The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-02-09
EDUCATORS MEET
IN THIS CITY
School Directors Of County Listen
to Instructive Lectures at
All-Day Session

The school districts in this section
of the county were fairly we'll rep
resented at the school directors
meeting held Saturday morning and
afternoon. County Superintendent
Wata j. Jones presided at the ses-
sions and assisted in making the
meeting a helpful and instructive
one to those present. The meeting
was the first public gathering held
in the auditorium of the new high
school and the speakers drew inspi-
ration from the beauties of the build
ing as a whole in suggesting i'm
provements of educational facilities
throughout the county.
The morning program was opened
with a talk from the county auditor,
A. E. Verify, in which he rendered
many helpful suggestions to the di-
rectors who have the management
of the districts finances in their
hands and gave specific directions
as to the laws requirements in the
issuance of warrants. For every
bill contracted by district vouchers
should be kept and presented to the
auditor when application for funds
is made. He explained why So
called official red tape was necessary
in order to keep the accounts prop
erly checked up, the state being de-
pendent upon the county officials
accuracy and they in turn upon the
members of the school boards.
n. D. Showalter, principal of the
Cheney Normal School, was in at
tendance and gave an interesting
discussion on Directors as Helpers'.
He noted that the educational de-
partment of the government was
the best and most perfect of the ma
TONS activities. Twenty million
children are in the schools and the
administration of their education,
considered as a national enterprise
is nearly fawless from a socialistic
point of view. Mr.. Showalter con-
siders reciprocity as essential in
school affairs as where countries are
involved. He says the best assist
ance board can render teacher
is to see to it that she is provided
with proper equipment, that the
school house is we'll furnished,
lighted, heated and made generally
comfortable. Since the very best
part of an individuals life is spent
in the school room, also the best
hours Of the day, the speaker con
sidered it of prime importance that
the surroundings be made as home
like as possible since environment
is strong factor in moulding child
life. The teachers boarding place
should be as good as the community
affords as she cannot render the
best and most efficient service when
her home life is characterized by
physical discomforts.
To help the patrons, Mr.. Show
alter suggested that the directors
work in conjunction with them as
much as possible and let them know
what the board isdoing. Community
meetings held in the school house
several times year for the discus
sion of school work are beneficial in
securing cooperation.
He urged that consideration be
shown the county superintendent
as their work is never easily per-
formed under the most advantageous
conditions and that her requests
for reports, etc., be quickly complied
with.
Henry B. Dewey, State Superin-
tendent CT Public instruction and
candidate for congressman at large,
in his suggestions from the state
office, said that in the main he had
found much to congratulate in the
work of the school directors thruout
the state and that most of them
heartily endeavored to make the
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