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with cement walks and trees. Our ward building is of the ordinary eight-room style, built of brick and situated in a beautiful campus five blocks north of the new building.

C. S. JONES,          
Superintendent.     

     The Osceola high school can claim little distinction as a high school if numbers alone are considered, but it may be justly proud of the character of its students and the excellent work that is being done throughout the course. The enrollment has constantly increased the past few years and in 1909 and 1910 the enrollment was over eighty. The graduating class of 1910 was the largest in the history of the school and the number of points required and accredited was higher than ever before. The attendance and punctuality are good, due largely to the excellent community life and interest in education. A large number of non-resident pupils are enrolled each year and the Osceola high school enjoys the distinction of being the largest in the county, as well as having the largest per cent in the high school as compared with the entire enrollment.

     The school is somewhat handicapped by having a poor building, but definite steps have been taken and Osceola is assured of an excellent high school building within the near future. The school is well equipped for science work and the libraries are fully adequate for good reference work in any subject. The course of study is well balanced and sufficient teaching force and good equipment permit of high grade work. Six semesters work, are offered in each of the following subjects: Mathematics, Latin, science, history and English. In addition to this normal training is offered and a number avail themselves of this preparation for the teaching profession. The student body has a wholesome school spirit and n great deal of interest is taken in the literary and athletic organizations.

     The Holmes' Literary society has been successfully maintained since its organization in 1885 and has proven of great value in the general culture of the school. Osceola has been a member of the State Debating league since its organization, winning the district championship in 1909. A strong athletic organization is maintained in harmony with the inter-scholastic rules arid has had a good effect on the school. The enrollment for 1909-10 was forty boys and forty-one girls--the large per cent of boys being due to a great extent to the well regulated system of athletics. A high school publication is published each month, which is conducive to a healthy school spirit as well as being of literary value.

C. B. MOORE,          
Superintendent.     

     September 1, 1907, we elected an additional teacher for the high school and installed normal training work. During the year 1907-8 we
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enrolled twenty-two students in that course. In 1908-9, twenty-three students, and 1909-10 we enrolled twenty-seven students. This year the enrollment in that department is twenty-four. Practically all of our graduates have taught since graduation. We have been unable to find a failure among them and have no trouble in placing them in good positions.

     Our enrollment has been about the same during the three years. The school census gives us 1,517 students. Our enrollment in 1909-10 was 1,145 and our average daily attendance 902.

     The compulsory attendance law has been rigidly enforced. The truant officer works under the direction of the superintendent. He is paid according to the amount of work he does. For every truant brought in he is allowed additional pay. While open to criticism this plan has been successful here.

     The first year the law was in operation twenty-three non-resident students presented certificates for free tuition, the second year twenty-six presented certificates, and last year thirty presented certificates. The number this year will greatly surpass that of any previous year.

     Plattsmouth has nine school buildings, including the high school building. Eight of these are of brick. Three are steam heated, three have patent heating and ventilating heaters and three have stoves. All are well equipped with texts, dictionaries, industrial material, maps, etc. Plattsmouth has large shady grounds in connection with the buildings and we believe that we do not exaggerate when we say that the two blocks comprising the grounds at the central and high school buildings makes the most beautiful campus to be found in connection with public schools in Nebraska. The beautiful oak, elm and maple trees form a natural park, while the ground is covered with a blue grass sod that successfully withstands the assaults of the 600 students who delight to frisk about the grounds. Three of the buildings are equipped with sanitary drinking fountains, which were installed last year.

      The city library Is accessible to students and the librarian, Miss Olive Jones, keeps in close touch with the needs of the students. The superintendent is a member of the library board. A complete set of the texts used in the schools are kept in the library, which contains 4,000 volumes. The high school library contains about 400 volumes at the present time. The central building has a library of about 200 volumes and Columbian the same.

     Three courses of study are offered in the high school, designated as the Latin course, the German course and the normal training course. Departmental work in being introduced this fall into the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Careful preparation for this has been made on the part of the superintendent by a careful investigation of this work in a number of the best schools in this country. The plan promises to result in better work on the part of both instructors and instructed.

     Especial attention has been paid to reading. The phonic method is used as the basal method. From four to six readers are read by

each grade per year. In the upper grades one day a week is taken for special work. A student is called upon to read a selection (classics are used in the upper grades) to the grade. Then any member of the class wishing to ask a question, make a correction, or offer any criticism stands. The pupil who reads calls upon them in turn and answers their questions, or calls upon some one else to do so. The recitation is in the hands of the students, the teacher keeping in the background. The plan has been very successful. Inspector Gregory was much interested in the work when he inspected the grades. The same method is used in literature in the high school.

     Industrial work is emphasized. The exhibits prepared by the Education Exhibits company are used and in addition to this each grade makes a special study of four industries each year. Booklets are prepared and specimens collected from far and near for the students' exhibit, which when completed is left in the room the remainder of the year. This work has revolutionized the geography and language work for us.

     We are introducing drawing and music into the schools for the first time this fall. Special supervisors have been employed and the work is starting nicely.

     The usual athletic organizations are maintained in the high school. Football is not allowed. Space prevents a discussion of the matter here, but we find we are able to maintain as high a standard of scholarship as schools that devote considerable time to football. The girls' basketball team was undefeated during the past season. They met such teams as South Omaha, Elmwood, Nebraska City, Glenwood, Ia., etc. Nine games were played.

     Debating finds much favor with patrons and students. Miss Marie Douglas, representing Plattsmouth, won first honors in the state contest at York.

     Our schools strive to offer good sound, substantial work in all departments. We try to avoid fads, over specialization and undue emphasis, on any particular subject.

     We believe in maintaining discipline in the high school as well as in the grades. We offer elective courses to freshmen, but no elective subjects after the course has been selected, until the junior year. Last year we built an additional laboratory for physics, botany and agriculture, and thoroughly equipped it with modern apparatus. This with the chemistry laboratory gives excellent laboratory facilities.

     The high school is electric lighted and is one of the few high schools in the state in which there are no stairs to climb. Taken as a whole the Plattsmouth schools are about on the same footing as the average four-year high schools of Nebraska. They are perhaps better than some and not as good as others in the matter of working tools.

J. W. GAMBLE,          
Superintendent.     

     The growth of the Papillion schools during the last few years has been satisfactory. The high school has been on the university accredited list for three years. During this time there has been a steady increase in the free high school attendance. Last year this attendance was twenty-three, the largest in the history of the school. The school census taken last June showed a school population of 241, an increase of twenty-six over the previous year. The total enrollment for the year was 221 and the average daily attendance was 173. The library contains 554 volumes, 150 of which were purchased last year. We are following the four-year state course of study. Our board of education has decided to introduce normal training and to this end has employed another high school teacher and will purchase suitable references and supplies. Last year a class in domestic economy was organized. The work was done out of school hours, but much interest was aroused. Daily instruction in music and art was given in the grades with excellent results.

     We use individual cups for drinking. Our school building is one of the best planned and constructed of its size in the state. The school yard includes a block and is a most beautiful site.

     A glance at the state directory will show that the Papillion board of education pays high salaries and reaps the benefit of superior teachers.

IRA LAMB,          
Superintendent.     

     The school census of the Randolph district for the year 1909 was 496. The enrollment for the school year 1909-10 was 382, average daily attendance for the same year 273, number taking advantage of the free high school attendance, twelve.

     The playgrounds have been enlarged and improved by the addition of proper apparatus. A new modern high school building will be erected this year, costing $15,000.

     A class of fifteen took the work in normal training during the year 1909-10. The high school belongs to the Northeast Athletic association and has won the silver cup three years in succession and now has it in permanent possession.

A. CRAGO,          
Superintendent.     

     The school has much outgrown its present equipment and housing. A new $30,000 building for high school purposes alone is nearing completion.

     The census this year shows an appreciable increase. There were 515 enumerated and last year 450 enrolled.

     Every effort was made during the past year to compel the attendance of every pupil between the ages of 7 and 15.

     Twenty-five tuition pupils were in the high school last year. Only about one-third had certificates entitling them to free high school attendance. This was due in the majority of cases to the fact that they either had no county eighth grade examination grades recorded or they were under the impression that if they got a certificate for the first year in the high school it would suffice for the three remaining years. The last can be remedied, not the former obstacle cannot be so easily surmounted.

     The school has a library (general) of 600 volumes and a reference library of 250 volumes covering the subjects in normal training, United States history, general history, agriculture, etc.

     A full four-year course requiring thirty points for graduating, all of which are given full credit by the state committee on accrediment.

     The plan of the board of education in the erection of a new high school building contemplates the installation of industrial education, comprising both manual training for the boys and domestic science for the girls.

     A thorough course in normal training has been offered by the past two years. Recognition of the work done is evidenced by the demand this summer for teachers who had finished the course with the class of 1910. All of them who wanted schools got them at good salaries.

B. E. YODER,          
Superintendent.     

     In 1907 we voted bonds for a new school building, but unfortunately owing to the low rate of interest the bonds were unsaleable. In the meantime our board condemned one of our buildings as unsafe, which necessitated the renting of churches and store buildings to accommodate the school. This condition prevailed for two years, but in 1909 a magnificent ten-room building was erected and the old school building enlarged and remodelled. The past year has almost made us forget our trials and tribulations of the former two years. Our new building is a model in school architecture. The building is well lighted and ventilated, has an excellent system of heating and is equipped with toilets, sanitary fountains, lunch room and play room. The high school building was entirely remodelled and enlarged. The assembly room was enlarged to accommodate 200 students, halls and stairways widened and the basement excavated for the manual training department. These various changes were made necessary, owing to the increase in our high school during the past three years. Though our school census shows a 2 per cent loss our high school enrollment shows a 45 per cent gain. The per cent of increase in high school enrollment is entirely owing to the free high school tuition law.

     Three years ago the high school enrollment was ninety, with twelve non-resident students. Last year our high school enrollment was 131, with fifty-nine non-resident students. Three years ago we offered but one

course in our high school, with no electives. We now offer three distinct courses, general, business and normal. We offer ten electives, two in the ninth grade, two in the tenth grade, two in the eleventh grade and four in the twelfth grade. Our teaching force has increased from twelve to fifteen with five teachers doing exclusive high school work. Our library and laboratory equipment is not what it should be, but the coming year will see marked improvement along these lines. Patrons and board of the Red Cloud schools are determined to act as a unit to place the Red Cloud schools in the front rank among the schools of the state, nor will they permit any obstacle to stand in the way of bringing this to pass.

R. D. MORITZ,          
Superintendent.     

     In looking over the records of this school for the past few years I find only a small gradual growth, with an occasional year of smaller enrollment. The only decided change came after the passage of the free high school law, when it became necessary to add the third teacher in the high school. About one half of our high school students come from outside districts.

     The census report gives 295 in our district of school age. Last year we enrolled 240 students and had an average attendance of 217.

     Our building is practically new and of brick. There are five rooms for the grades, a large study room, recitation room, and laboratory for the high school, and an office. The lighting is good throughout, the windows plentiful, large and located behind or at the left of the seats.

      Last year the board put $150 worth of new supplies into the chemical laboratory and this year $100 worth into the physical laboratory, which, added to what they had, makes us very well equipped for those subjects. We are about to order the required apparatus for the agriculture department.

     We have a work bench for manual training in the laboratory. I have $100 worth of tools at the students' disposal and we have about $40 to be spent for manual training purposes, with which I think we shall buy a turning lathe, etc.

     Our library contains about 400 volumes, principally reference books. In addition to this we have about twenty-five varieties of small sets of books, not used as regular text books, but for the teachers' use in supplementary work. In our high school we have a magazine rack, with several hundred standard magazines, used only for reference work.

     In the grades the state course of study is followed as nearly as possible. Writing, drawing, music and nature study are given in each class.

     Our school yard is a block square. We have cement walks. The trees are still small. The basketball goals occupy one corner. The baseball grounds are a block away in the town park.

     We have some industrial work in each room. In the grades this differs somewhat from year to year, each teacher giving it along the line in which she is best qualified. In the high school as manual training can not be offered as a course, for want of time, I have the boys who have laboratory work make things needed for their experiments, outside of school, but under my supervision, and these are then left as equipment for the laboratory.

     On Friday afternoon of each week Mrs. Scriven gives a lecture in domestic science to the girls of the high school and higher grades. The cooking is done at home. Samples are brought the next week. Toward the latter part of the school year they intend to serve a dinner to the members of the school board and their wives and one day others will be invited to school to sample the cooking.

     This year's normal training class enrolls sixteen students. Five of our normal training students from last year's class started their first schools last week.

     Each class in our high school is organized and holds regular meetings. The boys have two basketball teams and two baseball teams. The girls have two basketball teams. We intend to organize the boys into a class for military drill and physical training while the girls take their domestic science lectures.

     Some entertainment or social pleasure is planned for nearly every week, usually for Friday or Saturday evening.

     Last year we had three debating teams and joined the Nebraska Debating league. We have not as yet organized for that work this year, but we intend to do so soon.

DEE M. SCRIVEN,          
Superintendent.     

     The city schools of St. Paul occupy two buildings, a central building of twelve rooms and a one-room building in which a kindergarten is conducted. The buildings are both crowded and are, of all the features of the school system, perhaps the least commendable. Thirteen teachers are employed, three exclusive of the superintendent In the high school.

     The board of education is composed of business men who maintain as liberal a policy as, in their judgment, the financial condition of the district will justify. In selecting teachers the policy is to hire only graduates of a state normal school or college, though in a few instances teachers not graduates have been engaged because of marked success. The recommendation of the superintendent usually governs the choice of teachers. The board is loyal in support of the teachers and the superintendent.

     During the past seven years the salaries of grade teachers have advanced from an average of $43.75 to an average of $51.65. The

average in the high school, not including the superintendent, has increased from $65 to $75. During this time two teachers have been added to the force, one in the high school and one in the kindergarten in the fall of 1907 the course of study was revised and extended to twelve grades, making with the kindergarten, a total of thirteen years of school. Both Latin and English courses are offered in the high school with normal training for those who desire to teach. Music is taught in all grades, a special teacher being employed for this work.

     Considerable addition has been made to the library in the last five years. About $350 has been expended for this purpose. Half as much has been used to purchase laboratory equipment. The building and grounds have been greatly improved by new floors, steel ceilings, fire escapes, cement walks, etc.

     The census has been about the slowest moving thing in connection with the school with the tendency downward. The last census shows a school population of 566. The enrollment for the year 1909 and 1910 was 505. Of these seventy-seven, or over 15 per cent, were in the high school. Fifteen of these were non-residents taking advantage of the free high school law.

     The course in Normal training has been a distinct advantage to our school. Sixteen members were in last year's class. Several of these will be engaged in country schools next year, while the others will all continue their studies in the state normal or in the university.

     A number of student organizations added much to the interest of school life during the past year. A very successful high school band was maintained, also a girls' glee club. In athletics the school supported a track team and basketball teams for both boys and girls. A German club met twice a week. All these organizations were in change of some one of the teachers who met with them regularly. A very successful year book was published by the junior class.

      Plans for the future include greater stress if possible on thoroughness in foundation work, strengthening the course in agriculture, and the addition of domestic science and whatever other industrial work is possible.

S. H. MARTIN,          
Superintendent.     

     School conditions in Schuyler have been characterized by steady and substantial improvements. The district is divided into three wards. In the North ward a new heating plant has been installed the past year and other substantial improvements made. In this ward is a four-room frame building accommodating five grades. The building is located in the center of a school ground of two blocks owned by the district. An abundant supply of shade trees with open places for play makes it a model in every particular.

     The taxpayers voted $12,000 bonds to erect a modern four-room brick building in the East ward this year.

     In the West ward is a commodious modern brick structure erected in 1894 at a cost of $30,000. In this building is located the high school and eight grades. Eight and one-half years are required to complete the work below the high school. The high school offers three courses, Latin, English and normal training. In the normal training twenty-two eleventh and twelfth grade students were registered the past year. Fourteen girls and six boys completed the different courses and received their diplomas.

     Our school is well equipped with a reference library, charts, globes and everything needed to properly conduct the work. While the board of education is composed of conservative business men, they are progressive and have raised salaries in proportion to the high cost of living and efficiency of the teachers. There were forty-three in the high school the past year under the free attendance law and most of them did good work and appreciated the privilege given them by this law.

     The athletic association is composed of members of the school and is guided and directed by the superintendent and teachers. Under the regulations of the association no one is selected for any team work whose habits are such that they would interfere with physical development.

     The census enumeration for 1909-10 was 784, enrollment 608. Average daily attendance 510. This is the largest in the history of the school. There were only twenty-five who did not fully comply with the compulsory attendance law. In nearly all these cases, sickness or some good excuse was offered. The best of school spirit prevails and hearty co-operation is given.

CHARLES ARNOT,            
Superintendent.     

     The Scotts Bluff high school was placed on the eleven-year accredited list in 1907. At that time we had an enrollment of 268. The high school enrollment was forty-four and three teachers were employed in that department, with six in the grades. During the year State Superintendent J. L. McBrien, Deputy State Superintendent E. C. Bishop and A. A. Reed, university state inspector, visited us and after careful inspection gave us assurance of a place in the twelve-year list and the adoption of normal training. With the beginning of school the following September our attendance was much larger, the enrollment being 316, with a high school attendance of fifty-three and eleven teachers employed. During the year the high school, became fully accredited and the normal class numbered fourteen. In September, 1909, the enrollment reached 370, with eighty in the high school department. Thirteen teachers were employed. The present year, 1910-1911, our September enrollment shows 485, with

105 in high school and fifteen teachers. There is a fine school spirit here, so compulsory education law don't affect us much.

     The free high school law has been the means of getting nearly all county pupils who are eligible to come in for the advanced work. There are between thirty and forty enrolled in the high school this year.

     Our city schools are very poorly equipped in building, heating end ventilation. Owing to the rapid growth of the city it was impossible to meet the condition except in a temporary way. However, bonds have been issued for a new high school building, modern in every respect. We hope to have it for use the last of this year.

     Our high school library has some 400 volumes and the reference library about 200 more. We are following the course prepared by the state and university.

     So far we have done but little along manual training or domestic science lines owing to the crowded condition. Our new building provides for both of these.

     Normal training has been a success. Since its inauguration two years ago twenty-four young people have graduated from the course and 75 per cent of these are in higher education work, teaching or preparing for it. The present class numbers seventeen, the largest we have had.

     The high school students have literary organizations and are doing some excellent work. While we have no regular organizations of the students into societies or anything of that nature there is a good class spirit end greater interest is taken in the general work of the school as a result. The teachers meet each week for study and a social time. We cannot but feel that we are progressing even in such crowded condition.

M. M. PATTERSON,          
Superintendent.     

     In September, 1910, one teacher will be added to the force, making sixteen in all. The new teacher will have charge of an "overflow" room--a room to relieve the crowded grade rooms.

     There were twenty-one non-resident students in the high school.

     The two buildings are in excellent condition.. The interior of both buildings was refurnished in the summers of 1909 and 1910. The basement of the high school was completed in the summer of 1910. The basement includes a hall, toilet rooms, manual training shop and the "overflow" room.

     The buildings are heated by one furnace, located in the basement of the high school.

     The laboratories are well equipped for work in agriculture, physical geography, botany, physics and chemistry.

     The high school library contains 525 volumes. The school has access to the city library of 2,700 volumes. A few selected books are placed in each grade room.

     Some kinds of handwork is placed in each grade below the high school. Bench work in wood for boys and sewing for girls will be put in grades six, seven and eight in September,- 1910. The shop has a bench and tool equipment for twenty boys.

     In 1909-10 there was a normal training class of seventeen. Seven graduated in June. In September, 1910, there will be a class of about twenty.

     The boys of the high school have organized a high school Y. M. C. A. There are also boys' and girls' athletic associations in the high school.

     The educational spirit of the community is excellent. The district has no debt. The board of education is progressive.

JOB. R. FULK,           
Superintendent.     

     The normal training course is very popular, nearly every pupil in the junior and senior classes enrolling for the work, though not all signing the teachers' pledge. American history and civics are given three semesters, one in the junior year and two in the senior. The other four essentials are taught nine weeks each--grammar and reading the first semester of the junior year and geography and arithmetic the second semester. Pedagogy is given the first semester of the senior year. The seniors are enabled also to review the principles of elementary bookkeeping, orthography (orthoepy and lexicology), drawing and writing. Spelling, through the individual plan, is continued throughout the four high school years. Every subject required for the county first grade certificate is taught in the high school. Thus the high school meets the requirements of (1) university accrediment (sic), (2) normal training, and (3) the county first grade teachers' certificate. It is probable that the grade-hour plan will be adopted this year.

     The district has voted bonds of $30,000 for a new school house, which is to be erected near the north side of the square, with a small lawn in front and at each end as large a playground as possible on the south. It is planned to have a separate room for each elementary grade; the high school assembly room on the second floor, with ample recitation rooms, laboratory, etc., and two basement gymnasiums and rooms for manual training, etc.

ERNEST F. MONROE,          
Superintendent.     

     During the last five years the enrollment of the Sidney high school has nearly doubled. A twelfth grade was added in 1908 and a course in normal training instituted. An addition to the building in 1908 more than doubled the floor space that could be utilized for school

purposes, besides giving a gymnasium 48x58. The building is now steam heated, is lighted by electricity and has indoor toilets.

     Considerable attention has been given to athletics with the result that for the last three years the high school has had nearly as many boys enrolled as girls.

     The board is contemplating the installation of courses in manual training and domestic science during the coming year.

W. H. PATE,          
Superintendent.     

     The South Omaha high school sent out its first class of graduates in 1892. Since that time it has been steadily growing. At the time the writer of this article took charge in September, 1901, the enrollment was about 190. The enrollment has increased until it has reached 455.

     The census of the school district has averaged about 7,500 during the last six or seven years. The attendance has never been as large proportionally as in other cities of the same size, which is to be accounted for by the fact that the population is largely industrial and of the wage-earning class.

     The compulsory education law is not applied to pupils who have finished the grammar school and are over fourteen years of age.

     It has been the aim of the present administration as well as several in the past to provide a course of industrial training which would more directly touch the needs and interests of the patrons. But owing to the rapid growth of the city, which has necessitated buildings and equipment ordinarily required, and owing to the expensiveness of equipment for industrial lines of education, it has not been possible to provide industrial education., However, the last two years have witnessed progress in this direction. Industrial training for the last four of the elementary grades has been provided in four of the ward schools. Upon this as a foundation, industrial training in the high school is being developed. Elementary work in manual training has been carried on for the past two years. By an expenditure of about $35,000 ample prevision has been made in the way of grounds for the erection of a large manual training building, adjacent to the present high school building. At the present equipment is being purchased to provide for several additional years of manual 'training work. This will include bench work, pattern making, wood turning and molding. Provision will also be made for domestic science, sewing and physical training for both boys and girls. It is expected that these provisions will do much to attract pupils finishing the elementary grades to the high school.

      There are five courses of study, each four years in length. They are classical, scientific, literary, normal and commercial. The graduates from the first three courses have been placed upon the ac-

credited list of the North Central association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Pupils finishing the normal course have been accredited will full recognition by the state department of education. Those finishing the four-year commercial course have the good record of holding the positions they have secured in the best mercantile and office establishments.

     The number enrolled for normal training has not been large owing to the fact that most of the graduates either attend some higher institution of learning or enter upon some industrial or commercial pursuit. It has been the constant and unswerving aim of the management to give such training and instruction as shall be thorough and as shall merit recognition wherever the student may go. It has never been the policy to have quantity of students at the sacrifice of quality in work.

     The present high school building is a modern well planned and well equipped structure, whose style of architecture is plain but imposing and attractive. This building was first occupied in March, 1905, and the cost of its completion was $106,000. It is centrally located on three-fourths of a block of ground which is well kept and is a credit to any city. There are twenty-five class rooms, offices for the board of education, the superintendent and the principal. There is also a ladies' rest room, library and storerooms, as well as one of the most commodious high school auditoriums in the country.

     There is ample equipment in the laboratory for chemistry, for physics and for biology. The commercial department is provided with a typewriting room and a business department. The aggregate cost of the equipment for these different departments is over $3,000.

     The building is lighted throughout with electricity. The building has both direct and indirect heat by means of a plant costing over $17,000, which also provides for ventilation.

     The number of volumes in the library, including text books, reference books and the best literature amounts to over 10,000 volumes.

     The standard of qualifications far a high school teacher is that they must be at least twenty-four years of age, be a graduate of a regular four-year high school course, as well as a regular four-year college course along lines of study corresponding to those in which they expect to instruct.

     Among the student organizations are those pertaining to must all lines of athletics for boys and girls, a debating club for boys and girls, as well as a glee club and orchestra. These organizations are largely under the control and advice of the faculty. The pupils publish a high school paper called "The Tooter," with eighteen issues per year. The positions on the management and editorial staff are determined by election of pupils. The business management is expected to account for all receipts and disbursements to the principal and superintendent.

N. M. GRAHAM,          
Superintendent.     

     For the past five years I have had the pleasure of working in the schools of Spencer and have watched the growth there with the greatest interest.

     We have a new school building, a large, well constructed, well arranged and beautifully finished structure. A new heating plant was installed last year. During this time the attendance, particularly in the high school, has nearly doubled, partly due to the free high school privileges, of which fifteen took advantage last year.

     We have raised the school from a three-year unaccredited school to a four-year school. We have also established a normal training course and in the year just past, have done some little industrial work. On the whole the equipment is very good; especially is this true with regard to library and general supplies. We have a good library including encyclopedias, normal training, history, English and scientific reference works, together with some fiction and children's books. We have more than doubled our library in the past three years. The course of study is arranged to agree very closely with the state course.

     The normal training course has been an inspiration to some to continue in the school and to others to make further preparation for teaching. Those who have taken advantage of this course have made successful teachers.

     In the grades industrial work has been done along the lines of weaving, sewing, clay modeling, wood cutting, drawing and water colors. We were much gratified at the attitude taken toward this work both by pupils and patrons. The school spirit at Spencer is the very best possible, it has been truly a pleasure to be connected with the school.

RACHEL F. FAIRCHILD,      
Superintendent.     

     The location of the Stanton high school building is one of the best in the state. The building occupies an imposing height to the north of the town, and standing upon a beautifully terraced block of land presents a most attractive appearance. For many years the Stanton schools have ranked high among the schools of the state and the rapid growth of the last few years is but the natural sequence of favorable conditions. During the past five years the attendance in the high school has increased 100 per cent and the courses have been strengthened in every way. The increased attendance has necessitated the erection of a new building and this year a $20,000 high school building will he constructed. This building will be replete with the most modern equipment in every department and will be built upon the, same block of land as the old one. The old building will be devoted to grade work.

     One hundred and forty-six pupils have graduated from the high school during the last twenty-two years and of this number forty-five

have graduated during the last five years. Of these forty-five graduates nineteen are engaged in teaching and thirteen are pursuing their studies in higher institutions of learning. An enthusiastic alumni association was organized last spring and a large number of the old students assembled to do honor to the high school.

     The total enrollment in the high school during the year 1909-10 was eighty-six and the average attendance sixty-seven. There were forty-three boys enrolled and forty-three girls. During the last five years nineteen boys have graduated and twenty-six girls.

     Stanton has a large territory and since the enactment of the free high school law has had a large number of non-resident students. The tuition for the year 1909-10 approximated $400. Fifty per cent of the graduates of that year were from the country.

     For three years a normal training department has been conducted and many strong young teachers have been trained for the work in the rural schools. For the benefit of these students a good reference library is maintained and the laboratory equipment has been as complete as the cramped quarters would permit.

     The Stanton high school has been active in athletic circles and has always had strong teams in basketball and baseball, both boys and girls participating in the latter game.

     Three courses are maintained in the school, namely the Latin course, the German course and the normal training course. The school is accredited by the state university and secures thirty credits. Every pupil is required to do a definite amount of literary work and the representatives of the Stanton school have always ranked high in district and state contests. During the last four years Stanton's representatives in the declamatory contests have won three firsts and one second in the district contests and one first in the state.

     With the acquisition of the new building and a more complete equipment the future of the Stanton high school is promising. More attention can be given to industrial education and the systematic physical training, features which have hitherto failed to receive proper emphasis.

J. H. WELCH,          
Superintendent.     

     The Superior schools have had a continuous growth during the past years and especially the last year. Owing to the large increase in the population of the city we have been compelled to employ two additional teachers this year in the grades. Since the building of the new high school building we have ample room for the growth of the schools. Perhaps no town in the state has better equipment in the way of buildings than our city. One building is devoted entirely to the work of the high school and the eighth grade. The other two modern brick buildings accommodate the lower grades.

     The board of education is careful in regard to the enforcement of the compulsory education law, paying a competent man for his time spent in the enforcement of this law.

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© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller