vantage of these examinations, if rightly considered, is to secure study on the part of teachers. The student-teacher will generally interest and benefit his school:

Our schools suffer for the reason that experienced teachers do not long remain in the work. Any means which will induce them to remain longer will elevate school work. A system of State certificates would help this matter.

After a person has taught in the common schools for five years, or ten terms, with satisfaction, and can pass a rigid examination in the elements of mental philosophy, higher arithmetic, and elementary algebra, in addition to the branches now required by law, he should receive a State certificate authorizing him to teach in any of the common schools of the State without further examination. There should be a time in the life of every earnest teacher, when he shall be exempt from these annual examinations.

Let the State certificates be of two grades, and but two; one for the common schools and one for the graded schools. This will be one step--and a long one-toward elevating teaching to the dignity of a profession.

BUTLER COUNTY,

J. W. STEWART.

During the past year the general cry among farmers and business men has been "hard times," yet, notwithstanding all this, our educational interests have prospered nicely. Our teachers, as a class, have done better work, have been more thoroughly in earnest; our educational meetings have been better attended by them; they have done more visiting among the patrons of their schools than usual, and the result has been that the patrons have taken more than usual interest in the schools; teachers' term reports show a much better attendance. In a number of country schools the average attendance has reached 85 per cent of the number belonging; and, on the whole, I feel that more has been accomplished, educationally, than during any of the preceding years of my superintendency.

The school-house at Butler Center was burned down on last Christmas night, but, thanks to the wisdom of the board of directors, it was insured, and within sixty days from the date of the fire, they had two

thousand dollars in the treasurer's hands with which to erect another, and for twenty-three hundred dollars they have built the neatest and finest two-room school-building in the county. Three other very neat and commodious school-houses have been built in the county during the year, seated and furnished with the best school furniture in the market. A number of old school-houses have been repainted, reseated, and the surroundings made more pleasing and attractive. All these things denote an increased interest in educational matters.

Our normal institute for 1879 was well attended, and was in every sense a success. I had a good corps of instructors, and all in attendance were well satisfied and felt that "it was good to be here."

Secretaries' and treasurers' reports have reached me in much better shape and more nearly on time this year than usual, and I have now some hopes that the time may come when we can get these reports in time to forward our reports to the State department at the time required by law.

CEDAR COUNTY.

MISS E. E. FRINK.

Although I cannot challenge criticism upon the educational work of Cedar county during the last four years, I believe that there is a constantly increasing interest manifested, and that it is shown not only by those who are actively engaged in school work, but by the citizens of the county generally.

Notwithstanding the pressure of the times, several new school-houses have been erected in the rural districts, of which the patrons of the schools may be justly proud. A beautiful and commodious edifice is in process of erection in Tipton, and will be ready for occupancy on the first of January. School apparatus is being supplied with greater liberality than ever before, and in many townships uniformity of textbooks has been secured, which will materially lighten the teachers work.

THE CEDAR COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION is still in a prosperous and healthy condition. Since my last report we have held five meetings, with varying degrees of advantage to those concerned. The majority of them have been profitable and interesting, owing to the

freedom with which opinions have been expressed and views interchanged. The educational column in the Tipton Advertiser has been well sustained, and has formed a "bond of union "between the teachers of the county.

As regards our normal institute, I am in doubt what to say. If the number in attendance is to be considered the measure of our success, then, indeed, it has not accomplished for us what it ought to have done; but, if punctuality and a faithful and earnest endeavor on the part of those who were present to obtain a knowledge of the newer and better methods of teaching, are to be considered in our favor, then I believe we have gained from it all that could be expected.

I prepared a course of study for the ungraded schools of the county this year, and placed it in the hands of the teachers at the close of the institute. The design of it is to systematize and unify the work, that the greatest possible good may be obtained for the money expended to support our schools, and if it accomplishes this purpose even to a limited extent, I shall feel that the work has not been in vain.

CHEROKEE COUNTY.

W. F. ROSE.

During the past year the number of pupils in the county has increased from 2254 to 2417, an increase of 163, or over seven per cent. Seven new school-houses have been erected, besides various enlargements and improvements of older buildings. Six schools are conducted in other than school buildings.

Many of our teachers are successful laborers in the school-room, yet by far too large a number deem their duty done when they have listened to the recitation, and will not take hold of the work of class-drill with the desired energy and efficiency.

We believe the superintendent should be clothed with greater power, to reject the inefficient teacher though capable of passing the most thorough examination. Thousands of dollars are thrown away every year by employing those who possess neither the natural nor the acquired abilities so necessary for success.

We have resorted to both oral and written examinations, always endeavoring to keep the oral fully abreast with the written.

There has been a manifest advance in the intellectual and practical

attainments of a large number of the teachers, yet many have remained stationary. We believe they should be rejected after one or two trials.

On the whole we think the grade of our teachers and schools is rising, and hope to see the day when none but those thoroughly efficient will even dare apply for a school or a certificate.

CLAY COUNTY.

S. GILLESPIE.

The last year has been a reasonably successful one in educational work in Clay county. There has been an increase of one hundred and forty-two persons of school age since my last report. In addition to this, three new sub-districts have been organized, and five new country school-houses have been built, and extensive repairs made on many others. The last of the sod school-houses has disappeared, and every sub-district in the county, with one or two exceptions, is now provided with a good frame house, furnished with improved furniture. A handsome and commodious graded school-building has just been completed in the village of Spencer, and a competent corps of teachers employed, and it is believed that the good results of this school will be felt in all parts of the county.

In the financial condition of the schools of the county there is a marked improvement; teachers are no longer compelled to sell their orders at a ruinous discount, but are paid promptly at the end of each month, when they so desire. Every district in the county has cash on hand in the teachers' fund, and the same is true with reference to the school-house and contingent funds, with two exceptions. In three townships it was found unnecessary to levy any school tax the present year, sufficient funds being in the hands of the treasurers to meet all demands. It will thus be seen that the burden of taxation which existed in former years for school purposes, is no longer too grievous to be borne.

The character of the work in the school-room during the past year is a manifest improvement over the work of former years. This is accounted for, in a large degree, by the influence of our normal institutes, which are very generally attended during the entire session, by the teachers of the county. Several of our teachers have also availed

themselves of the advantages offered by the Iowa State Normal School, and the eagerness with which the services of such teacher is sought clearly indicates that the public mind is not slow to appreciate the value of the trained and skillful teacher.

But one appeal case has been tried in the county during the year, and that was finally amicably settled. It is to the absence of such disturbing elements that the prosperity of our schools, in a large measure, is due.

In a few districts, the economy mania seized the school board and teachers' wages were considerably reduced; but the experience of one year, we are convinced, will teach such persons the error of their way.

CLINTON COUNTY.

M. J. WILCOX.

We have used every reasonable means of securing our reports, properly corrected,and feel that a reasonable degree of success has attended our efforts. Many were wrong when first received, but we do not wish to take time and space, as many others do, for the purpose of complaining of our school officers, since these gentlemen have faithfully co-operated in our undertaking to submit a correct report, and are in no manner derelict in their duties. In our judgment the school-house and contingent funds ought to be consolidated, which would dispense very largely with the practice of transferring money from one fund to another, and render the account system much easier for school officers to keep. With two funds instead of three, much of the present labor and perplexity could be avoided.

The educational interests of Clinton county are steadily advancing. The abolition of the third-class certificate, which occurred at the close of the normal for 1878, and a close observance of 80 and 90 as minimum standards for second and first-class certificates, has met with general approval by both patrons and teachers. As a result of this step our schools are in the hands of better teachers, and at present we have but few more than are required to supply the situations. Of