The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-07-16
HIGHER GRADES TO
BE1AUGHT IN'RURAL
SCHOOLS OF COUNTY
District Officers Realize That Young
People Of County Must Be Provided
With Educational Opportunity.
TEACHER ESTABLISHES RECORD
Pupils Of Kate Abbott, District SO,
Qualify for Senior High School
Work-1ncrease in Attendance.

Qualify for Senior High School
Work-1ncrease in Attendance.
AS a consequence of the school dis
trict officers meeting held here this
week, attended by exactly 12O off,
GERS, representing so districts.
large number Of junior high schools
will probably be added to the rural
schools of Beltrami county during the
next year.
= The officers have been forcibly re-
minded that the boys and girls Of the
country districts who have completed
the grades as far as they are taught
in their neighborhood school, are en-
titled to higher education and they
are to take advantage of the oppor-
tunity to provide it. Under the plan
favored subjects up to and including
first year high school will be taught,
and even this will gradually be added
to-
w. B. Stewart, county superintend-
ent of schools, is enthusiastic over
the interest which is being taken in
the matter and he is of the opinion
that much benefit is to be derived.
The idea is to keep the older boys and
girls interested, it being illustrated
that the country schools are leaven
which will raise rural life to higher
levels and make of Min
nesota an Eldorado; that they
can lead in the crusa ade
for community improvement, and,
through their efforts, call back to
the farm the sons and daughters who
have left, and keep those that have
remained thoroughly satisfied with
their lot. A closer relationship be-
tween school and home is the aim,
and it's accomplishment is to- be at
tanned.
A Record Established:
There is one teacher in Beltrami
county who is deserving of praise.
This is Kate Abbott Of district No.
SO, known as the Matheny school. !.
Although the attendance at this
school is not large, Miss Abbott, by
early and late overtime work, has
been able to prepare her pupils for
fourth year high school work. In
addition she teaches the lower grades.
In the high school work offered
in the rural schools the pupils will
be allowed to take the state exam
nations and advance just as though
they were attending one of the states
largest institutions.
Beltrami Gains 454.
1--WE now have enrolled in our
schools of the county 5,414 pupils,
or an increase of 545 over last year,"
says Mr.. Stewart. "Of these 4,704
are drawing apportionment which is
sos more than last year. The amount
per pupil is $7.63 and the amount of
the apportionment is $32,015.48. Last
year there were 754 pupils not en-
titled to apportionment or loss to
the schools of the county of $5,333.37.
This year there were 699 pupils who
did not earn their apportionment, or
a decrease of SIS. The law now pro-
vides that every school district shall
have at least six months of school in
stead of five as formerly and it is
feared that this will increase the
number of pupils not drawing appor-
tionment. In Beltrami county the
average term is nearly eight months
Draw $30,475 State Aid.
"There are two high schools, seven
graded schools, three graded, "A A,
33 B and 6 G rural schools drawing
special aid amounting to $30,475. It
every boy and girl could draw appor-
tionment in Beltrami county schools,
we would be able to increase our
total special aid from nearly $4,000
to over $4,000.
"At the state examinations last
spring, 999 papers were written and
SAT were sent into the state depart
ment for correction. One in ten, ap-
proximately, took the examinations
in the rural schools.
"Our industrial work is also at
tracing much attention from the
boys and girls, about 400 children
having entered the potato contest; so
in the bread contest and 25 in the
corn contest. There are 26 organ
lied clubs and more than 80 schools
have served hot lunches during the
year.
MINNEAPOLIS RECTOR TO