School: Greenwood (End of school term - 01 Jun 1900)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Dodge, Green, Jenkins, Lusik, Rossman, Rand, Mack

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 01 JUN 1900

Quiet Graduation Exercises This Year - Schools Overcrowded

Monday forenoon the writer did as he and every other citizen who is really interested in public affairs should do, and that is, visited through the different grades of our public school. It is refreshing to do so. If the school were visited more frequently by parents and those having the work of the school at heart, it would be better for them, for their children and better for the teachers.

This being the last week, every grade was busy reviewing for examination. Each room was a beehive of studiousness. Even the restless urchin that is usually the trial of the teacher, was too busy to follow his inclination. The recitations made, however, showed that good had been done in each grade and there was an interest manifested which showed that all understood that the schoolroom is a place of work and not play.

When one notes the crowded condition of the room and learns the number of pupils most of the teachers have to look after, they will wonder how as good work as is being done can be accomplished. In Mrs. Dodge's roo, 72 pupils, ranging in age from four to ten or more, are enrolled with an average attendance of 56. In the intermediate grade, Miss Green's room, are enrolled 56 pupils with the average attendance of 51. In the grammar department, with Miss Jenkins in charge, are 36 pupils, with an average attendance of 33. In the high school, with B.O. Dodge and Miss Lusik in charge, there are 52 enrolled and an average attendance of about 42. It would look as though two more teachers could very profitably be employed in the Greenwood school; one to share the primary work, and the other to share in the intermediate and grammar grade work. Then the teachers would have more time to give each class and each individual and far better results could be secured without taxing the teachers and crowding scholars so hard.

The closing exercises will take place in the high school room today, will be simple and quiet. It was thought best not to take time for extensive preparations for commencement exercises. There are but three graduates from the four year course: Misses Mabel Rossman and Olive Rand and Mrs. Jason Mack. Owing to change of assistant principals, the work of the high school was put behind to some extent. The diphtheria scare also made a break in the work. All these together caused it to be decided to having the closing exercises as they are only the parents, friends and patrons of the school invited.