, 1905-05-02
annual Melting OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT
(Coatinued ON Page 81

~ sAS CIV iiehl VI lue SCLoOlS. Inc
object of tine board is to make the
schools in all of their departments sec
ond to none, as the better educated
are the children, the better men and
women are developed, which attains
to the higher type of citizenship. The
country that has and does maintain
good schools is found in the front rank
Of the galaxy Of nations. So this, the
American nation, with its splendid sys-
tens of schools, and this broad land
Of ours is dotted with them not only
in the cities, but throughout the rural
districts as well. In the west we find
a more liberal system of education,
schools being established for as few
as eight pupils. There is very little
illiteracy in the west.
It is the bounden duty of all parents
to aid and assist in the building up of
the schools in the community in which
they live, and in this their duty does
not end; when the child leaves the
home the parents should see that he Is
punctual in attending school, and they
should be required to study at home,
and not be allowed to take up fancied
quarrels or grievances which they may
claim to have against the teachers or
the school. These matters are very
detrimental to the pupils, especially
when the parents side in with them.
without investigating the cause, and
at once blame the teacher. Under such
circumstances, the pupils grow holder
and it is much more difficult to main
tain discipline and without discipline
there Is no school.
Parents frequently keep a pupil out
several days at a time; that pupil will
fall behind in his studies and then it
is said that "the teacher is to blame
when there Is no one to blame but the
parents themselves. So l would ear
nestly ask the kind cooperation of the
parents in building up and maintain
ing a high state of efficiency in our
schools, as they have far more at
stake than anyone else.
The school board is gradually build
ing up a library for tho use OF n pu-
pills, and We find that it is a most val
liable adjunct to the schools. The pu-
pills are making use of the books sup
Piled, and they are reaping the reward
which comes from reading good books.
A good book is a mans best friend.
The musical department, under the
management of Prof. William Mar
quardt, is moving along nicely. and
believe that it is of the utmost impor,
lance that music should be taught, and
there IL nothing that tends to enliven
1.-THE interests of the schools as much
as a good song. The scholars enjoy
1t and it seems to awaken the interest
and bring new life into the work.
The bringing Of pupils from the out
lying districts has passed the expert
mental stage. The number of pupils
has increased, the parents e to be
pleased, and the pupils r being better
educated. The number coming from
|H~utton's Grove is seven, from the Fish
Hatchery fourteen. This has been
done at an expense Of $746, very little
more than it would have cost to employ
two extra teachers and infinitely OF
more benefit to the pupils. From this
we may conclude that the bringing in
of the children is an established Gus
tom.
Departmental teaching has been es-
tablished in the upper grades, and l
believe 1t to be a success, as the chang
ing of teachers is very likely to dis
cover the weak spots in the pupils,
when they can be given more individ-
ual attention.
This year we have fallen short fifty
one pupils. The ensus of 1908 showed
that there were 1,1O2. while the census
of 1904 shows only 1,036, or a falling
OF of 66. The total number Of pupils
enrolled at the East Side school at the
present time is 757 and at the West
Side school there are $50, making a
grand total Of SS7. The enrolment OF
the East Side school in 1904 was 1872,
and in 1905 1t was 757, a falling of OF
LIS. The enrolment of the West Side
school in 1904 was 1856, and in 1905 it
was 100. or a falling of Of 26. In 9th
er words, a total loss to both schools
of 81 pupils and a difference Of 1892
days in attendance. The total number
of days Attendance has been 9O,083
at the East Side school, and at the
West Side school it has been 1929,
or a total Of LOG, 1902. AS compared with
1904, the East Side school had 1885, 73
and the West Side school had 19.451
days attendance, or a difference Of 18.-
1922 in favor 1904.
The board will make a more aggres-
sive census this year. In this connec-
ton it may be well to name the coun-
ties having the largest number of pu-
pills. A few years ago We were second
on the list, but we have fallen back
to the fifth place. the altitude, prob
ably. being too high Uinta county has
the first place; Laramie county sec-
ond; Big Horn county third; Sheridan
county fourth, and Albany county nth.
The percentage Of school moneys from
the state being greater this year, We
will receive about the same amount