The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-10-14

receive the attention OF the board III the
way of some policy that will be definite
and sufficiently strenuous to eradicate
the evil In view of this, l would rec
ommend that the board appoint COM
mittee with authority to act for them
in the matter of enforcing the truancy
laws, of which there is no lack on our
statute books. 1t is my opinion and to
some extent my practical observation
that truancy can be practically eliminat-
ed if firm stand is taken by the prop
per authorities. In the absence of this
it tends to dissi pate the whole system. 1t
is more Catching" than the measles.
During the month it became necessary
to readjust the attendance in three of
the buildings. The pupils in the lower
grades of the Pleasant Grove had to be
readjusted at the opening of the term.
A satisfactory distribution was secur-
ed.
Owing to congestion in the primary
department at the Franklin, IA pupils
were transferred to the Union. Both
these matters were referred to at the
last meeting.
At the West Mankato the crowded
condition of the lower grades, especial
ly in Miss Irving's room, and the small
er attendance in the upper room, de-
mand attention. At the beginning of
the second month, the sixth grade was
passed up to Miss Hodson, and the 4th
from Miss Brewster to Miss Lewis. The
second grade was then divided and part
left with Miss Irving and part given
to Miss Brewster We are depending on
the approaching cold weather to relieve
the somewhat crowded condition of the
primary department.
Very respectfully submitted.
j. M. Mcconnell,
Superintendent.
Mr.. Mcconnell said that the attend
ance in Miss Bangerter's room was bet
ter than he had ever known in his
teaching experience, and Miss Bangerter
had said the same.
Superintendent Mcconnell brought up
several matters not in his report. He
said that there was nothing to show
where the boundaries between the differ
ent schools are, and he suggested that
the matter be referred to committee
to prepare new ones and mark them on
the map of the city. The matter was
referred to Mr.. Fletcher and the superin-
tendent to do this.
The matter of adding more radiation
to the manual training room, which has
been cold in winter, was referred to the
committee on city property to investi-
gate and report the estimated cost.
The property and expense committee
was authorized to purchase fifteen more
chairs for the high school building.
The purchase of eleven music books
for the primary grades, to cost about
$40, was ordered.
The last and most important recon,
mendation of the superintendent was
the purchase of thirty copies of Fisk's
or McMasters' history of the United
States, to be used as supplementary
reading in the eighth grade, one book
being allotted to each three students.
The board voted to purchase thirty
copies of Fisk's history. They will cost
about 81 each.
DIR. Davis moved that the truancy
matter be referred to Messrs. Hughes
and Comstock and the superintendent to
report at the next meeting in regard
to the provisions of the law and recon-
mendations. This was carried
The bills were taken up and allowed.
DIR. Davis spoke of the extra work
that Janitor Crowell has done at the
high school building and moved that the
board express its appreciation of this.
Carried.
The finance committee presented the
following report:
To the Board of Education of the CITY
of Mankato, Minnesota: Your commit
tee on finance, having had under con-
sideration the annual reports of the
secretary and treasurer for the fiscal
year ending September LIST, 1904, report
Jas follows, to-wit:
We have examined and audited the re-
ports of the secretary and treasurer,
have checked the reports with the treas
urer's ledger, with the auditors state
ment, with the vouchers of the secretary
and the warrants issued against the
treasurer and with the reports of year
ago, and we find all the funds accounted
for, all warrants duly cancelled and re-