The Mena weekly star., 1913-06-19
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
 TEACHERS INSTITUTE
Plans Formulated for a Polk C0un- ty School Contest to Be Held in Mena-ReSOlutiO
 Adopted.

The Polk County Teachers Insti- ute closed Wednesday what is said to have been the most successful and enthusiastic session ever held in this county.
 The time has been taken up largely by skilled instructors. A close study has been made of methods and what is being done in the best schools of the coun- try. Each teacher feels that great good has been accomplished.
 A move was started to hold a Polk County Contest in Mena next fall at some convenient date, at which all schools of the county will be represented. Medals will be given for the winners in the vari- Ous contests, such as spelling, map drawing, reading, declamation, music and certain athletic events. The county will be divided into four districts for preliminary contests.
 Just before adjournment today the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
 Sympathy for John Trainer.
 Whereas; Prof John Trainer, who has been with us in our institute so many years, and who has given much of his life to the upbuilding and advancement of school inter- ests of Polk county is unable to be with us at this time. Be it
 Resolved, that we express our regrets because of his absence from us and our sympathy for him in his af1liction. And be it further
 Resolved, that we extend our sympathy to his wife and loved ones in this, their sorrow. Be it further
 Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions he sent to our county papers and to the county papers in his old home state, Illinois.
 Appreciation of Prof. Adams.
 Whereas. Superintendent w. T. Adams has been kind and thought full in arranging the work of the institute for the convenience of the teachers, and has made great effort this year to raise the stan dard of teachers and better the condition of educational work in Polk county by the efficient instruc- ton provided and the lofty plain on which he has placed the insti- tute work; we, the teachers of the Polk County Institute, hereby wish to extend to him our thanks and express appreciation for his untir- ing interest and kindnesses shown. We hereby also wish to extend our thanks and words of appreciation to Miss kimmons of Ft. Smith. Miss Franklin of Kansas City, Prof. Bingham of Pope county, and MT. Wear of Board Camp, who gave so efficient instruction in their respec- tive lines in the institute work
 To Abolish Limit to School Tax.
 Whereas, intelligence and virtue are the safeguards of liberty and the bulWaTk of free and good gov ernment;
 Whereas, the Arkansas constitu- ton provides that the state shall establish and forever maintain general suitable and efficient sys- tenn of free schools for gratuitous instruction;
 Whereas, in many districts in Arkansas the school funds are in- adequate, either to establish or maintain such a system, and the salaries paid teachers, in many cases, are so small that they do not justify teachers in making the necessary preparation to conduct suitable and efficient system of ed ucation; and
 Whereas, because of the small salaries paid in Arkansas schools the teachers who wish to advance and become proficient in the pro- fesslon are being attracted to other states for better salaries. and the less competent whom competition crowds out of other states. are seeking employment in Arkansas. thus hlnderine our progress: there fore be it
 Resolved, that an amendment to the state constitution should be of- fered whereby the limitation on the amount of school tax the district will be allowed to levy shall be re- moved.
 E. l.. Dean. Chairman Committee on Resolutions
 ANOTHER BOY HELD.