Morris tribune., 1916-09-01
AID FOR SCHOOLS
HINGES ON WATER
Ruling By State Superintendent
Hits Many Rural Schools
in Stevens County

The old familiar drinking cup popu
lar in many of the rural schools in
Stevens county must go else the
school districts will not be entitled to
state aid. Bubbling fountains must be
installed in every school house in the
county before the ensuing school year
opens according to a new ruling from
the state department of education at
St. Paul. Notices to this effect have
been sent to every county superinten-
dent in the state. In the notices at
tention is called to state law enacted
in 1913 making the use of the public
drinking cup misdemeanor and per-
sons responsible for violations are
liable to a fine not exceeding $25 for
each offense.
County Superintendent Roberts has
received one of these notices from the
department which calls attention TO
sections $3.50 and 8791 of the gener-
al statutes which provide: "In order
to prevent the spread of communica-
BILE diseases. The use of common
drinking cups in public places and
public conveyances is hereby prohibit
ed. Whoever violates the provisions
of this act shall be deemed guilty of
misdemeanor and shall be liable to
fine not exceeding twenty-five ($25)
dollars for each offense. -"
When this law became operative the
Department of Education included
among the provisions for receiving
state aid the abolishment of the pub
lie drinking cup. There being at that
time no suitable device for country
schools by which water could OBJ
tained, except by individual drinking
cups, this was made a requirement for
each school. Bubbling drinking foun-
tains have since made their appear
sace, in various types, and at rea-
sonabIe price. all suitable for coun--
try schools. &as 49,. ~' ~,
considering the great advantages
which these fountains possess over the
individual drinking cup" say the de
partment heads in their notice, "'it
has been deemed advisable to require
of state aided schools that drinking
water be made available by means of
some suitable drinking fountain. This
requirement goes into effect with the
opening of the school year. 1916
1917, and each school, in order to be
entitled to state aid, must have a
bubbling drinking fountain as a part
of its equipment.
The department also calls attention
to the seating arrangement in many
of the country schools where children
are seated at desks that are too large.
A pupil should not sit in a seat so
high that he carnot place both arms
upon it without lifting his elbows to
the height of his shoulders. The desks
should be arranged to suit the conven-
ience and comfort Of the children. All
seats of one size should be placed in
row. The department insists that
all desk purchases in the future must
be single or adjustable seats.
In regard to the planting of trees
and shrubs and beautifying the school
grounds the department makes the
following suggestion: "Every effort
should be put forth to make the school
grounds homelike and attractive by
planting trees and shrubs, laying out
walks and arranging play grounds.
This should be done according to some
well-prepared plan. Assistance in the
preparation of this plan may be OBJ
tanned through some local nursery
man, the high or grade school main
tanning industrial departments, or
from any of the three state agricul-
tural schools at St. Paul, Crookston
or Morris. The plat before the plant
ing should show the location of the
school house, outbuildings, play
grounds, walks, fences, trees and
shrubs. A windbreak on the north
and west is essential for protection
and shelter in open or prairie Sec
tions."
School officers in many of the state
aided school districts of the county
have already been made acquainted
with the new requirements regarding
bubbling fountains. In some of the
districts it means considerable ex-
pense. Some of the school officers
think a well will be necessary on the
premises for there are places where
water is brought to school in a pail,
from the nearest farm house, and wat
ler carrying task is assigned to some
of the larger pupils. A bubbling
fountain means a larger supply of
water, and it must be kept always
fresh.
Miss Rose Hack spent Sunday with
friends at Chokio.