The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-11-18
COUNTY SCHOOL DIRECTORS
HOLD ANNUAL MEETING
DIR. CORSON ADDRESSES MEM
BERS ON THEIR DOMINANT
DUTY.
Says Every Director Should Look to
Proper Care of Children in His
District-Supt. Knapp Spoke on
"SchooI Betterment."

vention the president, DR., G. E. Eli
enberger, spoke of. the splendid
work Supt. Koehler had done in
our schools. Under his administra-
tion our schools have made wonder
full progress and we can not fail to
have unbounded confidence in man
who has so much faith in his fellow
men.
A. M. Leine, secretary of the as
sociation, read the minutes of last
years meeting and gave a statement
of it's finances.
Election of Officers.
The nominating committee gave
the following report:
President, ]. A. Brown.
First Vice-President, w. F. Suy-
dam, Jr
Second Vice-President, F. c. Giles.
Secretary, A. M. Leine.
Treasurer, w. J. Ward.
Auditor, E. R. Bodie.
They were unanimously elected.
The Directors Duty.
Dr. Corson was then introduced to
the meeting and spoke on the Dir
ector's Dominant Duty" The man
who has an honest purpose and
earnestly strives to carry it out,
never comes far from his duty. He
actually knew of men who had had
the courage to stand up for their
convictions long enough and often
enough to try to equalize the taxa
tion. One of the most serious things
in life is the occasion when a man
solemnly swears to do his duty by
the schools of his district. Every
director owes duty to the people.
He should not needlessly squander
away their money. Our schools cost
much more now than they used to
do. This is due to higher standards
demanded of both teachers and
schools. We pay more for luxuries
and comforts today than we did SO
years ago, why not then, pay more
for our schools? And yet some dir
ectors grumble when teacher
wants an increase of salary. The
dominant duty of the school direc-
tor is to do the best for the child.
He should look upon each child as
his own. He should work as con-
scientiously for his neighbor's child
asfor his own. 1t is poor economy
to change teachers simply because
one is little cheaper than the 9TH
er. Business men hang on to a good
eSploye AS long as they can, even if
they have to double MS salary to do
it. Why does it take school direc-
tors so long TO absorb this fact or to
act upon it? The directors should
see to the school building that it is
as modern as it can possibly be.
Many homes are so poorly ventilated
that the only time children live in
a well-ventilated room is in the
school room and so it ought surely
to be adapted to this one thing, as
it is most important. You wouldn't t
hire a laborer and give him poor
tools or none at all. And yet you
expect a teacher to do a good job
with meagre equipment. The direc-
tor who refuses to vote for improve
ments in the school ought to be
forced to cut his grain with a sickle
and thresh it with a flail. Remem-
Der always the advancement of the
child is paramount and all else is
subordinate to it.
"School Betterment."
Supt. E. M. Rapp, of Reading, was
the next speaker. His subject was
School. Betterment." One weak
ness in our school system is the in
sufficient aid our Superintendent
has. He needs an assistant. How
to make country life more inviting,
socially, industrially and educational
ly, is problem confronting the edu-
Gators of to-day. When this is solv-
ed, the exodus to the city from the
farm will be entirely stopped. Chill
dren should live, if possible, in the
country and their parents should ac-
quire content with the simple life of
yesterday. If you want to keep the
country boy on the farm you must
keep the country girl there, too.
Scientific farming will interest the
boy. The time has gone when
farming by tradition will answer.
The farmer boy wishes to be up-to-
date and the community must help
him to be. Team work in buying
and selling, eliminating the middle
men, will help the farm to pay bet
ter.
"For Pennsylvania and Her Chill
dren."
Farm life and farm ideals should
be glorified to the young, in the
schools and in the home. The teach
er should teach in terms of the
child's environment. Mr.. Rapp be-
lieves in centralizing the schools in
a district wherever possible and
says if we stand back of our teach
ers, our schools and our superintend-
ent we cannot fail of success. Our
banner shuld float these words:
For Pennsylvania and Her Chill
dren."
The Closing Moments.
L. G. Butler, E. F. McLane, A. w
Emo, Reuben Lancaster and S. B.
Barnes were elected delegates to the
State convention. Each director was
allowed $40 toward his expenses
Judge Searle was called upon tc
speak, but declined because the noon
hour was so near.
District Attorney M. e. Simons
gave some "reminiscences of his
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