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

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MIR. sperfy asked for the privilege
of equlpping another bench room
for the use OF the eighth grade, and
said that twenty moro benches would
be needed. Dr. Beach moved that the
benches be procured. and that the
property and expense committee be
authorized 10 purchase them. The mo.
ton was unanimously carried. Mr..
Sperry then brought up another
matter. stating that Miss Pitchers
class In music desired to study hnaI.
cal harmony, and wanted credit on
the same. Miss Pitcher has arranged
her hours so that extra instruction
could be given, and asked authorize,
ton TO give such instruction. II was
suggested by members present that q
half credit be allowed on this work
II Il was decided TO have Il. and limit
the amount Of credits that should be
given for musical studies. Motion
made and seconded that the matter
be left TO the school committee Will.
power to act.
"Take Matter BY Horne" =
President Davies then said: There
is one more matter that we must
consider. and we might as we'll take
Il by the horns at once and have IL
settled. n we persist In reading the
Bible and saying prayer ut the open.
Ing of our school we win have our
state appropriation held up. and viii
have to go to st. Paul, and take the
matter up with the supreme court.
This mean a risk. II means that we
would lose our state appropriation
for n year anyway, and Il also
means that we would be pulling the
chestnuts out of the fire for the whole
state OF Minnesota. As The anOny.
nous letter read tonight says, 1t Is
the law The question Ia. does this
district want tO take this thing up
and go To the expense Of carrying IL
TO the supreme court?"
Had Been Instructed BY Board.
superintendent Sperry then stated
that he had been instructed by the
board two years ago 10 continue the
practice of reading the Bible in the
school, and he assumed that he must
CONTINUE To 30 read IL until notified
by the board TO stop.
Mr.. Engwalson said:" AsIong as We
have the ruling by the state attorney
general. and stand the chance Of log
Ing our state aid. ] don't sec why
we should take those changes"
Mr.. Davies then stated frankly
that he didn't think II did the pupils
much good TO read the Bible to
them, and have them discuss the
matter afterward, rs most of them
knew the ruling of the attorney gen.
eral.
Mfr. Sperry stated that when State
High School Inspector Il. NJ. Phillips
was in the city he had said that he
hoped the board would take the mat.
ter up and settle IL. and that Il was
his duty To enforce the law. Mr..
Phillips had said that there we're
three courses open to them: First. TO
obey the direction OF the board;
second. tn make an appeal 10 the
board TO see II the ruling could not
be modified TO suit the case: third,
In disregard the notice and when
tho funds from the state were held
mp TO institute an act OF mandamus
and carry the matter up. Mr.. Sperry
said IL was rather embarrassing 10
hold the services under the present
to proceed and determine their rights.
Mr.. Jefferson moved that they con.
tinue TO read the Bible in the public
schools.
Would Start Suit.
DR.. Beach said he thought il would
be well to start q friendly suit to
determine the rights OF the case, as
the same conditions prevailed all
v e the state. .
Mr.. Davies called attention to the
fact that the state university and
state normal schools were state insti.
tutions, and the state did not with.
draw their appropriations for holding
religious services.
Mr.. Bashaw said there were two
phases to the question. He was
strong for continuing the Bible read.
Ing, but IL they obeyed the ruling
would not put a stop to the prac.
tice OF nuns teaching in their reiigi.
Gus garb in the schools of the state
also.
DIR. Beach stated that he was In
favor of getting legal advice upon
the matter.
After considerable discussion DIR.
Beach finally moved that the matter
be referred to the school committee
with instructions To take Il up with
the high school board. and report at
the e meeting.
The motion was carried.
The bills were then read nd ap.
proved. and the meeting adjourned.
The attendance I'm the city. schools
for the month ending December is.
was "a follows.
Grand totals: Number enrolled,
1870: average attendance, 1451;
cases of hardness 81: perfect atten-
dance. 1121.
From Thursdays Daily.
Henry Robel. Sr.. returned last
evening from st. Paul where he