The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-06-03

SURI'8. AkROBT
Closing Words OF 6upt. M. m.
Kramer to the City Board
OF Education

AVOuA0S Va In OO0lu UClOIo Vic ClOSC
OF school, | take this opportunity to
make what may be properly called
annual report.
work. The year has been fruitful in
progress, in some ways distinguished.
The enrolment has reached a total
OF $40, possibly the largest ever en-
rolled. This is the first year in the
history OF the town when we have
had eight grade rooms.
We as a teaching force r hewing
very close to the line in our promo
tions. 1t is my policy not to promote
any unless clearly able to carry the
work OF the next grade, with credit.
Those pupils who do not make all
their work will be left for my success
sor to place as he may deem wisest.
However. we shall leave him the very
best advice in the matter that our
Judgment can produce. The present
eighth grade is q conspicuous depar-
ture from the other grades of the
school; out OF q total of twenty-five
or twenty.six pupils only about a
dozen will be promoted to the high
school, unless it is done by the new
administration.
In the high school, the enrolment
reached SO, the largest for several
years, and owing to the present weak
eighth grade, and few promotions the
attendance in the high school next
year will not exceed this number very
much unless there is a large new class
from the surrounding country.
The order all through has been fair
and In most places excellent.
- TNNry10r~~ thn ooVrVonnf rncyJfc
have been all that can reasonably be
demanded. The teaching r. has
been perfectly harmonious and not q
which accounts largely for results.
There r some obstacles In the way
that can be removed.
The use OF cigarettes is running
many of the boys, and if necessary q
. the parties who n furnishing them
should be dealt out in no uncertain
manner. The evil effects of the to-
bacco habit among the boys is more
wide spread than the public will be-
lieve, and I speak now whereof I
know and do not ''guess."
There is q serious lack OF expressed
OA AAO k0AV Va POI Az
high school has had a total of ten
visitors from town this year and only
three were parents who have children
in school. II three to ten parents
would drop in for q few minutes,
every day or two, look around, hear
q recitation and pass on if no more
time could be spent, it would nearly
revOlutionize the interest of pupils.
The report cards have been sent
home every month and yet after q
pupil has been very irregular in at.
tendance, for sometimes months, the
parent has been seen and it was dis.
covered that he never saw nOr asked
for the report card, and he would say,
"Why did you not tell me the pupil
was out?''-thus failing to use his
eyes. When men have other men to
care for their stock, or machinery to
pillow their fields, or to cut their grain
they are around to see how It Is done,
but when they hire teachers to care
for their children they load the whole
burden on the teacher and are too
busy to ven go to see how the work
is being done. This ought not SO to
be, and it can be remedied, first by
the board of education showing q
good example.
The people repose altogether too
much confidence in the teachers.
/. The best thing in the world is q
child, healthy in mind and body, and
no person except its parent is safe to
have unmatched control of it.
Another obstacle is our lack OF
equipment. There is but one disable
map in the whole system, viz. q map
of the United States, and that was
presented to as this year by q big
hearted citizen who had no use for
it himself.
Our laboratories in the high school
simply are not adequate to do sue
cessful work. I am not complaining,
but there should be found q way
some how for financing matters 60 as
to relieve these weaks spots.
The clubhouse for the boys Is 3
disgrace and must be replaced. It Is
not morally right to permit it to be
used longer. Give the boyhOOd Of the
| city q respectable place and see If
they do not keep it SO.
/ honestly feel that I have no apOl-
ogies to offer to my successor for
the conditions. l believe they r as
good as they can be under present
straits, thanks to q loyal corps OF
teachers and board of education and
to : generally loyal class of boys and
girls. Let me add that w. w. Will
son II entitled to much credit, for
industry, economy and interest In
your affairs.
In my successor, / believe the city
is fortunate. / have known OF him
for several years and have every
confidence that when | turn over to
him the most precious legacy possible,
viz. your children, that legacy will
be In safe hands. Give him and his
assistants your support, your en-
| couraqement and occasionally your
presence, and he will do your work
satisfactorily for all reasonable
people.
Personally, I had q very serious
battle with myself to get my OWE con-
sent to leave q place that has shown
me favors beyond my merits; but the
decision was made and I sincerely
hope it may be to the advantage of
the childhood of Milbank, whether it
proves fortunate for me or not.
Permit me q word to the board.
The men to whom l have been directly
- 1-L- 49, - 49, - IL