Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-07-18
co. SUPT. ANNUAL CIRCULAR,
PATRONS.

..-- Tor the year l9OO Is
The annual meeting will be held on
Thursday. July 26, at 2 o'clock p. m.
A clerk is to be elected in each district:
and, if, during the year, any one 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. go
mills of the taxable property of the dis
trict, and divide this levy as they think
proper, for teachers fund and a building
fund. A library fund not exceeding two
% mills, may be voted for the purpose
of purchasing a school library. The
fund SO raised shall be used for no other
purpose than that of purchasing a school
library. The pupils will read, and if they
cannot get good, wholesome literature,
will read the light, chatfy, sensationi
trash that is unfit for our boys and girls.
You can, in a great measure, overcome
this by placing before them entertain
ing, Instructive, pure reading matter.
Where the districts are financially able.
L recommend that you levy tax for such
purpose. To those districts that have
not Dictionary Unabridged or Inter
rationale recommend that you purchase
one, for it is poor economy to be without
one.
SCHOOL HOUSE, ETC.
L wish to call your attention to the
condition of your school house. Take a
few minutes to examine its condition
and see what repairs are needed. Take
some action on this matter. Above all
do not forget to investigate the out
buildings, The law requires two sepa-
rate buildings, and that they should be
kept in good repair, and in good sanitary
condition. Be sure to instruct the Board
to attend to it at once. This is very inn
portant. Do not neglect it.
WRITING MATERIAL.
The neglect, in great many instances,
of the parents to provide their children
with proper writing material, interferes
seriously with the success of the school.
L recommend that the Board be author
lied 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 copybools, etc. distributed and at
t1e close of the school, give the clerk all
the writing material in his hands. Writ
Ing is one of the most important and one
of the most neglected subjects taught in
our schools and for this reason [ urge
that you take some action in the matter.
BOARD MEETING
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 1 urge you to
hold monthly board meetings. Buy no
books, charts, maps, etc., without meet
ing and thoroughly discussing their mer-,
its, 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 par
ents also. Nothing encourages a good
teacher more, and nothing SO eaectually
holds in check the teacher inclined to
loose. shiftless management and meth
DDS of instruction. Formulate some
plan by which you can visit the school
in body or singly. 1t will have won
derful effect upon our schools.
Although the legislature has made no
provision for district officers receiving
pay for performing the duties of office, it
is to be hoped that each one.consenting
to serve will perform the duties to the
best of his ability.
l recommend that you insist on having
full and complete report from your
treasurer and clerk: and if necessary,
adjourn for few days to give them time
to make this report / will cheerfully
aid you in making out this report if you
cannot make it out correctly.
When teacher has given entire sat
isfaction to the patrons, by all means
retain him or her. 1t is a poor display
of judgment to make change for the
single reason of making change, or for
the purpose of saving few dollars per
month. If you find it necessary to make
change or to employ anyone that you
do not know, will cheerfully give you
any information concerning the appli-
cant that possibly can.
The Western School Journal is the
official organ of the State Department of
public instruction. 1t contains the
opinions of the State Superintendent, of
the Attorney General, of the District
Courts throughout the State and of the
Supreme Court on all questions relating
to our school laws. | recommend that
the board be authorized to subscribe for
one or more copies, to be read by them
and placed IN the district library.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The clerk of each district shall at
least five days before the Annual Meet
ing, make out his report. This report
should be read at the Annual Meeting