The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-03-26

BASEBALL grounds Tor the boys. The
girls have their own Fairgrounds. At
one side OF the grounds Is beautiful
grove of shade trees where school PFC
MICS are held in the. summer time.
and owing 10 the general surround,
ings the pupils have every facility for
the study OF simple forms OF natural
history. and botany.
In the way OF Improvements It Is
hoped TO have the grounds Mt the
ront OF the building re-sodded this
spring, the fence removed, and a num-
Der of swings. turning poles, and other
play contrivances. installed for the
use OF the children. '....
West Mankato Is rapidly growing
section OF the town. and this year
new residences are springipg up as IL
BY magic. Every block has from one
or more houses I'm course OF construc-
ton, and all are neat substantial
dwellings, that are a, credit TO the
town. II Is easy to see that this will
soon become one OF the most Import
ant sections or the city, and property
Is increasing I'm value very rapidly.
With the coming or the proposed tile
factory. which is soon to be built near
the Blue Earth river. an influx OF a
desirable and thrifty class OF laboring
people Is expected Nowhere is the
increased population as noticeable as
In the Increased attendance at the
school, This year the enroll ment was
About two hundred. pupils, including q
number or tuition pupils who come In
from West Bend TO take advantage of
the excellent instruction which Is a
feature OF our city schools. The West
Mankste school became so crowded
this. spring that a new room was
equipped. and an extra teacher added.
making six teachers in all. Miss Rose
Stnley Is. principal OF the school,
teaching the sixth and seventh grades
Miss Hattie Meyers teaches the fourth
anu gftl: Miss Madge Clark, the
third: Miss Libbie Williams, the Sec
oHd; Miss Jessie Irving the first and
Mrs. Hannah Fairweather teaches the
kindergarten. The Misses Irving and
.Staley are West Mankato young la.
dies. who graduated from the West
Mankato school I'm former years, and
have chosen to come back to teach
there.
School life Is busy and interesting
for the young students, and q literary
program Is held once q month, which
is a much looked forward 70 event.
The boys have two basketball teams,
and are much interested in athletics.
The teams are called the "A" and the
"B" teams, and play at the Y. NJ. C..
4. every Saturday afternoon. During
the track meet held last year they
won a handsome banner. which is
now hung in the lower hall, being
an object OF justifiable pride to the
school,. Each room has recently or.
gaiiized an Audubon Bird club, with
regular officers, and scheduled times
or meeting. and It is planned that next
week the photographer will take a
picture of all the Audubon Bird clubs
OF the school. The school has nice
reference library, and a case of books
Is sent each week from the public
library, giving good supply of the
best literature. The teachers are
planning on having school garden
ON the ground Near the little grove
this summer. An individual feature
OF the school equipment is the bell
system of telephone connection with
each room in the building which was
put in by a former teacher. 4. II. En-.
nerson, and is a great convenience to
the teachers. Two pianos and Vic
trola furnish good music for all occa.
siops.
One OF the needs felt in the West
Mankato school, as web as in the
other. schools of tho city, Is, that OF
@ supervisor, OF athletics, who could
visit the schools at stated periods and
supervise athletic drills. which arc
of great benefit to growing children.
The West Mankato school has no In.
door playroorn, which would be
great convenience i'm winter time. The
school Will undoubtedly need to be Ell.
larRed In tho not far distant future,
as the rooms are crowded with pupils
now. In spite, of The fact that ABOUT
5senty OF the school children have
enrolled in the Advent school which
started this spring.
From fridays oafIy.
\ letter from a soldier actually
fighting at the front I'm the great
European war has been received by