The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-10-13
Based On Willard Report.

odoCu VII nCPoil.
These figures were based on the
report given by w. d. Willard on be-
half of the finance committee Secre-
tary Soaring estimates that the total
expenses of the school district dur
ing the coming year will be $4,000
more than those of the present year.
The school teachers salaries alone
will mean an increase of about $4,
600. The remodelling work on the
high school will mean about $4,000
more. More will have to be paid for
janitor help and the payment of the
cost of a school nurse will be an adj
ditional expense.
1t seems that Mankato merchants
do not want to have the students
coming around to pull their legs"
to take advertising space in the
athletic programs. At all events d
communication was received at last
nights board meeting urging that
the board do something to furnish
the students with funds needed for
their athletic activities, so that the
merchants will not be troubled. This
communication was from the board
of directors of the Mankato Retail
Merchants association.
Superintendent Of Schools Sperry
said that he did not know that the
pupils had been around among the
merchants to get them to advertise
in a school program. If so he would
put stop to it. He said that this thing
had not been done since the Southern
Minnesota Track meet was abandoned
few years ago.
Engaged Football Coach.
Mr.. Sperry reported that members
of the faculty had taken upon them
selves the hiring of a foot ball coach
for the boys during the coming sea-
son, and Dr. McCleery had been tn
gagged. He said some of the members
of the faculty had pledged themselves
to pay for this coach if necessary,
the coach being hired for the season
at $50, but he suggested that the
school board take some action to
help in this expense. The board was
liberal and voted to defray the en-
tire expense of hiring this coach.
Mr.. Sperry said that as rule, the
close of the athletic season found
the athletic exchequer something to
the bad, often about $500, and the
expense was often made up by CIV
ing some sort of an entertainment.
The discussion of athletics led to
the suggestion on the part of Mr..
Willard that there should be per-
manent supervisor of athletic work
of all the students. There should be
somebody to take charge of the
physical education of the students.
Mr.. Sperry said such a man could
be kept busy the year round.
Playthings For Pupils.
Judge Evan Hughes said the school
board ought to get some playthings
for the students in the various school
yards AS it was they had nothing to
play with and about all they could
do was to holla.
Mr. Willard stated that tennis
courts had been put in the yards of
the Franklin and Union schools and
little attention seemed to be given to
them. He thought somebody ought
to be around to lead and supervise
the play.
o. G. Olson favored the idea of get
ting a physical director this fall.
Mr.. Sperry mentioned Faribault,
FERGUS rails anu OLu6T IOWnS Iudt
had physical directors for the school
children.
President l.. T. Jefferson was in
favor of supervision of the play of
the children out doors. but he
was opposed to spending money to
have man looking over the play of
the children in the gymnasia. He did
not see much good in gymnasia.
They were dusty and bad places for
the children. The same exercise
could be obtained in other ways.
At length the matter was referred
to the superintendent and the school
committee, to look up and report.
Mrs. B. D. Smith on behalf of the
committee on schools reported that
Miss Martha Campbell had been en-
gagged to teach English and mathe-
mates in the high school at a salary
of $50 a month 1t was found neces-
sary to add to the faculty on account
of the large growth in the high