The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-04-08
School Board Accepts designations
and Fills Vacancies.
Election of Balance Of Corps Postponed
For One Week.
Complaints Regarding Some Of Teach.
ers to be Investigated.
Bids for Telephone Service Lead to
Much Discussion.
From Thursdays Daily.

was present at last nights regular meet.
ing. The most important business trans.
acted was the election of three teachers
where vacancies have occurred, but the
matter of electing the full corps was
laid over until an adjourned meeting
next Wednesday night, when it is ex-
pected that the work will be completed
1t appears that there is question about
the reelection of several of the present
grade teachers, as it is claimed that they
have given too much of their time to So
cial affairs, remaining out late nights
and neglecting their work, even taking up
the time of the school to talk with
friends over the telephones that are in
the different buildings. The board has
even been informed that one or two of
these teachers have been so wearied by
their late hours that thy have been
seen to fall asleep in their recitation
rooms.
In view of this state of affairs as re-
ported to some of the members of the
board, there is a disposition to 60 over
the list of teachers very carefully and
weed out few. No doubt every effort
will be made by the friends of teachers
supposed to be on the doubtful list to
secure a reelection, and it would not
be surprising if the majority of the
board yielded, as there is said to be a
disposition on the part of some of the
members to condone such reported con-
duct on the part of teachers.
There are other complaints against
some of the teachers, such as fomenting
trouble for principals, and the board in
tends to look into these. 1t may be
that the complaints and charges are
without foundation, but however that
may be they have reached the ears of the
board, and some of the members at least
are in favor of going to the bottom of
the matter and acting in accordance with
what they find to be the true state of
facts, regardless of personal friendship,
and keeping only the best interests of
the district in view.
Some of the members desired to proceed
with the election of the full corps of
teachers last night, but Mr.. Fletcher
made touching plea for those who
might not be reelected at this time,
saying that they would feel terribly if
they were not to be reelected with the
rest.
After several motions had been sprung
and there was such a mixup of amend
ments that even the presiding officer
was uncertain what was before the
house, it was voted to postpone the cleo
ton for one week, with the exception
of three vacancies.
The resignation of w. E. Bush as
science teacher in the high school, Miss
Helen E. Coffin as teacher of the first
grade in the Union school, and Miss
Lillian Schmitt as teacher of the second
grade in the Franklin, were received and
accepted. Mr.. Bush resigned to accept
something better, and Miss Coffin will
teach in Minneapolis next year.
Charles A. Culver, now science teacher
in the Winnebago City school, was elect
ed teached of science and oratory in the
high school, and his salary was placed
at $50 month. He is a graduate of
Carleton college, and has taught for two
years at Winnebago City, and was this
spring offered the position of superin-
tendent of the school there to succeed
Prof. Mcconnell, but declined it. His
mother resides at Leroy. This election
was agreed upon at a secret meeting OF
members of the board held at the Man
kato Savings bank, it developed.
Miss Alice Hodson, daughter OF
Thomas Hodson of Belgrade, was elect
ed principal of the West Mankaot school
at salary of $50 month. She is a
graduate of the high and normal schools
and has taught three years in Rapidan
and two years at Lake Benton, and has
been reelected there and accepted. II
she can be released she will accept the
position in this city. She is said to be an
excellent teacher.
Miss Martha Bahan, a daughter of E
r. Bohan of this city, was elected first
grade teacher in the Union school at a
salary of $45 month. She is a graduate
of the high and normal schools, and has
taught for several years with success
She is now teaching the second grade il
the Winnebago City school.
This makes three Winnebago City
teachers for the Mankato public schools
and one for the normal school for next
year.
Another matter that occupied con
siderable time of the board was the re
port of the special committee to which
the matter of telephone rates had beer
referred. This report was presented by
Mr. Comstock, who said that the board
was not under obligations to use the
phones of the Citizens company, as the
latter claims that it has no contract
with the district. Relying on the posi-
ton of the company, the committee hao
concluded that it was expedient to ask
for proposals from both companies fol
placing phones in the buildings. The
main use of the phones is between the
buildings, and the number of subscrib
no IL nf II