Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-15
WANT BOARD To
FURNISH BOOKS
PETITION CLAIMING 2,145 NAMES
PRESENTED TO THE
SCHOOL BOARD.
ENROLMENT is LARGE
Superintendent Blackmars Report
Shows A Large Gain Over De-
cember, 1912; Pass I'M
portant Resolutions.

| petition claiming 2,145 names ask
ing the school board to submit the
question of furnishing free text books
for pupils of the Ottumwa public
schools at the next regular school cleo
ton to be held Monday, March 9 was
received by the school board at their
regular monthly meeting held last
night. The petition was placed on file
no action being taken on the document
at the session.
| The resignation of Miss Sara Con.
nell as a teacher at the Irving school
vas received and accepted by the
board Miss Cornell has left for Aber,
deem, S. D., where she has accepted
similar position.
| The request of Miss Celia Bell for a
| leave of absence for the balance of the
school year was granted by the board.
Miss Bell intends to enter Columbia
| university at New York for winter
course.
Among the items reported in Secre-
tary Wagner's monthly report was that
Of new steam plant being installed
at the Orchard school during the holi-
day vacation. The old furnace which
has been in use since the school was
erected was also shown to be removed.
superintendent Blackmar's report
showed that\the daily average attend
ance during the month of December
was 4,053. This Is a considerable in
crease over the report of the same
month in 1912. when the daily aver
age attendance was 3,712. Mr.. Black
ctofn hot hn hn
rollment of the high school to reach
600 at the opening Of the new term,
Monday, January 26. An additional
English teacher will be secured to as
sist in that department for the balance
of the school year beginning January
26 according to Superintendent Black
mar.
The following resolution regarding
the holding Of public meetings in the
school buildings was unanimously pass
ed:
Resolved-That 1t is the sense of the
board of education Of the independent
school district of Ottumwa, Iowa that
the use of the public school buildings
of said independent district shall be
allowed for public gatherings, for the
discussion of civic matters, literary
and educational entertainments not of
political or sectarian character; but
before any Of said buildings shall be
used for any Of the purposes named in
this resolution, application in writing
explaining the purposes Of the meeting
to be held, shall be made to the presi-
dent of the board who shall allow use
of said building desired provided the
proposed meeting is of the kind and
character named in this resolution.
Election Laws Changed.
superintendent Blackmar informed
the board of new change that had re-
Gently been made in regard to the cleo
ton of school officers. According to
the new ruling anyone wishing to be
candidate for any school office must
file their petition signed by ten or
more legal voters with the secretary
Of the board not less than seven days
prior to the election Unless this rule
is complied with the candidates name
will not be placed upon the ballots.
A new scheme has been adopted by
the teachers of the primary grade,
whereby the teachers of the different
school can become more acquainted
and familiar with the same work which
they are teaching in the other schools
The scheme is to have the different
teachers visit each other on certain
days of each week.
superintendent Blackmar stated that
the graduates Of the Adams eighth
grade who intend to enter the high
school will visit the high school We'd
nesday afternoon of this week in or
der to become somewhat acquainted
with the work and the ways Of the
high school The Stuart and Douglass
graduates will visit the high school
Thursday.
Waoner Makes Report.
The following report of Secretary J.
A. Wagner showing the receipts and
expenditures of the board during the
month of December was received and
placed on file: