Warren sheaf., 1912-01-25
COUNTRY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

SSONt NJ oGf1OOl ASSOCIATION.
Some questions have recently been
raised concerning the rights and liber-
ties of all parties concerned in the
matter of associated school districts.
OF course, the subject was very
thoroughly discussed at a meeting
held in the city hall December Is, 1911
TO which everyone was invited. It has
also been written up numerous times
IN the columns of our local papers.
But, for the benefit Of those who have
not had an opportunity OF availing
themselves of the above information.
a brief review is here given.
Through the amendment and en-
largement of recent law known as
the Putnam law. the Minnesota legis.
lature authorizes and helps finance
the association of country schools
with schools centrally located teach
ing agriculture, manual training and
domestic science The plan of the
law is to encourage association with
schools teaching the Industrial sub
jects in order to get those subjects, in
a systematic efficient manner, out into
the country schools where they should
be. It is the only practical way open
for the beneficial changing of our
country school studies. Our country
school teachers are not proficient to
teach agriculture, manual training
and domestic science. Under associa-
ton these subjects go right into the
country school through the direct
charge and tutoring of the agricultur.
al, manual training and domestic SCI
ence teachers of the central school.
The superintendent of the central
school has charge of the direction OF
all work in the associated country
school.
1t can be clearly seen that there is
no selfish interest Involved; that one
school is not helped more than anoth-
er, so that association helps the CEN
tral school more than the central
school helps the country schools.
In order to encourage and foster the
spirit OF this sane, enlarged and sensi-
Bile system OF education, the Putnam
law Of Minnesota for 1911 calls for an
appropriation Of $50 to each country
school district associ $50 to In 4
associated districts for each district
associating, and $2500 to the associat-
ed districts, besides requiring that the
associating districts levy a not less
| than 2 mill tax on their assessed valu-
alton for helping maintain the indus
trial departments. Now, it will be
seen that an associated school board,
with our country school associated.
gets from the state $265 per year to be
used for furthering industrial work
within their boundaries, and that the
country school gets $50 to do with as
it pleases.
In regard to the tax levy, the matter
is altogether in the hands of the coun-
try school people, as they by law,
meet and decide upon suitable levy.
One of them from each country school
board associating meets with the CEN
trail school board and helps decide up
on how the money from the taxes and
the state shall be spent.
There is no "catch" in the law and
absolutely no place lett where the
country school people are at the mer-
cy of anyone The law even states
that if any country school district be-
comes dissatisfied with association.
they are at liberty to withdraw after
giving due notice thereof.
All of us are realizing that it is a
good thing and that it is our duty to
help further good cause such as it
fosters
Another school district has added
its name to the list of those that will
receive aid and support under the pro-
visions of the Putnam law. School
district No. So palmer district) voted
unanimously in favor of association
on Saturday, January 20, 1912.
Saturday, January 27, 1912, school
district No. II (Horgen schooD will
vote on the matter. Other election
dates are soon to be set. II anyone
is in doubt about the benefits Of asso-
citation, be sure and have a talk with
some Of your fellow men in the dis
tricts SO favorable towards it. Be
sure and watch the election dates and
come out and vote for one Of the few
improvements aimed towards the ad-
vancement Of your own locality.
"A. w. Hayes,
Director Of Agriculture,