The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-08-23
SCHOOL AFFAIRS.
Two New Teachers Elected
Thursday Night,
Conflict of Ideas Over the Value of Chem
istry and Bontay in the High
Schools.

The school board put in a busy ses.
sion Thursday evening, the only mem
beers not present being Mrs. Smith and
Mr.. Comstock.
The resignation of Miss Sutton as
latin teacher in the high school and
that of Miss Dunn as principal of the
Union school were accepted.
Eleven applications for the position
of latin teacher were received, and
Miss Esther Friedlander was chosen at
salary of $40 month. Her home is
in Minneapolis and her father is a
physician. She is a graduate of the
university of Minnesota and of Bryn
Mawr university and holds an NJ A.
degree. She has taught at Window,
Wadena and Crookston.
Miss Julia Blekre was transferred
from the sixth grade at the Union
school to the seventh grade and princi-
palship, at a salary of 500 month.
Miss May l.. Willard was elected
teacher of the sixth grade at $40 a
month. She is daughter of Mr.. ard
Mrs. D. G. Willard and is graduate
of the high and normal schools and has
taught at Fulda for two years.
The acquisitions for general, Office,
primary and laboratory supplies were
granted after some discussion, and six
desks for the class in book keeping
were ordered, to cost $50. The Office
supplies are estimated at SAT. 10, of
which $40 is for 100 parchment di-
plomas. The primary supplies foot up
to $11S. 80, and the laboratory supplies
to $97.05.
President Davis said that ne be-
lieved that altogether too much la
boratory work is being attempted in
the high schools, and results in injury.
More time should be given to drill in
the common branches, particularly
mathematics The high schools are
attempting to do too much. They are
turning out pupils with smattering
of many things and no thorough
knowledge of anything. Mr.. Davis re-
ferred particularly to botany and
chemistry in his criticisms, and said
that graduates of the high schools
know little or nothing about those sub
jects.
Supt. Uline said that the high school
oo,,roa 5oac not ipoluda q q ,,,,,ob oo;apoa
as formerly, zoology having been
dropped. He did not think that the
schools were doing too much, as the
pupils have choice of studies and are
not required to take them all. Those
who prefer botany or bookkeeping to
something else can take it. If twelve
boys in the school want certain sub
ject they should be allowed to have it.
There is a large contingent of boys
in all schools who want science
and who get much satisfaction from
it.
President Davis said that he doubted
whether one boy in ten in our high
school ever derived any benefit from
chemistry. They would derive more
good by giving the time to mathe-
MATES.
Supt Uline said that if pupils are
inspired to learn more of the subject
after leaving school the time given to
it in school was not wasted.
President Davis said that it did not
inspire them. He had asked many and
they had said that they got no good
from the subjects
Mr. Davies said that he took chemis-
try one term, and it had been benefit
to him many times since. He favored
giving little time to chemistry.
President Davis said that he did not
object to chemistry, but to giving so
much time to it.
The bills were taken up and allowed.
The committee on property and ex-
pense reported unfavorably upon the
bid of E. c. Wickersham for heating
plant at the franklin building, as the
board had not asked for figures on such
a plan as he had presented. The report
was accepted.
The board voted to purchase 30 cords
of dry hard maple from A. B. Ewing
at So a cord, and the committee on
property and expense was authorized
to buy more at the same price and
mixed wood to the best advantage, up
to 100 cords. The committee was also
authorized to advertise for bids for
300 tons of coal, to be opened at the
September meeting.
President Davis suggested that the
board ascertain what would be the cost
of making start in manual training
and carry it on.
The matter was referred to special
committee to report at the September
meeting. The committee consists of
President Davis, Supt. Uline and Mr..
Coughlin.
The board adjourned.