The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-10-01
BIBLE Is OUSTED
FROM KATO HIGH
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
and the state high school board noti-
fled to that effect by the clerk"
Mr.. Willard Hroached Subject.
Mr.. Willard preached the. subject
In report that he made OF trip
that he took to st. Paul last Wcdnes-
day on behalf of the board. He had
an interview with one Of the assist
ants OF the attorney general and he
learned that the attorney generals
Office was not disposed to alter the
ruling OF the former Attorney Cen
eral Henry W.. Childs, on, that mat
ter. This meant that the reading Of
the Bible in the public schools would
be regarded as teaching religion in
the schools. Mr.. Willard said he also
talked with the state superintendent
OF public instruction. C.. G. Schultz.
and the latter said the state high
school board would meet on October
"a, Mr.. Schultz said he had included
Mankato in the state aid list, but
this was on the condition that the
Mankato school board pass "a resolu-
ton, disseminating the reading of the
Bible in the schools. Mr.. Willard
showed the local board a letter from
Mr.. Schultz, stating the same thing.
Two Were Against.
Two members of the school board
voted against Mr.. Wizards resolu-
ton. These were DIR. w. A. Beach
and l.. II. Jefferson. DR.. Beach was
emphatic in his opposition. He said
he did net like the idea of the state
high school board compelling this To-
cal board to do it's bidding by hold
ing club over its head. The $4,000
of state aid that would be lost by
continuing the reading of the Bible
in the high school would amount only
to one-mill tax anyhow. He re-
marked: III we carried II to the
next Legislature II would make the
state high school board look pretty
sick. | think some OF its powers
would be shorn Of
Mr.. Willard stated that many peo-
pie would like to have this matter
definitely settled by the state legis-
lature. but the members OF that BODY
were afraid OF il. A bill was intro
duced on that subject during the last
session. but they lodged IL. Mr.. Will
lard expressed the opinion that the
state high school board has exceeded
the limits Of It's authority In forbid
ding the reading OF the Bible In the
public schools as religious teaching
He said the law forbade sectarian
teaching in these schools. but he did
not see that there was any law that
forbade the reading of the Bible.
Favored the Money.
At the same time be believed that
NEST people we're not I'm favor of
jeopardiZing that $4,000 of state aid.
He expressed the wish that there
were some constructive plan formu-
lated for the selection of certain pas
sages in the Bible on which all the
churches could agree. He said that
was done i'm some states.
The resolution was adopted by the
vote of five to two, those voting for
IL being w. y. Davies. Erick Engwal-
son, o. G. Olson. Mrs. B. ID. Smith
and w. d. Willard.
'i. Dofito tHdt Ht Noulu
have to vote aye. but ne did not do it
with very good grace. He would like
TO draw up resolution Of his own
Mr.. Willard urged him to go ahead
and do IL. There is nothing" he
said, Ito prevent us from telling our
opinion of the state high school
board"
DR.. Beach thought the Bible ought
to be made part of the course I'm the
study Of English and every pupil re-
quired to take that subject.
English Teacher Elected.
Mrs. p. ID. Smith presented the rec
concentration -of the committee on
schools that Miss Daisy Cooley he
elected to teach English and Algebra
in the place Of Miss Emma J. Hail.
who had resigned. Miss Cooley nas
been principal and superintendent at
Heron Lake, and has also taught else
where. She is graduate OF the state
university. Her salary was fixed at
$50 a month.
superintendent Sperry reported
that there were forty-five more pu-
pills attending at the high school
building than had been expected. At
his suggestion n motion was passed
providing for the purchase of some
new desks.
Mr.. Sperry also suggested that fire.
eoft be purchased for the north door
OF the building. HA said there were
about 200 pupils there now. A motion
was passed, providing for the pur-
chase of this holt.
Leave Of Absence Granted.
The superintendent called attention
to the fact that the state Educational
association would hold its next meet
ing at Minneapolis on October 81 TO
30. and that IL has been customary to
grant leave OF absence tn teachers
who wished to attend. The board
granted this leave.
There was some discussion of the
rev system Of study that has been in
Pupils these days I'm the
high school spend six hours in the
building each day, and out OF each
hour. twenty minutes must be de-
voted to study in preparation for the
next days lesson under the eve of
the teacher. There has been some
complaint about the fact that pupils
come to school earlier than formerly.
S:45 a. m. now. but Mr.. Sperry said
he wished to have the plan thorough
iy tried and II il did not, work out
return could he made
TO the old system.
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