The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-08-06
URGES CHANGES
m CITY SCHOOLS
SUPT. McCLINTON ADVOCATES
DEPARTURE FROM PRESENT
METHOD IN ANNUAL RE-
PORT-BOARD RE-
ELECTS OFFICERS

~n ANAb HM
ELECTS OFFICERS
Changes in the system of the Nit
chell public schools for a greater de-
velopment of the children in attend
ance were advocated by Supt. j. w.
McClinton in his report last eveningk
at the annual meeting Of the board
OF education. If adopted within the
coming. year, the revisions should
mark a new era in local educational
methods.
One OF the superintendent's rec
concentrations called for the estab-
lishment of a Junior high school.
Because of the crowded condition Of
the present high school building, Mr..
McClinton recommended that the
lower grades be removed from the
Central school building and the Sew
enth, Eighth and Ninth grades as
sembled there. By this, he declar-
ed. the development of the pupil In
these years would be gradual, bet
ter work would be brought about
than o by pupils entering the high
school and the more expensive equip
ment be obviated.
A radical change in the summer
vacation plan also was urged by Mr..
McClinton, who declared in favor of
having no classes only in the month
OF July, with halliday sessions in the
months of May, June, August and
September. This idea would supple
ment the new playground work and
the summer gardening activities of
the pupils of the public schools. He
advocated the plan for adoption only
in the first six grades, and possibly
in the Seventh and Eighth.
According to the figures of the SUI
perintendent's report, there was a
total enrolment in the schools of
1.311 pupils, with 1859 children OF
school age in the city, There was
an average daily attendance Of 1,1O7
during the past year,. with, an aver
age percentage attendancefofs SO.
A remedy should be provided
against the frequent changes in the
teaching stan, said the report, Last
year there we're As teachers. of
whom half were new. The coming
year will see Is new teachers, in the
schools. In connection with the work
ofsthe teachers, Mr.. McClinton urged
the adoption, of a plan whereby they
could watch each others methods and
gain in efficiency. n
Agriculture hereafter will be
taught in the schools as a f%our-year
course. This course will be on a
par with the others, fitting the stu
dents for entrance to agricultural
school or practical work In farms.
The agricultural work was highly
commended, rs girls and 81. boys
taking the course the past year,
Greater things are expected for the
coming year. q
The recommendation was made for
practice teaching Of the pupils in con-
nectibn with a! proposed normal
course. This could sbe done With
mo added expense. said. Mr. McGlint-
The need Of such provision was
shown by the fact that 18 Of the 81
girls graduating from the high school
in June are planning to; teach. II
was suggested that the practice teach
ing could be- done, sat the Eugene
Field school in connection with the
normal training work at Dakota Wes-
leyan.
The students of the high school
were commended for their scholar
ship of the past year. and the interest
they had shown in debating, oratory.
public speaking and literary work,
which have been strong features.
Aside from the honors that have
been gained, the pupils themselves
have gained and the public has been
awakened to the work being done
in the schools,
Upon. the converting of the board,
bills for. supplies were allowed,
amounting to $2,56S.69. The treas
urer's report showed that a balance
on hand July 81, 1914, of $15,467.-
%, with s2,316.9 80 paid in warrants
since the last report. Since the last
meeting, it was reported that H. r..
Foster had been engaged for. Eng
lish and literary work in the high
school, Clara Bruce had been engag-
ed as teacher for the First grade in
the Whittier school, and III. E. III
lisch for athletics and biology.
AS a new board, O. T. Litchfeld
reelected president for the COM
ing year andrE. w Heyler, y%ice-pres-
ident, A. b. McKeel was elected
again as truant oficer, clerk and
SCNAStcA ~ tACs NY
Committees. appointed for the coming
year were as follows; finance. s. E.
Morris; buildings and grounds. w. S.
Hill; supplies, Ray, Smith; teachers,
e. w. Heyler and MI. Hill; tuition,
DE-. Smith. The date Tor the opening
of school was fixed for August 81.
The animal, report of w. N. Smith,
school, traEurer. Last evening showed
$4,000, as the total amount Of out
standing bonds and the amount of
the total indebtedness. From all
sources. $69,712.5ss has been receive
ed during the past year., Of which
$56.24S.67 was from the district tax.
The. expenditures for the year just
closed amounted to $6O.654.79. The
largest item was s$37,667.42, for
teachers wages. Other items were
$4,523 .9ssfor scliool.houses and sites,
$3,11S.33 for furniture and fixtures.
$4,000 for interest on bonds The
amount 6fltcash: on hand at the end
OF the year was $9,O57s80.
Clerk A. B. McKeel submitted a
giving general statis-
tics OF the public schDols,sthe amounts