, 1906-05-08
ANNUAL MEETING OF
SCHOOL DISIRIQ NO.


not mean that cheapness should be ap-
proved. The best is none too good
when honestly and economically adj
m%inistered. The prerequisites Of good
schools are: Good teachers and wen
built and sanitary buildings. Parents
can assist greatly, by requiring their
children to be punctual in attendance,
by taking an interest in their chill
dren's progress, and by Insisting mat
the superintendent and the teachers
give them individual attention where II
is necessary. This would mean much
for the scholars, and the betterment OF
the schools.
Duty of the Pupils.
The hoard ha3 one main object; that
is, to make the schools Of his district
superior to n other in this section OF
the country, so that when a pupil has
gone through our schools, and goes
forth to battle with the problems OF
life, he will be as well fitted as he
could be, anywhere in this broad Ian
OF ours. If, after graduating here, he
wishes to enter a broader field of edu-
cation, he has the groundwork thor
oughly done, and is able to go farther
Thoroughness is N Of the essentials
of education, and to that end the board
has been bending its energies.
Help of the Library.
The library has been a great help to
the schools; one can see that the books
are being read, and good reading de
yelops and broadens the mind. We
note this effect as the number of Ii
braries increase throughout the coun.
try and cause n greater demand for
good reading. Good reading is the
foundation of good things, which are
stored in the mind, to be used at some
future time. Mind and matter go hand
in hand for the good of humanity. A
well selected library is n of the
greatest adjuncts of a school, and has
its purpose, representing money well
spent. A mind led in the right direc-
ton will keep its course when dark
ness besets the path.
Drawing and Normal Training.
Great progress has been made this
year in spelling, arithmetic, writing
and grammar. These are the founda-
ton stones of the educational struc-
ture, and special stress has been laid
upon them. A house without a founda-
ton cannot stand. So in building We
have e~ndeavored to build well. TIE
coming school year the board contem-
plates improving and strengthening
some of the essentials of school work.
There seems to be some demand for
drawing and manual training, which
are taught in some of the larger
schools, as an incentive to the schol-
ars.
Out of the Old Rut.
These studies change the pupils
mind from N groove of the curricu-
lumof school work to another, and work
the mind in a diversified channel,
which helps the student to more read
lily absorb the other studies, and pre-
pare them better for the various occu-
pations, which they may select, When
we realize hat the great majority of
pupils leave school at the completion
of the ninth or tenth grades, it is clear
that the pupils should have all the ad
vantages hat they can get before that
time. Therefore, nothing that will tent
to better equip the pupils for their life
work, is too good to give to the schools
Cost of the System.
The board has not fully agreed upon
the proposition of drawing and manua,
training. 1t would mean an additions
teacher for those branches at an addi
tional expense of $500, so the matter
is brought before this meeting for con,
sideration. In this connection it may
be well said that good work in this de
partment demands that a teacher be
employed especially for the work, and
unless it a be done well it should
not be done at all.
Average Cost Per Pupil.
For the information of the meeting,
we herewith present the items upon
which the average cost per pupil Is
based, which are as follows:
Teachers salaries ....... S14 5000;
lJanitors' salaris ........... 1,716.0t
fueI . SZi-l'