Charlevoix county herald., 1916-05-19
STATE MAN HERE
FIFTEEN SCHOOLS VISITED

and wondered how they could do this
so as to get the best results and give
the best service to their districts. A
few wondered what they would have
to do to make their schools STANDARD. |"
For this reason they asked that an in
spector from the state department
come out to look their building over
and tell them what the requirements
would be. This does not bind them in
any way whatever and does not cost
the district cent. 1t does give them
an opportunity to see what is being
done in other counties of the state and
in other districts of this county.
In response to their invitations Mr.
w. L. Coffey of Lansing was to arrive
in Charlevoix on the morning of Mon
day, May Sth. Due to misunderstand-
ing of the schedule he was late, but
Mr.. Munson, Deputy State Superin-
tendent, happened to be in town on
other official business and kindly con-
sented to work in the country until Mr.
Coffey should arrive. In the morning
trip out from Charlevoix, Mr.. Munson
visited the Hilton and the johnson
schools. Both school houses could
easily be made standard" and by a
little pushing and some extra live wire
enthusiasm could be made into model
school rooms like the ones described
by the land commissioners in the vicini-
ty OF some of our larger cities. In each
case typewriter report of the visit
and of recommended changes will be
sent from Lansing to the school board
issuing the invitation.
Directly after dinner Mr.. Coffey was
on hand to take up the work and the
commissioner took him first to Phelps
The school board was already at the
school house to give him hearty well
come. They were quite relieved to
find that they would have very few
necessary changes in working for a
Standard" plate. They needed a
little more light and would need the
seats set little closer together. The
seats were good kind and splendidly
arranged. The school board spoke of
one or two possible improvements to
relieve the congested condition due to
their very large enrolment MIR. Coffey
explained that the Standard" school
requirements were only such as every
school ought to have anyhow only that
the state department were offering
these plates as an inducement to dis
tricts to fix up a little.
He reached Rock Elm at 3 o'clock and
found live. wire delegation awaiting
him. Rock Elm has already made a
number of improvements and is still
improving. These people can ask
more questions in ten minutes than
any cross examiner, would ask Of his
victim. It's all right tho, they are
thinking. What they do they not only
want to do right but they want to know
why they do it. They were advised to
place bank of windows on the north.
east, leaving only one of the old win
dows on the southwest. Then In order
to relieve the barrenness of the side
facing the road they should place near
the ceiling oblong windows with frost
ed panes.
After hearty and enjoyable feed al
the Secord home, fifth school was
visited for protracted evening session
The Walker school board had called q
special meeting for the occasion to put
the project before their electors. They
needed to remedy the narrowness oi
their building and the congested condi
ton of the air due to the small all
space and large enrolment. The pupils
had prepared some musical numbers
for the occasion. Those boys andgirls
can really sing. BY the way they can
yell too. We knew that when "Eveline
No. rang thru the air. The commits
sioner spoke on standard" schools in
general and explained that each school
district would have to decide for itself
whether or not it chose to be standard
but that care in details often determin
ed the prevention of much illness. Mr.
Coffey told of some of his own experi
ences as a commissioner, of the value
of good school library and proved the
evil effect of cross light in the schoo
room. The electors requested the
school board to have a correct estimate
made of all needed improvements and
the cost of the ten foot addition in
question. They adjourned for two
weeks to give time for this work. The
good mothers of the districts had sur
missed that the crowd might be hungry
and served sandwiches, coffee and cake
to meet the requirements Of standard
appetite.
Tuesday was banner day. Six
schools were visited, the first at 7:3t
a. m. and the sixth at 500 p. m. Supt
Craig Of Charlevoix attended the com
missioner and inspector in these visit