Education Around the County: 1894
Introduction: The following are a series of articles related to education which appeared in the Washington Standard, published in Olympia.
At the session Monday Mrs. Keyes opened the work on “Word-making,” and Mrs. Stowel gave an interesting talk on studies from Nature, in which she dwelt upon the benefit to be derived from use of the eyes as a means of self-aid. Prof. Beeler gave some instructive exercises in algebra, and Mrs. Keyes and State Superintendent Bean spoke on the rights and duties of teachers. The latter made the point that duty should come first and rights afterwards, and that teachers should not be content with doing simply what duty requires them to do. Mental arithmetic was the subject of thought, introduced in the afternoon by Mrs. Keyes and Prof. Beeler, and Miss Stowell favored the institute with one of her interesting talks on “Busy Work.”
Mr. Falknor gave instruction in the preliminary lines for study of the constitution, and President Getz, of the State Normal School at Ellensburg, closed the session with an address.
An entertainment was given the institute in the evening at which the following programme was rendered:
March- “Crusader,” Souse.
Address- “Our Country and Our Public Schools,” State Superintendent Bean.
Bass Solo- B.W. Hill.
Song- O’Shanty Glee Club.
Organ Solo- Prof. Roberts.
Solo- Mrs. Bolton.
Overture- “Sunrise,” Orchestra.
Recitation from J. Whitcomb Riley- A.J. Falkner
Solo- Miss Ward.
Selection- O’Shanty Glee Club.
The exercises on Tuesday were briefly: Superintendent Bean’s diagramming and analysis of English Grammar; Miss Stowell’s resumption of her talk on “Busy Work”; Prof. Getz of Pedagogy; exercises in arithmetic and algebra by Mrs. Keyes and Prof. Beeler; reading of an essay of Miss Frances E. Willard by Miss Coulson, of Rainier; some reference to adoption of the constitution by Mr. Falknor, and a discussion of temperance in which many of the members participated.
This Institute closed its work Wednesday. There had been no previous session at which the members departed with a more satisfactory consciousness of duty well performed. Its effect will doubtless be visible in the improved work of the school room…
A resolution was likewise adopted against the sin of cruelty to dumb animals.
Also, one favoring a school exhibit for all the schools of the county in Olympia, during the coming winter, and asking the County Commissioners to furnish rooms in the Court house for such exhibit.
Too much credit cannot be accorded to main promoters of this work- Miss Case, the County Superintendent, Profs. Beeler and Bean, and Mrs. Keyes, who by indefatigable industry and zeal have done so much to elevate educational work, and the object of the institute was rounded into completeness by the timely and practical comments of Miss Stowell. An incident of the closing day was a debate on the resolution that the ratio of male to female teachers should be increased. The question was, very properly, decided in the negative.
Washington Standard August 10, 1894
Thurston County’s Schools
Receipts and Disbursements – Facts about Teachers and Teaching
Miss Case, the county superintendent, has prepared her annual report, for transmission to the state superintendent.
The report shows that of children between the ages of five and twenty-one years residing in this county, there are 1741 male and 1612 females. Of these 1351 male and 1257 females are enrolled in the public schools. The average daily attendance is 974 males and 927 females. Of children over six years of age not enrolled in any school, there are 308 males and 203 females.
Of the teachers in this county, three hold state or territorial certificates; 27 hold first grade certificates; 40 hold second place certificates; 17 hold third grades. Thus the whole number of teachers is 110, of which 37 are males and 73 females.
The average monthly salary paid each male teacher is $51.18 and each female $53.53.
The estimated value of school houses in the county, including grounds, is $133,539, and of all school property $148,958.
September 6, 1894 The Olympian