The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-01-15
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From Thursdays Daily.

from Ihursosys paNy'
Reading OF the Bible win he con.
tinued in the Mankato high school,
and the matter will be referred TO
the school committee with Instruc-
tions TO take II up with the state
high school board and report to the
board OF education 1T It's next meet
ing. the motion being made by DIR. W.
A. Beach at the 'boad meeting last
night, and carried by q vote of four
ayes and two noes. This was done
in reply To q letter from the depart.
ment OF education. state high school
beard 1t -. Paul ordering the school
to discontinue the practice OF Bible
reading at Its exercises. IN penalty
o! the withdra wal of state aid.
The board met at the high school
building last evening. the following
members heing present: w. ". Davies,
r. A. Engwalson. A. Bashaw, Mrs.
Alice Ayres Smith. DIR. W. A. beach,
l.. 7. Jefferson 4 quorum being pres
eut President Davies called the meet
ing TO order, the roll was called. ami
the session proceeded in regular
order. Secretary Soaring read the
resignation OF Edith NJ. Anderson,
teacher of the NTH grade in the
Frahklin school, who, Of ccount OF
health was Obliged 10 quit teaching
u was moved and carried that her
resignation be accepted. after which
the secretary read = number of com
munications. The first vas from
George Gilmore. chief engineer OF the
Travellers Indemnity company Of
Hartford, Conn, who recently inspect.
ed the boilers In the city schools,
stating that no found them in good
condition.
Letter Anent EibIe Reading.
The second letter, although unsign-
ed. was known TO have come from
T.. N. Phillips. state high school in.
spector. from the Office OF the state
department of education. high school
board. at ST. Paul. The latter was
addressed In the secretary OF the
school board. and said:
ON the occasion of my visit tn
your school. November 3, 1914, !
found that the practice Of reading
the Bible. and the repetition OF
prayers In connection with the open.
ing exercises In your high school was
made use Of" lie then called atten.
ton to bulletin No. 45, page SO. rule
), which gas published in yesterdays
Free Press. and Is a recent ruling Of
the state high school board. lie
also quoted the opinion of Attorney
General Lyndon 4. Smith, in which
the attorney general says. The ques-
lion involves a construction OF Section
I6 OF Article ] of the constitution,
providing, Nor shall any man be
compelled 10 attend, erect, or supper;
any place of worship TIE attorney
generals opinion was repeated In
full. and. Mr.. Phillips concluded his
letter thus.
Ordered Practice Discontinued.
"In view of these facts II becomes
my official duty to formally notify
your board and superintendent that
the practice OF reading the Bible and
the repetition of prayer I'm connection
With the opening exercises, or general
exercises in your school, must he dis
continued. in case such practice Is
cohtinua ! shall be Obliged TO notify
the state high school board of the
violation by your districts of the rue.
above referred TO, with the recon-.
mendatIon that your especial state
aid and apportionment he withheld. !
en- sure that your board will under
stand that this notice is in no wise
coiored by Individual opinions or
preiudfse. and is prompted only by
a d~ispoaition 10 see this question def
nitely tried out and settled. The
came rule will, of course. be applied In
the same way 20 other communities in
Minnesota in which similar practice
Is found."i
Applications Of Teachers.
Following the reading of this com.
munication lMrs. Smith as a member
Of the school committee reported the
receipt of a, number OF applications
10 fill the Vacancy at the Franklin.
school. caused by the resignation OF
Edith @Anderspn. Miss Mary Howatt
OF Lake City was decided upon >as
the most promising applicant. She
IL a graduate of the winona state
Normal school advanced course. and
has had some experience In teaching
at Lake City, and is highly endorsed.
Superintendent Sperry stated that II
was difficult. to secure a teacher at
this time OF year. He recommended
that Miss fIowatt be notified OF her
election rs teacher OF the fifth grade
Mt the Franklin school. at a salary of
$50 per month. The motion was made
and Carried that SHE be elected
4, Report OF superinte ndent.
Superintendent sperry then read
The report of school attendance,
which Ia printed elsewhere In this
issue, and called attention to the
fact that 1l21 pupils were neither alb
sent or tardy during the month lie
then stated that the school would have
. mid.yInter graduation, a class from
the eighth grade and one from the
high school being ready TO graduate
this month. II was planned 10 pre-.