Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-09-04
CITY. DAKOTA. SEPTEMBER 1909.
ASSOCIATED SCHOOL BOARDS.

ASSOCIATED SCHOOL BOARDS.
Annual Meeting will be Held in Lead
in November-Topics Suggested
for Consideration.
GENTLEMEN: We believe it is to the
business advantage of the schools of the
State and of the people whose money
We spend. that every School Board in
at least the Independent districts, be rep
resented by some of its members at the
annual meeting of the State Associated
School Boards, to be held in Lead, next
November.
There are problems which we, as the
business representatives of the people,
ought to consider and there are lines
along which We might. with much profit
cooperate.
We conceive it to be sound business
for each Board TO send at least one of its
members TO this annual meeting and to
pay his expenses thereto. Experience
has shown, in States where such an or
ganization has developed. that repre-
sentative seldom returns from such q
conference without some suggestions
that will enable his Board TO get larger
returns from school money expended,
or without some idea of school improve
ment that will prove benefit and bless
ing to the children of his community.
We enclose list of topics which are
suggested for discussion and conference
at the annual meeting next November,
and ask your consideration of their
timeliness aud your suggestions of other
topics which in your judgment should
prove profitable.
l.-Getting the most out of the peo-
ple's money. Suggestions of business
methods in school expenditures.
2.-Is requiring large part or all of
a Principals or Superintendent's time
in classroom teaching, good business?
3.-The desirability of having the
Superintendent or the Principal on pay
for IL months instead of 8.
Are rural and town school districts
large enough to get the advantage of
wholesale rates in buying and to COM
mand specially prepared teachersP If
not, is cooperation or consolidation feas-
ible2
Sis training in manual and domestic
arts feasible for the ordinary independ-
ent district? And if so, what should
be the beginnings in instruction and
6.-Should graded schools having FIVE
teachers, or more, have a special in
structor in penmanshipP Will obtaina-
Bile results justify the increased expend-
iture2
Tour duty in the matter of assisting
our boys and girls who do not complete
the high school. or even the grades, to
become bread-winners or bread-mixers.
S.-The business economy of allowing
in attendance to be the cause
of furnishing instruction in the same
topics to the same pupils two or more
times.
9.-What should School Boards do to
equip their school grounds properly for
play and to furnish competent super
vision of the Fairgrounds.
lO-How may City and School Libra.
ries be led to cooperate and thereby
avoid duplication of effort and expense,
as well as to serve the people better?
1.-THE text book problem; expert
ences and results of public ownership,
or rental of text books in South Dakota.
Estate law requiring music to be
taught, how can we get real, practical
results? Shall we engage specialist to
instruct several nearby schools on CO.
operative plan, or shall we engage teach
ers who are competent musicians, that
the spirit of the law be fully metz
l3.-Desirable analogies, in powers
and duties of each, between the man.
agement of corporation by manager
and board of directors, and the man
agement of schools by Superintendent
and Board of Education.
l4.-What may be done to secure data,
through our State department, of the
valuation, taxation, financial condition,
receipts, expenditures, etc., of independ-
ent school districts for purpose of COM
parisonp
l5.-Is the non-enforcement of the
compulsory education, the juvenile
delinquency, and the anti-cigarette laws
an economic loss to the community and
particularly to the schoolsP What is
our duty?
In order that as much as possible may
be done to make this annual meeting
serve the interests of School Boards, we
desire to ask you the following questions
and to beg of you an immediate re-
sponse, 80 that the programs may be
ready before the first of September.
Twill not your Board send repre-
sentative to the annual convention which
is to meet in Lead, on November ],
and nextP
2.-Have you not a member, qualified
by experience or training to contribute
something of interest and value to other
Boards, along the line of one or more Of
above list of topics?
3.-His name and address?
4.-What topic or topics could he be
most helpful in?
5.-If your Board has furnished free
textbooks or has rented texts to pupils
will you not have a brief report pre-
pared and sent to US by Oct. l, summar
izing results, cost, etc., with conclusions
drawn from such experience?
1t will be great favor to both the
cause and to me, If your Board will take
immediate action on above question,
and furnish me the name of your repre-
sentative. We not only ask you to come
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