Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-06-30

sued the following Annual Circular to
the Board and patrons of each school
district in the county. We publish it
as matter of interest to all who are
engaged In school work, and patrons of
schools:
PATRONS.
The valuation of School District No.
........, for the year 1897 is 5.
The Annual Meeting will be held on
Thursday, July 18th, at 2 o'clock p. m.
a Clerk is to be elected in each district;
and if, during the year, anyone has been
appointed to fill vacancy. the person
appointed holds Office only until his
successor has been duly elected by the
Annual Meeting and has qualified.
The Annual Meeting will make tax
levy, not to exceed two per cent, TO
miIlsl of the taxable property of the
district, and divide this levy as they
think proper, for teachers fund and
building fund. A library tax, not ex-
ceeding two ~ mills, may be voted for
the purpose of purchasing school H.
brary. The fund so raised shall be
used for no other purpose than that of
purchasing school library. The pu-
pills will read, and if they cannot get
good, wholesome literature, will read
the light, chaffy, sensational trash that
is unfit for our boys ard girls. You
can, in great measure, overcome this
by placing before them entertaining, in
structive, pure reading matter. Where
the districts are financially able, l rec
ommend that you levy tax for such
purpose. To those districts that have
not Dictionary Unabridged or Inter-
nationaD 1 recommend that you pur-
chase one, for 1t is poor economy to be
without one.
MAY SEND TO OTHER DISTRICTS.
Your attention is called to the law of
1895, Chapter 217, Section 1O2, page 80.
This law gives the board power to send
the pupils of their district to other dis
tricts, if in their judgment they think
it is better and cheaper for all concern
ed, provided the tuition and necessary
expense does not exceed S25 for all such
pupils sent. In thinly populated dis
tricts this, perhaps, will lessen the cost
very materially to the district. This
question should be brought up and thor.
oughly discussed at the annual meeting.
NEW TEXTBOOK LAW.
The last legislature passed a Text
Book Law. This law is uniform law
throughout the state. 1t compels every
district in the state to use the books
adopted by the State School Book Com
mission, except those districts holding
contracts now in full force. The new
law requires the Annual Meeting to
make an estimate of the number of
books used in each grade and that the
clerk of the districts send the report of
the same to the Go. Superintendent not
later than August 10th of each year. 1
respectfully request each district to
comply with this section of the law.
(Sec. II of the new law Section Is of
the new law gives the Annual Meeting
power to buy and own the school books
and furnish said books free to the pu-
pills of their districts. This section
of the law should be read and discussed
at the Annual Meeting. Full particu-
lars will be sent each district clerk later.
WRITING MATERIAL.
The neglect, in a great many in.
stances. of the parents to provide their
children with proper writing material,
lnterteres seriously with the success of
the school. 1 recommend that the
board be authorized by the Annual
Meeting to purchase all copy-books,
pens, pen-holders. ink, etc., for the use
of the pupils. The teacher should be
made the custodian of this material,
and required to report to the District
Board the number OF copy-books. etc.
distributed, and at the close of the
school give the clerk all writing materi-
al in his hands. Writing Is one of the
most important and one of the most
neglected subjects taught In our
schools, and for this reason l urge that
you take some action in the matter.
BOARD MEETINGS.
In the sense of the law no business is
legal unless transacted at a regular
board meeting, the clerk keeping com.
plete record of all the business transact
ed. In view OF this fact urge you to
hold monthly board meetings. Buy no
books, charts, maps. etc., without meet
ing and thoroughly discussing their
merits. and. if necessary, consult the
County Superintendent.
VISITING SCHOOLS.
L would call your attention to the
great necessity of visiting the schools;
not by the board alone, but by the pa
irons also. Nothing encourages good
teacher more, and nothing more effect
ually holds in check the teacher inclin-
ed to loose, shiftless management and
methods Of instruction. Formulate
some plan by which you can visit the
school in body or singly. 1t will have
a wonderful effect upon our schools.
EAlthough the Legislature has made
no provision for district officers receiv-
ing pay for performing the duties of Of
flee, it Is to be hoped that each one con-
senting to serve will perform the du-
ties to the best of his ability.
recommend that you insist on hav-
ing fullI and complete report from