Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-05-14

derestimate its evil effects 1t is detri
mental to the interests OF the schools
when the directors fail to realize that
they owe duty TO the County as well
as 10 their individual Directors.
Primarily, rural school boards
should cooperate with the Coun.y
Superintendent and each other then
with the boards of first class districts
and the City Superintendent. How
this may be done will vary in diner.
ent localities. AS before stated there
are certain climatic and other con.
ditions to be reckoned with In every
community. For that reason the
method that applies best in one Coun-
ty will not prove suitable in another.
Like teachers gatherings, the bene-
fit of Directors meetings can not be
over-estimated. In counties hut sparse
ly settled the remoteness OF some of the
districts is a decided drawback to
educational progress. Directors
would take far more interest in school
matters. could they feel that there
We're others interested in the same
line of work, striving toward the same
end. These meetings also tend to
foster healthy competition between
| the districts.
Besides these Directors Meetings.
of which there should be at least two
per year, there should be at least one
other. when the directors of the first
second and third class districts should
meet.
What affects one portion of a Coun-
| ~ affects all. AT these meetings
| there should be discussion of school
questions involving the welfare of the
entire County system. Such discus
sions will be of incalculable benefit
More will be accomplished in ona such
| meeting where the subject under con-
sideration is set forth by means of
good plain talk thoroughly discussed
| than in any number of newspaper ar
| ticles and letters. 1t may be of in
terest to mention that by means OF
our Directors meetings this year we
have succeeded in establishing a uni
form system of textbooks throughout
La Plata County and are now careful.
ly grading the rural schools to CORE
spond with the town schools,
"But'-there is always but with
some people-suppose the meeting is
called and the Directors fail to ap-
pear? If you have chosen a conven-
lent time and have sufficiently urged
the Importance of the meeting you can
count on a small number at leas. be-
ing present. Suppose but two or three
are gathered together in the name of
hn ,1tt a,
while. Should it be imperative on ac.
count of necessary business to be
transacted, that a majority of the di.
rectors be present, and they fail you,
issue a call for second meeting, and
a third If necessary. In the event of
| these methods failing there is still
another resort. The mountain will
| not come to Mahomet, therefore Ma
homet will go to the mountain" The
Directors will not come to you, there
fore you will go to the directors
Stump the County. not politically but
| educationally. See to It that the
meeting in each district is sufficient
ly advertised, and there will be no diff
| ficulty in obtaining a full attendance
| and a respectfully hearing Curiosity
will insure a crowd if nothing else will
do so.
One of the most efficient methods
in securing the cooperation of school
directors is in personal work, which
| for lack OF a better name we will call,
seed sowing. When a director calls
at the Office for record book or pos.
sibly School law, no matter how
busy you are. seize the opportunity
| to talk 10 him of what you are doing
Ask his opinion in regard to this plan
and that new appliance. Speak of the
needs of the schools, Tell him what
| you hope TO see In the future. If you
| look for them you will be amazed at
| the opportunities that will present
| themselves. Time and place will limit
them not. They will come to you In
| season and out of season. Seed SOW
| ing will add to your burdens and use
| up much valuable time but the good
| that can be accomplished is inestima7
| BILE The directors goes forth from
your Office TO his district where he
| speaks of the things discussed with
| you Enthusiasm Is contagious and
| opitduS lihN SiIldilpoA- nus
sentiment is educated. More than that,
in talking over these plans with the
representatives of the different dis
tricts you will receive many wise
suggestion that will be wonderfully
helpful In your work.
The teacher, likewise, plays an i'm
portant part In securing interdepend-
ence of town and rural schools. No
one present will deny the Significance
of the teachers mission, Whether in
town or cpuntry. Most teachers be-
! gin TO teach in the rural schools hop.
1 ing ultimately to secure a city posi-.
ton. In Counties remotely situated
from lines of travel this prometion Is
| likely to take place at any time. Va
cancies in the better positions may
occur suddenly through illness or
some other untoward cause. II there
is the cooperation that should exist
between City and County Superiptend-
ent these vacancies will be filed from
the rural schools
The Teacher Is also the connecting
| llBk between the County Super!ntend.
ent. Directors and pupils There Is no
| In