Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
TEACHERS MEET
Davis County Instructors Hold
Interesting Convention.
CITY TO HAVE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING
Bloomfield Citizens Endorse Plan for
Erection of New Structure--Dis.
cuss Ways and Means of Raising
Necessary Funds.

Bloomfield, Feb. 23.-(Courier .Speci
al Service round tables and
general discussions of questions per-
tanning to school work, the members
of the Davis County Teachers asso-
citation held most interesting and
profitable meeting Saturday at the
court house.
After song by the pupils Of the
public school, and invocation by Rev.
j. c. Wilson the morning hours were
devoted to round table talk and adj
dresses and general discussions by
several teachers. Prof. A. T. Downey
of the Normal gave very interesting
talk OH the subject, THE Preparation
and Compensation of the Teacher in
which he called attention to the fact
that the average teacher receives less
than one dollar per day for his SER
vices, counting the number of working
days in the year. Miss Abbie Brown,
of the public school then read an in
teresting paper discussing gener-
ally the same subject Prof. Bolton of
the state university then took up the
| subject and pointed out that the teach
| er who is prepared for an advanced
work has ample opportunity for bet
| ter wages.
He said that the profession OF school
| teaching is crowded but that the
crowd is at the foot of the ladder He
further stated that the teacher must
be imbued with something of the mis-
sionary spirit, and should be too busy
for making money. Miss Pearl Young
then read a paper giving some prac-
teal suggestions on the subject, THE
Relation of the Home to the School"
followed by general discussion of
the subject by H. o. Roland. III
The principal feature of the after
noon was a lecture by Frederick e.
| Bolton, professor of education in the
State University of Iowa, on the sub
ject, 1.-THE Best Things Which the
School Can Give the Child" The main
! thought running throughout the lee
ture was right ideals in building UP of
character He referred to the ideals
in education of several nations, both
past and present. including the Amer
lean ideal. The professor is a clear
thinker and his lecture was considered
strong one and was highly appreci-
ated County Superintendent Anna
Dutfield, is to be congratulated upon
securing this lecture for the teachers of
| the county. The meeting was fairly
we'll attended and deep interest was
manifested throughout the entire pro-
/ gram.
To Have New Building. Il
1t is practically assured that Bloom
| field will have a new, upto date, public
school building during the present
year, as a strong sentiment has been
aroused in favor of the same. Appar-
emily but one question remains to be
decided, and that is as to the man
ner of raising the necessary funds,
whether by direct taxation or or by is
suing bonds. The latter method is
favored by many of the citizens as the
money could be raised Immediately,
for the carrying on of the work.
A mass meeting was held at the
house Friday evening for the purpose
of hearing a report of the school board
as to the probable cost of building a
modern structure suited to the needs
of the present and future and also to
the value of the material in the old
building in case it should be torn down
to make room for new structure, and
to discuss plans for raising funds for
the building of new structure The
board reported that they had been I'M
able to ascertain the probable cost of
building such as is desired. They es-
| timated that the value Of the material
in the present building, after paying
cost of tearing down the same, would
be in the neighborhood of $1,000.
| to the best method of raising the re-
CURED funds. ]. F. Scarborough act
ed as chairman of the meeting. He
called upon T. J. Bryant, j. A. Dunn,
H. C. Leach and G. T. Sewers for ex-
pressions of opinion in regard to the
matter Each speaker declared him
self heartily in favor of new build
ing, and thought the most desirable
plan for raising the necessary funds
would be to issue bonds for the pur-
pose The discussion was then made
general, and several parties expressed
practically the same views, among
! the number being o. d. Wray, w. A.
Herman, e. E. Curl and others. In
the course of the discussion the ques-
| ton was raised as to what amount of
bonds the school district could legally
| issue. Mr.. Scarborough and Mr.. Bence
were of the opinion that the district
could not legally issue bonds for a
greater sum than about $21 ,000 which,
together with $4,000 already raised or
practically SO by direct taxation, and
the amount that could probably be
realized from the material in the old
building of about $1,500, would amount
to about 100000. A committee was
then appointed, consisting of the fol
lowing lawyers, to investigate the
question as to the amount of bonds
the district would be authorized to is
sue upon the taxable property of the
district. S. S. Carruthers, d. H.
Payne, J. F. Scarborough. G. T. Sow
ers, t. P. Bence, e. Rominger and t
j. Bryant. The meeting then adjourn
ed to meet this evening.
Other Bloomfield Items.
Ruth McAchreu entertained the
members of the Merry Go Round clut
Saturday evening at the McAchraI
home in the west part of the city al
an elaborate spread in honor Of
Mayme Lester, who leaves today fol-
Red Bluff, Cal, where she will make