage. Hope the good work may go on.
The following are the principal arguments offered by others in defense of the new way as opposed to the old :
Children attend more regularly.
The pupils are learning better in every respect.
Better attendance.
Bad weather doesn't interfere with attendance.
Inexperienced teachers are eliminated.
Better classification.
Pupils learn more in the same length of time, six months in the consolidated school being worth more than nine months in the district school, which means less relative expense.
Pupils have a graded school.
No pupil ever tardy.
Larger classes.
Country children get equal advantages with city children.
Parents know where their children are during the day.
More rivalry for excellence.
140
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
No exposure of children to inclement weather.
Better teachers.
Only slight advance in cost. cheaper per pupil considering work done.
Gives teachers time for individual work.
Fits children to enter high schools.
One schoolhouse only to keep up.
Better teachers and fewer of them to pay.
More interest in school work.
Causes improvement of roads.
Children can be educated without being sent to city.
Many go that would not go to district schools, among larger children.
THE OBJECTIONS URGED.
Those who still oppose the plan of having but one school in the township urge the following objections :
"It makes all the school in winter and none in summer and it does not give the small children any advantage. I am also opposed to boys driving the bus. (Two of the young men students drive hacks in this township). It also makes too long a day, starting at 7 o'clock and not coming home until 6 p. m. The disadvantage of the consolidation are poor roads, and also raising the school tax almost double."
"It is too hard on children from six to ten years of age. Some must start before daylight and do not get home until after dark, and ride ten miles. It makes most of the school in cold weather. About the only advantage is getting a better grade of teachers and it doesn't take as many. It costs too much money for transportation."
"The school is better, but in wet time the scholars can not be transported on account of the bad roads, there is no place for the drivers to stay during the day. the cost is double the district plan and the house is located in a frog pond. But the scholars never are tardy, they have the benefit of a graded school, and are transported in a warm bus."
"If a good teacher were hired the district school is the best. The graded school is an advantage, but the district is better, figuring expense, and the long ride of pupils. The disadvantage is the great expense."
"I think it is a damage to the township. There are no advantages over the old way. It costs us more."
"It is too far away for little children in cold weather. Don't like some of the men they have for drivers."
"To expensive and too far away from patrons on the out-edge of the township."
"The children are obliged to start about 7 o'clock and do not get home until 5:50. They can not have time to help at home at all when they are going to school."
"It makes taxes one-half higher. I opposed it for the reason that I am not located right. My children leave home at 7:15 to 7:30 a. m. and do not get back until 5 :40 to 6 p. nı."
141
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
To show the comparative cost of maintaining the old plan schools with the consolidated plan, the following figures, levies made for school purposes for Lake township, for the years indicated, are here given :
For 1902-Teachers' fund, 7 mills ; contingent fund, 7 mills; schoolhouse fund, 6 mills.
For 1903-Teachers' fund, 6 mills; contingent fund, II mills ; schoolhouse fund, 6 mills.
For 1904-Teachers' fund, 5.5 mills; contingent fund, 11.5 mills; school- house fund, 6 mills.
For 1905-Teachers' fund, 6 mills; contingent fund, 12 mills ; schoolhouse fund, 6 mills.
For 1906-Teachers' fund, 5 mills ; contingent fund, 12 mills.
For 1907-Teachers' fund, 1.2 mills ; contingent fund, 11.5 mills.
It can be seen that in inaugurating the new system the expense was quite heavy. This consisted in the building of a new schoolhouse, at a cost of $3,200, and to convey the children to and fro. To meet these outlays the succeeding levies became heavier than in the preceding years, but the levy for 1906 shows most of this initial expense had been wiped out and the levy for 1907 indicates the drift of the cost for the maintenance of the consolidated school, as compared to the cost of the subdistrict school plan.
The present county superintendent of schools is Miss Mary E. Riley, who is eminently fitted for the position, possessing not only experience but culture and great energy. She has manifested great interest in the schools and her standing is high among educators for thoroughness and effectiveness. This statement in regard to Miss Riley is in no sense derogatory to her predecessors, who, without exception, made excellent records and performed their duty with fidelity to the cause of education. They were men and women possessing broad and liberal ideas and were instrumental in making the schools of Clay county what they are today-the best in the west.
Among those holding this important office were: Ambrose S. Mead; G. 1. Kirchner followed him and the latter was succeeded by Isaac Enders, J. ... Kirchner, N. L. Chesley, R. A. Coates, Charles Carver, J. E. Chase, Samuel Gillespie, M. M. Gilchrist, George Mann, John Dolvin, George E. Reed, Ellen Reed and H. F. Fillmore.
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL AT WEBB.
An independent school district has been in operation one year at Webb and - has proven entirely successful and satisfactory. Webb is in Garfield township, on the west border of it, midway between its north and south lines. The district embraces part of the west third of the township and a portion of the east third of Herdland township. This school has an eight months' term and is presided over by a principal and two subordinate teachers. There are twelve grades and the enrollment of pupils for the school year ending June, 1908, was one hundred and sixteen. When this school was organized two subdistrict schools were discontinued, and the number of pupils received from the schools was thirty-one. The average cost per month per pupil for tuition for the year above indicated. was $3.12. The number of hacks employed for the transportation of children.
142
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
four ; and the amount paid for transportation was $I, III. The average daily attendance was seventy-six.
FARMERS' INSTITUTE.
For a number of years past the farmers of Clay county have been holding annual institutes, where they assemble and discuss subjects of interest to the tiller of the soil. A marked interest has always been maintained by the members of the society and the progress of the Clay county farmers, in the effort to obtain the highest efficiency and greatest results in husbandry, is ample evidence of the benefits secured from these perennial meetings.
In 1907. the "Short Course" of the State Agricultural College was taken up by the institute and professors, thoroughly versed in scientific farming, appeared before the institute and taught their theories to willing students-men and women who were born and bred on the farm. At these meetings, for some years past, exhibits have been given of farmi products, even to "showing off" the fine horses, cattle, sheep and hogs that abound in the county. To this may be added the annual poultry show, which always attracts the people and engenders great interest in all. For some time past the farmers of the county and even the business inen, have felt the need of a permanent place to hold these meetings. To obtain this, several enterprising and energetic men started a movement to secure a suitable site and building for the purpose of a hall. In 1907. B. F. Felt, H. H. Hoberg and others started a subscription list for the securing of shareholders in a proposed company to secure and maintain a hall. The company took the title of Union Hall Association, which was capitalized at $3,000. The shares were all sold, at Sio per share, and the organization was completed by the selec- tion of the following officers: President, B. F. Felt : vice president, M. MI. Austin, of Meadow township ; secretary, A. E. Wells, Spencer ; treasurer, Homer Pitcher. The board of directors is composed of B. F. Felt, M. M. Austin, J. H. Graham, A. E. Wells and 1I. E. Pitcher.
In the spring of 1907 the association purchased of the Methodist Episcopal church people the old church building, a structure in a splendid state of preserva- tion, paying for the same on the ground, $800. This building was moved to a conspicuous and convenient site, on the corner of Main and Second streets, which had been purchased for $600. Here the building was set upon a high cement foundation, in which are large windows, and remodeled to suit the taste and requirements of the society. The basement was arranged for the exhibition of stock and poultry and the main floor was given a stage and seats and is used for lectures and entertainments. The building, when completed, cost $3.300, . together with the ground it stands on. The first meeting in this handsome and commodious hall was held in the winter of 1908, when an institute and "Short Course" brought the farmer, his wife and children. and the business man and his family to the entertainments, which were not only instructive, but beneficial, in a high degree, to the people of Clay county. Mention should be made of the fact that many of the stockholders in the Union Hall Association are business and professional men.
Below is given the law under which the "Short Course" of instruction is now held annually in this county :
CENTRAL SCHOOL, LAKE TOWNSHIP
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
LAKE TOWNSHIP, CLAY COUNTY. TRANSPORTATION ROUTES.
XX03
>
NO.1.
×
×
X
X
1
X
1
No.
1+
×
No.4
Y
X
X
1
X
Trumbull
-
-
×
X
Lake
X
+
1
X
Ho5
Swan
- Laxe
No 7 X
Map of 'Lake Township, Clay County, showing transportation routes. The numbers indicate where each wagon starts and the arrows show the direction taken. X. Homes from which children are transported.
Central school.
1
X
X
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
145
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK.
An Act to provide for agricultural extension work by the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts and making appropriations therefor. Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa :
That the Iowa College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts is hereby author- ized to continue and to extend the system of agricultural extension work, author- ized by the Thirty-first general assembly. Under this system, the said college shall be authorized to conduct experiments in the various portions of the state and to give instructions in agriculture wherever, in the judgment of the college authorities, it shall be advisable, with reference to the various lines of agricul- tural work maintained upon the college grounds at Ames, Iowa. The college authorities are authorized to give instructions in corn and stock judging at the agricultural fairs, institutes and clubs, and to aid in conducting short courses of instruction at suitable places throughout the state ; to give lectures and demon- strations on the growing of crops and fruits, on stock raising, dairying, land drainage and kindred subjects, including domestic science. This work shall be so planned as, in the judgment of the college authorities, is best calculated to carry to the communities remote from the college, the benefits of the instruction given by the teachers in the state college and the results reached in the work of the experiment station.
For the purpose of carrying out the provision of this act, there is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of twenty-seven thousand dollars ($27,000), annually for the agricul- tural extension work ; said appropriation to be available on and after the first day of July, 1907: to be paid quarterly upon the order of the board of trustees of the lowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Approved April 13. A. D. 1907.
CLAY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Clay County Agricultural Society was organized in 1879. Although the prime movers niet with many discouraging elements and reverses, yet through the indomitable energy and perseverance displayed by a few, they suc- ceeded in inducing the people to take hold of it and, finally, saw their efforts crowned with success and believed it had done great good in advancing the cause of farming and creating a praiseworthy rivalry among the breeders of good stock. Exhibitions were held annually. The association had thirty acres of land inclosed, handsome grounds, which were supplied with stalls for horses and stock; judge's stand, floral hall, pens, amphitheater and a good half-mile track. As the county grew older. there had been more or less interest manifested in the annual exhibits of stock and other products of the farm, but in its infancy it was a struggle to awaken the people to a full realization of the importance of the annual county fair. The first officers of this society were: T. P. Bender, president ; W. C. Gilbreath, secretary; M. E. Griffin, treasurer; Dr. Charles McAllister, J. B. Edmunds, A. T. McCarger, and James Goodwin, directors. For a few years the society held on to life, but eventually it passed out of existence.
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