The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-10
Teachers and Students Are to Have
One Day More Added Onto Their
Vacation Period
Trom THURSDAYS paw

Teachers and children of the pub
lie schools will be given one day more
to their Christmas vacation than they
expected or fifteen days in all. This
was decided by the school board last
evening. superintendent F. ]. Sperry
stated that Christmas fell on Satur-
day and according to the regular
rules of the board. the school days
would go right up to Christmas eve.
This would make 1t unpleasant for
those who wish to travel any con-
siderable distance to spend Christmas
After some discussion il was agreed
to close the school on Thursday,
December 23.-instead of Friday,
December "a. 49,.
In a report received from Philip
Leas, chief of the fire department
only one of the school buildings OF
the city was pronounced satisfactory
as far as fire prevention was con-
cerned, and that was the high school
Better precautions against fire were
recommended for all the other
schools. -. -
In the Franklin school 1t was rec
commended that the coal bin next to
the boiler station be removed and a
brick one built in its place. The fire
escape, the report said, should be
extended from the second floor to
the ground. The fire bell should be
different from the dismissal bell
There should be three gallon chemical
extinguishers placed, one on each
floor.
In the Union school fire escapes
should be extended to the ground and
an extra rail added. Four three
gallon chemicals should be installed
The building is not safe to house
children, from the fire standpoint.
In the Pleasant Grove building two
fire extinguishers were recommended
one on the east side and one on the
west in the rear of the building. Doors
should be cut through from rooms or
the second floor. Three gallon chem
icals should be added.
One three gallon chemical should
be added in the West Mankato school
A brick patition should be built in the
boiler room and coal bin. Joists over
the boiler and smoke pipe leading tC
the chimney should be covered witt
on the north side of the building, from
the second floor to the ground. ..
Couch Is Needed.
Superintendent Sperry stated thai
there was need of a good couch in the
high school to take care of cases Of
sickness. There was an old one but
II was rather hard He thought thai
new couch and new spread for the
old one would meet the needs Of the
school In this respect very nicely. The
matter was referred to the committee
, on schools with power to act.
With reference to the matter Of
having an ungfaded school, the sup.
erintendent stated that he had mo-
yet been able to find a suitable
teacher. and he thought II might b,
well enough to let the matter go owe,
to the next term. ..
The superintendent stated that a.
yet he had seen few signs of Interest
on the part of the public i'm the matter
OF establishing a night school for the
purpose OF educating the foreign
speaking people Of this city. He ha,
written in regard TO the project Il
about fifty employers in the city and
about eight ministers OF foreign
speaking churches. In reply he had
received the names of only seven OF
eight persons who would like to at.
tend such school He thought there
was not much use going any farther
with the matter until there wefe bet.
ter responses.
Both OF these matters were left In
the hands OF the committee in charge
and the superintendent.
Another Teacher Needed. :.
Mr.. Sperry stated that another
teacher would be needed in the sew.
enth and eighth grades There wer,
forty-f five more pupils than had beer
anticipated. and the teachers were
really overworiIed. He said he would
make more definite report on the
matter later.
The superintendent reported thai
the teacher I'm charge of the girls
gymnasium had made a request fol
more lockers. The matter was re.
ferred to the committee on propert,
and expenses.
On motion by Mrs. b. ID. Smith. q
clock was ordered In the room o.
Miss Webster, teacher of the junior
high school department.
Il. F. Soaring. the secretary, an.
nounced that the state aid for thi.
district was received as far as II wa.
available this year. The Legislative
appropriation was deficient, so tina
only 80 per cent of what was reall,
due could be obtained. There arr
two classes of schools. however, thai
are not cut down to 80 per cent but
are receiving full state aid. These
are teachers training schools ant
consolidated schools, the latter get.
ting the full state aid for their build
ings.
The report of the truant officer fol
the month OF November showed tina,
twenty-eight had been ordered into
school. none had been arrested fol
truancy and none had been reported
for prosecution.
Superintendent Sperry rendered the
monthly attendance report for No.
vember, as follows, the number en-.
rolled. number belonging. average at.
tendance. cases of hardness. and mum.
Der perfect in attendance, being n
successive columns:
Schools NE NIB AA CT pa
High .....y $40 653 62s IL SO,
Pleasant
Grove =. s1s so4 2s2 8 II!
TTufop 0oe 0rE oor an "a.