The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-05-07

ana we repeat III mere tnat the schools OF
Decatur county are dasng better work
than ever before. Since making the
rounds of the town and graded schools
we are still more thoroughly convinced
OF the truth ct the aboYs statement and
believe that the schools ale in q
| splendid condition. We believe that
the graded schools are doing better and
more thorough work than ever before.
There are rooms In the graded schools
OF this county that, for efficiency
and good aesuts, cannot be surpassed
by any schools anywhere. And now
that efficient, enthusiasts teachers are
being reemployed we believe school
boards are coming to paslss more and
more the importaaes of keeping
good teachers and encouraging them to
stay in the work by paying better
salary. This is hopaeAi outlook for
teachers and is the ou.growth OF bet
ter educational sentthees. Most of the
graded schools are paying better salaries
| than ever before and shs1s is a greater
tendency to increase the salary than to
lower it. A better educational senti-
ment and more efficient schools are the
result of this action sf school boards
and as long as better sentiment pre-
walls toward teash1 %sst school so long
will the school improve in efficiency
1t is with a great deal Of pleasure that
we present to the public through the
educational columns this week the Leon
high school and grade rooms There
are great many things those interested
in education should feel proud of in
Leon just now and the indications are
that greater interest sn education will
be taken than ever before and better
educational sentiment prevail and de.
mand for greater requirements. Leon
is the best equipped for school now of
any town in the county. The magnifi.
cent $4,000 building fast fnisea this
year with the south side building puts
Leon on an equality with any county
seat town we know Of. The schools
have been seriously handicapped the
past two years on account Of the
abandonment Of the old building which
was considered unssfe Hast spring and
the different rooms scattered over the
town in different buildings. The failure
to complete the new building by the
specified time this year delayed the
schools until the tisss u January, conss.
quently for the past two years Prof.
Drake and his teachers have labored
under immense disadvantages. At the
present time at ssss JSstD Of four months
the schools are on the long high road
to continued prosperity and a visit and
inspection Of the work will convince
any one that they undoubtedly are ex-
perienclng that degree Of prosperity that
comes from harmonious and we'll direct
ed efforts. Prof. Drake at the begin
ming of the year, in order 10 keep to-.
gether the graduating class Of this year
and the prospective class of next year,
took up the work at the south building
and continued it thus keeping the two
classes IN the work and making it posi-.
BILE for them to graduate this year and
next year. The nentsrs of this years
graduating class are as follows:
Mallie Caster, Albena Crawford,
Jessie llsley, Letha Newlin,
Maude Stocker, Mabel Chase,
Margaret Crawford, Josephine Johnson,
Gretchine Myers, Barta Pugh,
Frank Forbes, Ed Farquhar,
Rollin Benefiel, Groyer Quiett.
| On account Of the schools opening on
the first of January and continuing until
the latter part of June this class Of most
excellent young people hope, by the
grace of the school board and Prof.
Drake, to finish the work and graduate
at that time. We wish them success in
this commendable aspiration. The
Leon schools have always had liberal
patronage from non resident pupils and
since there is plenty Of room in the
magnificent new building larger pa
tronage is solicited aad because OF
the increased school advantages and the
splendid work being done we predict a
larger non resident attendance than
ever before in the history of the schooI
next year. We believe that there
should be conducted annually summer
school during the four weeks preceding
institute in this county for the better
preparation Of the teacher and prospect
i've teacher and beAeeeA would be great
help to the schools as we'll. We wish to
encourage any such attempt. If a good
summer school could be maintained
and we'll patronized there is no reason
why any teacher need 60 out of the
county for summer review work. At
present there is the following non resi-
= dent attendance in the Leon schools:
4 Edith Bryson, Woodland.