The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-06-03

last year we find On the whole slight i'm
provement.
No. enrolled last year. -. ~
Nc. days lost from absence s!
There were fewer cases of hardness last
ofpupils.
The first months work afforded favor
able outlook for the year. and this has been
largely realized. The work of each grade as
marked out in the course of study has been
followed with bat few deviations. This has
given a definite aim to each teachers work
and has also been the means of unifying the
work of the entire school.
The raising tho grade to rs per cent. has
caused an equal advance ia scholarship, as
no more have failed to pass grade than un,
der the old standard, while the quality OF
the written work this year has been much
in advance of that one year ago. In arith.
metic and language. the work has been
made more practical, and In the upper
grades made TO depend less upon the text
book. In the lower grades these subjects are
taught entirety without text book. Marked
advancement has been made.in penmanship
drawing and map drawing by the grades
pursuing these branches. r.s.4-
adopt half day sessions for the First Primary
grade; however, through the efficiency Of
The superintendent of that department and
the teacher of the grade, the years work
has been we'll done.
Perhaps from the nature of the cas Q the
progress in the Primary Department seems
most marked, yet TO single out any one de-
paItment or grade as making more general
tl,a., q
year is not an easy task.
With united effort and earnest purpose
your teachers have all striven to do their
best, and have contributed in every way
possible to the welfare of the school N OF only
by their ability as teachers but also by the
example they set in their daily lives, are
they worthy of all confidence Of the Board
and patrons of the school.
The High School has had q larger attend
ance this year than last, and has enabled its
pupils to pursue studies not before taken in
the coulse. The present graduate class
have com pleted Cicro and Vergil land done q
good years work In Enf lish literature. The
work In composition and English authors
taken by the other classes is already. pro-
dactive OF good results. - - =
The average age OF the High School pupils
at the close Of the present year is seventeen
years and three months; that of the gradual
ing class eighteen years and eight months.
Our High School has now graduated thirty
five pupils, and with the increased facilities,
for work, and under the management of the
excellent corps of teachers having it in
charge, is destined to be Of much greater
value and usefulness to the community.
Young men and women from surrounding
towns are seeking it's advantages and con-
stitute some of our strongest and best stu
dents II seems Incumbent upon all in
tereSted In higher education to urge as
many of our youth as possible to complete
one or the other of the courses of study
which it offers.
- The greatest hindrence{ to our work this
year as last. have been the with drawal of
pupils from school to work. before the year,
studies had been completed. and absences.
= The first is in many cases unnecessary and
might easily be avoided, and would certainly
be lessened did parents appreciate the value
of their chi!drens' time when in school.
This is q value lar beyond that measured
by the few dollars and cents they may be
enabled to earn now-it enters into their fu-
ture usefulness, and becomes potent feat
ure in determining the positions they shall
take when they arrive at the age Of man
hood. Only in cases of vital necessity ought
pupils be removed from school for work.
Many of the absences were caused by sick
ness and inclemency of the weather and
were unavoidable, many others entirely
without cause.
We have received from buttons this year
S5l5, and expend for books and apparatus
Sl00. There also remains in the hands ofihe
superintendent $40 with which to purchase
books for the library.
Respectfully submitted,
i w F. RoCHELEAU. Supt.