The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-13

whole matter was left in the hands
OF Mrs. Smith.
Record for The Month.
Mr.. Sperry presented his record OF
attendance for the school month OF
/, January and declared II was the best
that had BEEN made since he had
taken charge of the Mankato schools
| He. observed that the number oil
new high school students enrolled
at the beginning of this semester was
forty, whereas twenty-five had been
expected. This fully justified the
board In its employment of Tn al.
ditlonal high school teacher. The
total number OF high school pupils
enrolled was 407, making this the
second largest high school in the
state outside Of Duluth and the
Twin cities. wiinona was first. The
attendance report was as follows:
High school building. with eighth
grade: Enrolled, SIT: belonging. 4s1;
average attendance. 1855; percentage
of attendance, 97.97; cases OF tard!-
ness, none.
Pleasant Grove: Enrolled, 367;
belonging. 327: average, 3l2: per-
ceptage, 96.S62; tardy, none.
Union: Enrolled. 227; belonging.
2Os; average, 2O2; percentage, 1855;
tardy. four.
Franklin: Enrolled. 2s4; belonging,
273: everage. 266; per centage,
1883; tardy. none.
West Mankato: Enrolled. liz: be-
longing. ITO: everage, 100; percent
age. 9s406; tardy, one.
Totals: Enrolled, 1877; belonging.
1.460: average, 1895; percentage.
96.S2s; tardy FIVE.
Slow in Settling Bills.
Superintendent Spery reported
that many school districts OF the
surrounding country were very slow
in settling up the bills sent by this
district for industrial tuition in the
Mankato high school. The district
had collected sl75 since the first of
the school year but the bills out.
standing amounted to $332.5o. The
largest debtor of all was North Man
kato. whose children had received
tuition to the amount of sl40, still
unpaid for. There were eleven other
districts. owing from $35 to IS. The
board took no action on this matter.
Mr.. Sperry announced n request
that had been received from An
thony Wayne chapter OF the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton for help I'm restoring the old
Genarl Sibley mansion, built In 1885
at Mendoza. Il was thought that the
boys of the Mankato high school
could make the door for this his
toric edifice, exactly like the orlgi-
nal one. The ladies had the full
description OF the door. with its
hinges, brass knob and other fixtures.
The board decided to leave the mat.
ter to the superintendent and the
school committee with full power to
act.
Confirmed the Appointment.
The board confirmed the appoint.
ment Of Miss Fay knight to teach
English in the high school and fixed
her salary at $40 per month. Miss
knight was chosen by the commit
tee on schools, of which Mrs. Smith
is chairman. She is a graduate of
Ripon college, Appleton, Wis.
Mrs. Smith also reported the
choice OF two new text books for
class use, the "Woojc.Hutchinson
Hygiene" for the class in physiol-
ogy, and DIR. Wiley's Text Book
on Foods and Adulterants" for the
chemistry department.
On the recommendation Of Super
intendent Sperry. Friday, February
%, was made holiday, in order
10 give the teachers a chance to
attend the annual meeting OF the
Southern Minnesota Teachers asso-
citation. which Is to take place in
Mankato on February II, 13 and
IA. AS the twelfth Is Lincoln's
birthday and the fourteenth is Sat.
urday, this will give the teachers
all three days.
Superintendent Sperry showed the
BOARD some printed sheets. designed
To train the pupils in rapid mathemati-
cal calculation. He said such sheets
were already In use in the schools
4 Rochester, Winona, Marshall, and
others. At his suggestion, the board
authorized the purchase OF a supply
of such sheets, TO cost 500.
Regarding Teachers Contracts.
Secretary Soaring remarked that
the time was not far of for the
election of teachers and he showed
some forms OF contract that he had
obtained from other school districts.
lie showed the iron-clad form from
Winona. providing that five per cent
or a teachers pay should be dc.
tucted, II she did not finish out
her years engagement. II seemed
20 be the general sentiment of the
board. however, that it would be
better to adhere to the old method
in Manka:o. which was merely hay-
ing the teacher apply for election
or reelection and accept appoint
ment. The mattar was laft 49,,