The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-08-04
CHANGE ORDERED.
School Board Adopts a New
Text Book.
East Manksto School Will be Continued
and Miss Dougherty is Reflect
ed Teacher.

member of the school board not present
at last nights meeting. After all the
talk at the recent election about the
hardship OF the frequent changes OF
text books, the board voted to make
another change, and has in view besides
this ithe throwing out of the arith-
metics in all of the grades and the adop-
ton of new ones The latter was de-
layed one year The patrons OF the
schools have in the past found fault
with the frequent changes in text
books, and they will probably not be
very we'll pleased with last nights
work in this line. The chance ordered
bears the endorsement of the newly
elected superintendent
Mrs. Smith presented report IN
which she favored changing the text
book in English literature from Paint
er's to Pancoast's. She had looked over
Pancoasts book and considered it the
best that she had yet seen, and the
price was the same as the other, 1926
copy 1t is proposed to start it in the
''B" class this year. Mrs Smith also
reported in favor of postponing the pro-
posed change in arithmetics for one
year.
Mr.. Fletcher was in favor of chang
ing the arithmetics also, as he con-
sidered the new ones better than the
ones now in use.
Before the meeting opened, Mr..
Fletcher had been engaged in wordy
war with another member of the board,
who had spoken very freely in regard
to the frequent changes in text books.
This still ranked in Mr.. Fletcher's
breast, and he referred to this when
he said that for the first time in forty
years an intimation of dishonesty had
been made in come ction with the
change of books Not one copper had
he ever been benefited, directly or in
directly. If he had ever been offered
anything he would have spurned it. He
did not like the present text book and
was not alone in his feeling When 1t
was adopted two years ago he was sure
that the board was getting weaker
book. If change in books cannot be
made without the charge Of blackmail-
ing is heard it would be better not to
make any change If the board is go
ing to be accused of indirection, it
wouls be better to take blank paper
and use it instead of printed text
books ..r
After some discussion in regard to
the proposed change in literatures, Mr..
Parry suggested that the book dealers
ought to be protected in any arrange
ment which the board should make
with the publishers.
Mr.. Fletcher said that he did not see
why the board should protect outside
parties.
President Cray thought that the
dealers should be able to make arrange
ments with the publishing houses.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the report
was accepted so far as it related to
hteratures, and the change will be
made. No further action was taken in
regard to the arithmetics
Mr. Fletcher requested Secretary
Brewster to prepare schedule of the
8mount of coal, wood, ink paper, etc,
j used in the schools annually, in order
that the board could advertise for bids
for these supplies instead of buying
them little at time.
Mr.. Coughlan said that he did not
think that anything would be gained
by advertising for bids for coal, as the
board had lost by doing it last year.
Mr.. Fletcher said that if the board
received bids it would give all of the
dealers g chance, and there would be
no excuse for any of them TO COM
plain.
Mr. Coughlanssaid that he did not
care if they did kick, as he was tired of
that. a
DIR. Webster said that the committee
appointed to investigate the East Man
kato school had made house to house
canvass among the parents there. The
people complained that the school was
not properly looked after by the super
intendent and the members of the
school board, and had never been since
it was started. The teacher is well
spoken of, but the school has been neg
lected in the matter of supplies. 1t has
no library, no music chart and no must
cal instrument except an old organ
past repairing. The falling off in the
attendance there last year was due to
the measles. Only one person opposed
continuing the school, and the rest said
that they would be glad to have it re-
opened. Dr. Webster said that he had
the names of thlrty-fve children whose
neutrality-suspicious. sendthemtothe
school, although some OF these promises
are conditioned upon the school being
given the same supplies that the other
schools have and not neglected,
Mr.. Fletcher said that he did not
know whether the superintendent had
rome two or three miles to visit SO