The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-07-26
SCHOOL BOARD.
Special Meeting Held to Canvass
the Vote.
Manual Training For Mankato Schools
Discussed by Members, Led By
President Davis.

"A oPoOidl "eeClnS OF the school
board was held Monday evening. The
members present were Mesrss.
Fletcher, Keysor, Comstock, Davis and
Davis.
The votes cast at the election Satur-
day were canvassed. The members
whose terms expire were all reelected,
and they were the only ones who re-
ceived any votes. 7. R. Coughlan re-
ceived % in the first precinct, W. B.
Davies IA in the second, Geo. Fl.
Davis in the third, and Mrs. B. D.
Smith 131 in the fourth All were de-
clared elected for the ensuing two
years.
Supt. Uline reported that he had
received telegram from Miss Fannie
M. Sutton resigning her position as
teacher of latin in the high school. An
explanation is to follow in letter, but
it is thought that Miss Sutton has &C
cepted more desirable position in
the east. No action was taken.
Miss Fannie Pitcher was elected to
the position of teacher of music and
drawing at salary of $50 a month.
She is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. o.
O. Pitcher and has a thorough musical
education.
The bills were allowed and the COM
mittee on school property was directed
n
| where needed.
President Davis said that there had
been talk in the board and elsewhere
of making our schools practical, such
as giving instruction in mechanics.
He said that he believed that it would
be wise if the school board would soon
take steps to make beginning in that
direction. A room in the high school
building could be fitted up at reason
able expense and the boys be taught
how to handle tools, do carpentry, etc.
1t would have tendency to interest
the boys more in their school work 1t
would cost something, but would be
for the interest of the schools. He
; had asked Supt. Uline to make study
; of the matter The board could not
make an expenditure that would so
commend itself to the people,
Capt Keysor asked what sized cities
have manual training in their schools.
| Supt. Uline said that it was not
confined to the larger cities, but cities
like Mortified with 5000 people have
lit.
President Davis said that it was not
a question of the size of city.
Capt. Keysor said that he had heard
complaints of children having too
much to do now, SO that they have not
time to prepare graduation addresses.
He asked whether it was intended to
be a recreation.
| President Davis replied that it was.
Capt Keysor said that he had never
found much recreation in carpenter
ing. The community could not take
his boy and make him work, for that
duty lies with the parent.
Supt Uline said that the schools are
teaching the children to think and ex-
press themselves The whole of life is
activity and doing, but the schools do
not do that.
| Mr. Fletcher said that the quest ion
was whether it should be taught in the
schools or in the homes.
Mr.. Davies said that it was not prac
ticable to teach it in the homes. He
had often thought that modern methods
do not fit the students for the world as
| we'll as the old eastern academy.
| Supt Uline said that school men are
unanimous on the question of man ual
training The only question is what
and how much.
Mr.. Davies said thai. boys from the
grades would be glad to go to the high
school building for an hour of work
after school.
President Davis said that it was not
a question of enough boys, but of max
ing selection from them.
Capt Keysor thought that some
thing should be dropped to make way
for manual training. Mr.. Davies said
drop the dead languages.
Prof. Uline said that they would be
very dead if selection was offered be-
tween them and manual training.
The board adjourned without acsio n
on this question.