TEACHERS' COTTAGES 



Oklahoma. 



Hughes County reports five teacherages that are proving quite a 

 success but in some of them the teachers are required to pay rent. One 

 teacher's cottage is reported in Pittsburgh County in District No. 27. 



In Antlers County one district has a house for the teacher and the 

 reason for this house is as follows: "Several years ago the teacher had 

 a good deal of difficulty in securing a house to rent. He finally built 

 in the corner of the school yard, which was a large one, and at the close 

 of school sold the building to the district. It has proved to be a great 

 convenience and they have no trouble now in getting a married man 

 for a teacher. The school is located in a small village." 



Seminole County has two teachers' cottages in the rural districts 

 and the plan is proving very satisfactory. In one instance this year the 

 teacher has spent all his odd time during the school term and during 

 his vacation time in keeping the school ground in shape. One of these 

 districts pays $75 and $50 for teachers, the other $90 and $60. In each 

 instance the house is furnished the teachers free. 



Garvin County has two homes in the rural district schools and in 

 each they furnish the fuel the same as they do for the regular school 

 building. If the teacher does not occupy the home, an amount equal to 

 the rent is deducted from his salary. The question of board is a very 

 hard one to solve. The only reason they have no more homes in this 

 county is because they have not the money to build them. 



Three cottages are reported in Laflore County. In Jackson County 

 two common school districts have cottages which are rented to teachers. 

 "These cottages solve the problem of a boarding place for the teachers. 

 They aid the district to secure married teachers which is very much 

 desired by some districts. The teacher can better care for the school 

 property, vandalism is reduced to a minimum, the teacher can do the 

 janitor work and is always on time. There is no loitering on the school 

 grounds after hours. There is no jealousy because a certain family 

 boards the teacher. The teacher remains in longer periods of service 

 and longer hours of service. The teacher can economize to suit herself. 

 The cottage plan is satisfactory to us and I recommend it to school boards 

 building new buildings as the house is cheaply constructed out of the 

 old one." 



Medill, Oklahoma, reports that four rural districts have built neat 

 dwellings on the school premises for the purpose of having a teacher on 

 the school ground during the entire term of school. The teacher pays 

 $6 a month into the school fund of the district. Board in the rural dis- 

 tricts is almost impossible. Johnson County has one cottage and this 

 district is most sought by the teachers in the county. The people of the 

 district consider it a good investment. Marietta reports three rural 

 districts in the county that have constructed teachers' cottages. The 

 plan works admirably as many districts prefer men teachers who have 

 families and the districts with teachers' homes have that advantage over 

 those that have none. Some schools fail to get teachers because they 

 cannot get a home. 



Jefferson County reports one rural district, a "live one," in a two- 

 teacher school where a neat cottage has been erected as a home for the 

 teacher. Immediately there were a number of successful teachers apply- 

 ing for this school. This is the first year for this in this community. 

 So confident of the merits of the measure is the superintendent that he 

 proposes to advocate it in several school districts of the county. 



In Kiowa County two such homes are found. They are in consol- 

 idated districts and in both cases the houses are reconstructed old school 



Page Forty-four 



