The state herald., 1913-09-26


have this test taken during the first
month of school.
The present school law provides that
each child between the age of eight and
fourteen years shall attend school for
the entire year during which the public
schools are in session in the district
Children may attend private schools, or
may be exempt on account of bodily or
mental condition. As most Of the dis
tfict have eight or nine months of school
this means that children must attend
that length of time and not three
month as was formerly the law.
This office has visited thus far ten of
the schools of the county and has
found them in good condition at the be-
ginning of the year. Those visited and
thsir enrolment are, districts S, l3 pu
pills; 81, 8; AZ, %; Z, Ii; SO, 4; IL, %;
6, IL; Haxtun 9s; 6S, %; II, II.
The teachers of Holyoke and vicinity
met in the district court room at Hol.
yoke last Saturday afternoon and or
eanized themselves into reading circle
Itpr the year. Prof. A. S. Jessup was
elected president and A. R. Reelhorn
secretary. The next meeting Of the
circle will be on Saturday Oct. 4, at
l 80 p m. in the district court room.
The discussion on Psychology will be
led by Miss Krogen and will embrace
the first three chapters Of that work.
Leslie Kudkle will have charge Of the
discussion on the first two chapters OF
"The Recitation. 1t is expected that
all the teachers will be enrolled by that
time and will take their part in making
the circle success.
This Office received the following
greetings from the Commissioner of Ed
ucation:
The beginning Of another school year
has come and more than twenty million
Of American children will soon have en-
rolled in the schools, to obtain such ed
ucation as will best fit them for life,
for making an honest living and for the |
duties and responsibilities Of citizen
ship, md for eternal destiny. Three
fifths Of these children will be enrolled |
In the rural schools-the schools Of the |
open country. villages and small towns.
These schools are therefore the most
important factor in the life Of the Re-
public. On their efficiency depend the
welfare OF the State and Nation to n
greater degree than on any other agcn-
cy II is therefore Of the utmost i'm.
portance that these schools shall be
made better constantly, and that they
shall from year to year be readjusted
to the ever changing demands Of life.
Length Of term. prompt and regular at-
tendance. grounds. buildings and equip
ment. and courses Of study are Of i'm
portanee but teachers and superintcnd.
cnts are Of more Importance still. They
make the schools. and cannot help max
ing ihcmmorc or less in their own i'm
age and likeness. The character and
work Of teachers and supcrintendcnts
determine the character and the results
In the schools This is doub!y true OF
the rural schools.
Az the beginning Of this now year the
OF the United States
wishes TO assure the county supcrintcn-
dents and the teachers under their su.
pervision that the Nation as whole
has profound appreciation Of the char
actcr Of their work. and that the Uni,
~ States Bureau OF Education wishes
to help them in every way that Il can.
They arc invited TO ask freely for such
assistance as the Bureau can give ut
any time.
by means Of this letter. | desire to
send To supcrintcndents and through
them TO the teachers under their super.
vision, greeting. and 10 ansuro them Of
my best wishes that the new year may
be Tor them happy and joyous, as Il can .
only be II filled with much good work. ?
Yours sincerely.
=. Z. Claxton. Commissioner.
County supt. Of Schools.