The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-08-28
SCHOOLS To OPEN;
DATE IS SEPT. 8.
Education Board So Decides at
the Special Meeting Held
Last Evening
Tutor 10 Be Engaged 10 Coach
Students Who Are Behind
In Their Studies.
Domestic Science Discussion
Develops That Me. scherer
Halls From Missouri.

From Thursdays paiiy.
The public schools will open on
Tuesday, Sept. 8, the date established
last spring. This is week later
than customary. and the board of edu.
cation sees no good reasn for delaying
The opening of the schools beyond
that date. AT the special meeting OF
the board last night it was decided to
adhere to the time previously decided
upon.
All Of the members of the board
were present except Mrs. Smith, who
Is out OF the city. Mrs. Koke, for the
committee on schools, recommended
that the opening day be not changed.
DIR. Holbrook said that az a matter
Of safety it would be safe enough
to open on Sept. 8, but many parents
had asked him, to have the opening
put off for month. Some of the
children will not be ready to enter
school before Nov. !, and Others not
until later in the year. Some who
are sioll now viii not be able to at
tend school for two months.
Mr.. Davies favored opening on the
regular time, and Thought that it
would be mistake not to do so.
Mrs. Koke said that the business
men urge THAT the schools be opened
at the usuafN time, and she thought
that the teachers could help the chill
dren who are unable to enter at the
opening of school.
Mr.. Seherer moved that the date
originally fixed for opening the schools
be. adhered to.
Should Provide Tutors.
President Hughes thought that some
plan ought to be adopted to help the
children, and not set them back for a
year If they were unable to come
the first month or two. The circum-
stances were exceptional, and the board
ought to arrange for teacher TO tutor
the pupils who were unfortunately
not able to enter on the start, and
thus allow them to catch up with their
classes.
Superintendent Mcconnell said that
the teachers would do all that they
could to assist the scholars. He was
in favor of starting the schools at
the usual time, in all kindness to those
who are afflicted. There must be
nine months of school, and vacations
cannot be cut out. Mr.. Hughes sug-
gestion was the best that he had
heard. and it would comfort many to
know that the board intended to do
tits. 1t might be that more than
one tutor would be required, but it
would be money we'll expended. He
thought that there would be no diff
Guilty in getting the tutors.
e Postponement Unnecessary.
DIR. Beach favored this plan, and
said that there was no necessity for
postponing the opening of the schools.
The situation was under control. A
supply of pure water could be furnish
ed. Ii would be very unwise not to
open on the usual time. 1t would be
bad advertisement for the city. Not
over forty or fifty scholars are afflict-
cd. The schools have been kept open
i'm the past with more than that num-
her out because they had other dis
eases. The board should supply water
coolers and strongly recommend the pu-
pills to have individual cups, which
cost but ten cents. He was not in
favor of common drinking cup, for
there was slight danger that the dis
ease might be transferred If one who
was infected used the cup. With this
precaution there would not be parti-
Gle of danger.
Mr.. Scherer's motion was carried
without opposition after some further
discussion. .,iL -
Pure Drinking Water.
DIR. Beach moved that the. matter of
furnishing pure drinking water in the
public schools be referred to the com
mittee on property and expense with
power to act. the taps on the city
water to be. taken off except in the
laboratories, and this was carried.
Mr.. Davies rnoYed that the matter of
getting tutor to help the children
who cannot enter al the opening OF
the year be referred to the superin-
tendent and committee on schools with
power to act, and this was carried.
Superintendent Mcconnell said that
three teachers desks were needed, and
this matter y9s refefred to the com.
mittee on p perty and expense with
power to aef3 on motion of Mr.. 2s !
vies.
Mr.. Mcconnell also recommended n
change to later edition of the physics
hook, of the same author. and the
school committee 4 was authorized to
make the change, on Mr.. Davies mo-
ton. The change involves no expense.
Truant officer Wanted.
Mr.. Mcconnell said that. there was
more difficulty about tho attendance
expected at thee opening this year than
er-s-- L. ha