Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1914-03-12
SCHOOL OFFICERS
AND TEACHERS
BEGIN TWO DAYS SESSION IN
ANNUAL CONVENTION.
Liability of School Ireasurers and
Directors for Funds.

The third annual meeting of Stuts-
man County School Officers and
Teachers association began at the
city hall this morning at $50 O'Clock.
The attendance was excellent for the
opening session of the two days
meeting. There are a larger num-
Der of exhibits of the work of the ru-
raj schools of the county, than even
last year, where there was a full dis
play. The walls of the hall are COW
cred with specimens of examination
papers, drawings, maps, manual
training and school children's handi-
craft.
The school officers meeting began
with short address by the presi-
dent, Thos. Pendray. He spoke along
the line of making the school house
pleasant place for children, not
only for their mental training and
education, but to have the associa-
tions' such as in after life would be
looked back upon as a bright spot in
youthful days. He advocated neat
ness and care in the management of
school buildings, urged the fences
should be kept up and buildings
painted, and trees planted in the
yard, and cared for.
He noticed in number of districts
that the gates were off the school
yard fence, and the fence posts had
dropped over; the outbuildings had
to be propped up, and there were no
trees to beautify and shelter the
yard. In the matter of attendance
at school officers meetings, he
thought everyone should come in a
receptive spirit, to get the good out
of the discussions, rather than crit
icise. Many people think that edu-
cational instructors have gone ahead
of the times in establishing studies
and school work that. are not prac-
tical or necessary for the : public
school, but he believed in taking the
best suggestions out of the program
and utilizing them as far as possible.
States Atty. Chase was next upon
the program, speaking on compul-
sorry education. He stated the. prin-
cipal points in the North Dakota
school law on that point, and answer
ed a number of questions that were
raised by school officers. Mr.. Chase
referred to the voluminous school
laws, and said that the separate prob
lens that arise in each district must
be settled by the teacher, rather than
in general way.
He also called attention to the law
regarding the deposit of school dis
trict funds, the failure of the Medi-
ma State hank having brought this to
notice. Five or six school district
treasurers in the western part of the
county had funds deposited in that
bank, and the districts are now ham,
pered for the use of the money, while
the treasurers have incurred a per-
sonal liability for themselves, where
they have not taken the legal precau-
tions required by the statutes. The
law provides that school boards shall
advertise for proposals for the GUS
tody of school funds, and rate of in
terest to be allowed, and require
bond from the bank for the security
of the money. Unless this proceed
ure is had, personal liability of the
treasurer follows. There is also a
penalty for the school directors as
we'll as the treasurer, in not comply
ing with the provision of the statute.
The treasurer shall also give a bond.
In reply to question if no pro-
posals were received in answer to ad-
for bids, what would be
the course to pursue, Mr.. Chase
thought that the board should desig-
nate some bank anyway, which would
comply with the law regarding bond
for deposits. The districts that have
money in the Medina State bank will
have to take their pro rata share Of
the proceeds that are available for
the depositors.
In the matter of compulsory atten-
dance at school, the speaker said this
was one of the most difficult prob
lens to solve, but that it was the es-
sence of the public school idea.
Money spent for keeping open free
schools was wasted in non-attend-
ance. 1t had been determined in the
state of Massachusetts,, that fully
one-third of the public funds raised
for school purposes was wasted in
third of the pupils
not being in school. Conflicting home
interests were responsible for this
CONTINUED on Page Four.)