Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell
THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Eighteenth Year - Number 40
Marlin, Texas, Wednesday, October 9, 1907
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COUNTY SCHOLASTIC REPORT
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Interesting Statements, Summaries
and Suggestions About Our
Schools.
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The county
superintendent has just sent his annual report to the department of education
at Austin and the following facts, figures and suggestions, taken from it
should interest all of our readers.
RECEIPTS.
From the state, including last year's balance, $34,486.29
From the county fund 3,003.80
From local tax 4,440.97
From tuition (Ben Rice) 105.00
From transfers from other counties 411.77
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Total Receipts $42,447.83
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid teachers $32,505.63
" for repairs 974.88
" census 380.14
" supplies 2,986.52
" supt's salary 1,225.00
" treas' commis'on 380.00
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$38, 909.70
The state fund was five
dollars and fifteen cents while the county paid all the expenses and gave an
additional fifteen cents to each scholastic pupil.
The county fund is derived from lease on
7040 acres of land in Archer county and the interest on $29,530.00 invested in
six per cent Falls county road and bridge bonds.
ENROLLMENT AND
ATTENDANCE.
Number of white children within scholastic age 3401
Number of white children over scholastic age 57
Number of white children under scholastic age 125
Number of negro children within scholastic age 2221
Number of negro children over scholastic age 7
Number of negro children under scholastic age 33
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Total for all 5844
The census rolls show 313 white and 133
negro children more than the entire enrollment in school, which means that 313
white and 133 negro children of Falls county were not in school a single day
last year.
The average length of the school term for
white children was 110 days, and for the negroes 112 days, but the average
attendance for each child was 65 days for each white and 61 days for each
negro, which impresses very strongly the fact that the children are in school
but little more than half the time, that the problem of irregular attendance is
of vital importance.
TEACHERS.
There were employed on
the county schools 23 males and 64 female teachers; the negroes had 11 male and
26 female teachers.
Of the whites two had third grade
certificates; 46 second grade; 33 first grade and 4 permanent certificates,
while the negroes had 9 third; 23 second; 2 first and 2 permanent grade
certificates. The whites had 19 county certificates and 68 state, while
the negroes had 19 county and 18 state certificates. The number of high
grade state certificates is increasing very rapidly and is an evidence that the
teachers are improving very rapidly in scholarship and preparation.
Our people are urged to value as highly as
possible those of our teachers who are preparing themselves for the work.
It is to be hoped that in a few more years we will be able to get all of our
teachers to hold state certificates. The number of new teachers was
several less than last year and the number of changes of teachers was also
less; we will never get the best advantages for our schools until we learn to
appreciate our teachers more and keep them longer in one place. Too much
valuable time is lost by the constant change.
The following copied from a letter sent
out to the newly elected trustees last spring regarding the selection of
teachers is not out of place here: "Employ your teacher early and
make as few changes as possible. So much valuable time is lost by a new
teacher learning a new school unless they are very much better than the old
teacher, the children will make no progress. Try to select a teacher that
is adapted to your school and has been successful in past work. One that
is cautious, self-reliant and practical. Age and experience should count
first, but many (missing) new teachers have had State Normal training which is
splendid experience. A good man should be at the head of every school,
but with our limited funds this is impossible. A good woman is far
superior to a "sorry" man. A man with first grade
qualifications looking for a third grade position had best be investigated, for
usually there is a deficiency somewhere. A teacher that can stay several
years in the same place has merit. When all things are equal Falls county
teachers should have the preference because they will be more anxious to make a
reputation at home than those among strangers. Look out for a teacher;
don't wait for them to run you down. The best teachers do not have to run
after positions. Do not hesitate to get the best even if you have to
shorten the term to do so. Five months with a live teacher is better than
fifteen with a dead stick."
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
The white schools of
Falls county have invested in school houses $40,290.00, and the negroes
$3580.00. The whites own 59 houses which are classed, 38 good, 28 fair
and 3' bad. The negroes own 10 houses, classed 3 good, 6 fair and 1 bad,
but most of the negro schools are taught in churchs which are badly seated and
ill suited for doing good school work.
The whites have 265 single and 1394 double
desks which leaves only six rooms in the whole county seated with the old
fashion uncomfortable benches. The negroes still have 23 rooms seated
in this manner.
New buildings were built at St. Paul,
Highbank and Criswell, in each case neat comfortable buildings were erected.
Nearly every building in the county was more or less repaired, so that we are
going to begin this year with comfortable houses. Many of the districts
have painted the house this past summer which has added much to the appearance
and done much to preserve the building. It is sincerely hoped that this
work will go on until every school house in the county has been painted.
Reagan, Barclay, Blevins, Alto Springs, Crown Point, Liberty, North Prairie,
Busby, Alexander, St. Paull, Westphalia, Stranger, Grady and others, deserve
special credit for what they have done in the way of improvement in the last
year. The whole county has spent in the last twelve houses something over
ten thousand dollars.
About one half of the houses in the county
are fenced, the result is that they are often abused by tramps, hoodlums,
traveling shows and other moneyless people. It is the duty of the school
trustees to protect the property and preserve it for the use of the schools.
There was planted on the various school
grounds of the county last year over five hundred trees, Cego, Alexander, St.
Paul and Chilton took the lead in this work and each now has a fine lot of
growing trees on their school yards. The school ground should be the most
attractive place in the whole district and we should do what we can to make it
so. There are now twenty one school houses in the county that have not a
single tree on the grounds. It is hoped that all the schools will make an
effort next year.
Last year the pupils and teachers
scrubbed, washed and cleaned fifty one school houses, in some cases the water
had to be carried a long way and the work was rendered very difficult by want
of proper material, but in all cases the general appearance of the building was
greatly improved and all honor is due those who try to impress their
personality on their school work and to emphasize the good old doctrine that
"cleanliness is next to Godliness."
A. W. E.
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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas