The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-01-22
CLUB HOLDS
INTERESTING MEETING


From Tuesdays Daily.
The Monday afternoon meeting OF
the Zetetic club held at DR.. An
drews' library was marked by two
interesting and instructive talks on
subject of school interest, by w. ID.
willard, of the board OF education,
and Superintendent +. J. Sperry of
the high school. The session opened
with the usual parliamentary drill led
by Mrs. +. G. Hotaling, president OF
the club, Mrs. w. j. Merchant pre-
siding as chairman of the meeting.
Mr.. Willard was introduced to the
assembly by Mrs. Morehart, as the
president OF the state school com
mission appointed about two years
ago, and organized I'm 1913, holding
meetings once a month. The report
of this commission Is now In the
hands of the governor and the legis-
lature. Mr.. Willard gave a very con-
else and full account OF what the
commission proposed for the better
ing Of the school system OF the
state, First would come a r%e-organi-
zation of the state board of educa-
ton, and second a reorganization
Of the school systems. Our schools
have grown and prospered, but the
growth has been haphazard, and we
hold too strongly to local control.
II is the states duty to see that all
children have the same educational
advantages. the child of the rural
communities having as much right
to a good education as the child
of the city. Minnesota is in the lead
in making provisions for education.
Nearly one half of all the taxes eX-
pended goes toward education. About
S19,1 900 was spent in Minnesota
last year for educational purposes.
Report of School Commission.
The commission recommended. that
the administration of schools be uni
fed, the rural schools strengthened,
and state aid re-adjusted. The uni
versity being governed by a board
OF regents that could not be touched,
the commission suggests that the
Normal school board, the high school
board. the library commission, and
schools for the deaf, dumb and
blind be put under one board, and
educational activities and like re.
forms be put under its supervision.
Normals Supply What Public De-
mands.
The Normal school board has been
in existence since the first Normal
school a started, and these schools
are being criticised as not leading
in educational matters, and not being
In as close touch with them as they
should be. They simply supply what
the public demands. IL put under
the state board, and each president
given authority TO run his school
there would be greater initiative and
more advancement. The functions OF
the high school board would natur-
ally pass over to the proposed new
board. The rural schools stand just
about the same as they did a genera
ton ago. Mr.. Willard laid great
stress upon the needs of the rural
schools, showing their faults. and the
best ways to deal with them. The
commission suggests n state board
of seven members, which shall have
sufficient supervision over state and
other schools to see that the state
law in regard to education Is en-
forced, and that the educational bud.
get be prepared and presented TO
the Legislature as u unified educa.
tional budget. The most radical
, proposition Is that TO consolidate all
rural schools into one common school
district to be administered by three
members selected at large through
the country. Approximately one-half
OF the enrolment in the state is in
the rual schools and they demand
he best OF supervision. The average
cost per pupil I'm rural and city
schools Is about the same, and they
should have the same education.
Mankato, being n of several
special districts should have a board
OF five, elected at large over the
state. Minnesota has a very large
school fund, coming from her school
lands, and this should be used to
the best advantage.
A Junior High School.
Mrs. Merchant introduced Superin.
tendent Sperry, who spoke of the
great necessity of having what IS
known as a junior high school. Mr..
Sperry has given the subject much
thought and study, and practical
work has shown him the great
necessity OF having such a junior
high school. He explained that the
weakness of the 9, z. and Sth grades
did not lie i'm the teachers, but In
the work laid out for them. At the
age when children are In these grades
they are undergoing changes in lines
Of thinking, and are leaving their
childhood behind them. IL these
grades were grouped into a junior
high school II would allow some
room for the choice of the pupils
according to their adaptibilities
which would lead ON to the advanced
work of the senior high school OIL
college. This plan has not been un
tried. but Is in use all over the
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