The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-13
vIcrRolas FOR the SCHOOLS
Supt. Sperry Reelected For An
other Year; Salary Raise
Ernm THURSDAYS DAILY.


ent OF the Mankato public schools
was reelected by the school board
for the coming year last evening
by n unanimous vote OF all the mem
bers present. His salary was raised
from s2,IOO, at which figure IL was
fixed three years ago, to $1,000. The
Increase came entirely unsolicited.
Mr.. Sperry jmmediately accepted the
reelection, briefly thanking the board
for the honor.
The members present were W. ID.
Davies, president of the board; l..
T. jefferson, Mrs. b. ID. Smith, A.
Bashaw and Erick Engwalson. DR..
W A. Beach, Judge Evan Hughes
and DR. ]. 8. Holbrook we're absent.
The board decided TO send Mr..
Sperry, at the boards expense, TO
participate in the pedagogical In.
stitute. which Is TO be held at the
state university under the auspices Of
the college OF education during the
week beginning on March %.
Victrolas in The School.
At the suggestion OF Superin-
tendent Sperry the board decided to
purchase four victrolas, one for each
Of the grade schools of the city, at
SEQ. There is already a victrola at
the high school. II will be re-
membered that some time before
Christmas, the pupils OF the high
school held a Minstrel show. and
with the proceeds bought vlctrola
and $50 worth Of records. Tho use
ur the vlctrola ut the high school
mas given great satisfaction, both
10 pupils and teachers and 1t has
therefore been decided to extend the
use Of such instruments TO the
grades for assistance in teaching
music and physical culture.
There was but one vote against
buying the victrolas. and that was
cast by Mr. Bashaw. Mr.. Bashaw
sad there were pianos and music
teachers in the schools and he did
rot see the use of paying out any
more money for music. He said II
seemed that so many things were
Icing taught in the public schools
that nothing was being taught
thoroughly and completely. and pu-
pills had to 90 to a Commercial
college TO finish their education.
Music Helped other Work.
Mr. Sperry said the study Of music
in the public schools helped the
other work along. II made pupils
better satisfied with school life. The
other board members took this view.
Mrs. Smith said many children Of
real musical talent, who were too
ruor 10 take music lessons at home,
displayed great aptitude for music
in school. Mr.. Sperry said Miss
Pitcher OF the musical department
had been borrowing vlctrolas and
getting better results with them in
both physical culture and music.
There was some discussion as to
whether the children should be al.
lowed to contribute towards the cost
of the yictrolas. Mr.. Engwalson said
he did not believe the children
should be allowed to make collec-
tons for such things and II was de-
cided that the board purchase the
four victrolas outright.
Plans for the coming commence
ment exercises were discussed and
ii was decided TO have some public
speaker OF note deliver an address
On that occasion, rather than have
any Of the graduates deliver essays
The matter Of selecting a speaker
was left on Mr.. Jefferson's motion,
in the hands of the committee on
schools with full power to act. Mr.
Davies remarked that the pupils were
much crowded with examinations and
other work just before the end OF
the school year and II was not wise.
he thought, 10 make any of them do
the additional labor OF writing and
delivering orations.
VIII Have Sixty Graduates.
Mr.. sperry said the high school
would probably graduate about sixty
this year and about seven or eight
would take part, IL an oldtime pro-
gram were carried out. Mrs. Smith
said the old method would be a
great strain on those seven or eight.
as well as on the teachers. She
thought II would be well TO get
President Vincent OF the state uni.
versity 10 deliver the commencement
Grafton. IL possible. The board paid
$50. she said. for the speaker last
year. Mr.. sperry remarked that he
thought that President Vincent IL
he could be secured at all, would
probably charge nothing more than
his actual expenses.
Suggested Calico Dresses.
Mr.. Sperry inquired what the board
members thought about the matter
of restricting the expense of gradu-
ation dresses Mr.. Davies thought
this ought to be done. Mr.. Bashaw
thought 1t would be a good thing
II all the girl graduates would come
out in calico dresses. but he did not
think the board could name what
should be the price of the dresses
they wore. Mr.. Sperry said that last