The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1910-06-02
First Meeting of Owyhee County
Trustees Association.
[BY PROF. A. D. BRADFTELD.l
(Continued from Iast week. }

AOOhltnuCd tIOiil last Week.
At two O'Clock the session was called
to order and the pupils of Silver City
sang two SONGS" Adown the Dell" and
"The Gushing Rill." By special request
the "Owyheen song was repeated.
Miss Chamberlain on The
Responsible Trustee.
Miss Chamberlain was then intro
duced. The children, foregoing the
privilege of dismissal after their songs,
remained to hear her, though many of
them had to stand. Her pleasing and
unassnming manner commanded the
rapt attention of her audience to the
end
After expressing her pleasure at the
way in which she had been received in
Silver City, and her delight with the
school exhibit, she explained the Indian
meaning of the word, "Owyhee." 1t
means WELCOME" aud is most fitting
title for song Of welcome. II was
this significance that led to its adop-
ton as the name of the new hotel in
Boise, the finest one in idaho.
She then began her subject, "The
Responsible Trustee" It is too preva-
lent custom among trustees, busy
with their own affairs, to leave the re-
sponsibility for the management of the
affairs of their district to some one
else. Too often does trustee No. say
to trustee No. 2, snow you go ahead
and whatever you do in the matter will
be all right with me-" Then trustee
No. 3 says the same and often no one
takes the responsibility of acting at all.
This should not be. All three upon
whom the people have bestowed the
trust for the proper management Of
the affairs of their school should take
a lively interest in all things coucern-
ing the welfare of their children If it
were question of horses or cattle they
would not be so willing to leave their
business to others.
A second problem is the question of
the length of the term. The trustees
often ask, "How long term will the
money we have secure?" Instead of ask
ing, How large a tax must we levy to
get good teacher for nine months?"
1t is great mistake to have less than
nine months when the state course of
study is arranged for that length of
term Why should the pupils of any
one district have less advantage than
those of others?
A third problem for trustee is that of
buildings. Before a schoolhouse is
erected, the plans of its construction
should be submitted to an architect
well versed in school architecture.
Three features should be considered,
sanitation, ventilation and lighting.
The health of the child should first be
considered. He should not be fitted to
the seats but the seats should be fitted
to him. The school room should not
be crowded but each child should have
fifteen square feet of floor space and
200 cubic feet of air space with an addi.
tion of thirty cubic feet per minute.
Medical inspection should be provided
for schools, and will be at no great dis
tance in the future All states are
ready for this innovation, the benefits
Of which are now apparent to all. 1t
has been found that about one child in
twenty has some form of contagious
Observation-Disclosures, diphtheria or
other. 1t may not be apparent at once
but it is dangerous just the same.
Often children are put in the base
ment. This is the worst place for them
as children need light and cheerful sur
roundings.
There are many good methods of
heating and ventilation. Anyone that
secures a uniform temperature and
proper amount of fresh air is good. 1t
should also be so constructed as to
take away the chances of infection.
Another problem for trustees is the
most effective equipment. Do not buy
every piece of apparatus presented by
agents. First consult the county sup
erintendent or state superintendent.
1t is their duty to know about such
things and give advice on them.
Attention should also be given to the
library. Three per cent of the money
apportioned to the district should be
devoted to the purchasing of good
books. There is more influence in a
good book than many suppose. Boys
love adventure. While the desire for
this kind of literature is a natural one