Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-14

oAAeSGOA VI SCuOO1fETOOuS, ana the
beauty of school grounds, are especial
~ commendable. Over 1000 trees
we're planted this year. Still there
are few districts that have made no
provision for this important feature
OF school improvement. Teachers
cannot do this work properly alone.
The ground needs to be plowed and
the trees properly planted and cared
for till they have good start.
Some teachers report that school
was not in session on Arbor Day, or
probably bad weather had something
to do with it. Do not try to lessen the
weight of responsibility by such ex-
cuses. Trees will grow it planted on
some other day, whether school is in
session or not, and the state will not
regard it as criminal offense if some
other day in place of Arbor day is OBJ
served for this purpose. A few good
shade trees on the school grounds add
to the beauty of the surroundings and
serve the same purpose as they do
about the home, and they will create
in the pupil a deeper love and respect
for the school.
1t is very important that each school
building should be amply supplied
with good black boards. Slate is by
far the best and cheapest in the long
run. It will never wear out; it is al
ways in repair, and once secured, the
blackboard question is settled. There
should be from 100 to $50 square feet
in every school room.
You will notice from my report that
there were 700 pupils in the rural
schools who did not draw apportion-
ment This means a loss of over
$500 to the common schools of the
county. In some districts there were
as high as 20 pupils who did not draw
apportionment, or in other words,
these districts will lose about $50 next
year. Money enough to supply their
school with excellent apparatus, or
keep it in session two months longer
at the average rate of teachers wages.
The law provides that they shall at
tend the entire term unless excused
tor good cause, by the board of edu-
cation. If they do not attend at least
40 days, the district loses about 81 for
eachpupil. Boards ofeducation should
look after this matter carefully or ap-
point a truant officer to do so.
1t has been rather hard to secure
teachers this fall, due mainly to two
causes. First, boards of education
were not willing to pay them as much
as they could secure at other places
and second, the matter of securing a
teacher was delayed till there we're but
few in the field wishing positions.
would advise that teachers be secured
for all schools before the annual meet.
ing, and when teacher is satisfacto.
ry, engage her services for another
term before she leaves your district
even if it is necessary to increase hel
salary SIS per month. It is poor eco
nomy to change teachers every year
much less every term. Under the mos
favorable circumstances much valua
bic time is necessarily lost by new
teacher coming into a strange school
Many favorable comparisons might
be made from former reports, showing
that the schools of Kandiyohi county
have been making substantial gains
during the past five years, but space
will not permit.
wish to thank the teachers, school
officers and patrons of the schools for
their hearty cooperation since my ap.
pointment to this Office, and I hope the
same spirit will continue, and that
thu ough our united efforts the schools
of Kandiyohi county will continue to
make rapid progress till they stand
second to none in the state.
Very respectfully submitted,
2 F. W. DOBBYN.
Willmar, Oct. IL, 1908.