The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-02-11
SPERRY is RETAINED;
BOOSTING OF SALARY
Head of the Mankato Schools
Reelected BY Board
From Thursdays Daily.

Frederick J.. Sperry, superintend-
ent of the city schools, was re- elected
at last nights meeting of the school
board and his salary was raised from
$4,000 to 1900 year. Just how the
vote stood was not reported and the
discussion was carried on in execu-
tive session.
Mr. Sperry thanked the board, and
remarked that in view of the some
what stormy session and some re-
marks that had been made he had been
rather inclined to expect a dismissal.
1t looked as If he referred to remark
made by Judge Evan Hughes to the
effect that the superintendent had
gone about the establishment of the
night school in somewhat independ-
ent manner, and to an observation
by President w. B. Davies that some
teachers had been chosen over the
objection of the superintendent and
the results had been good. But all
ended amicably, and with general good
feeling.
-, Night School Approved.
~ An account of what had been done
in the way of establishing night
school for foreign speaking adults
was received from Mr.. Sperry. Mr..
Sperry told how the project had about
been given up, but was revived by
W.. D. Kasper, United States natural
ization examiner, who came to Man
kato from st. Paul for the purpose and
made a canvass of the foreign speak
ing residents. The result was that on
Tuesday night of this week the night
school was started at the Pleasant
Grove building with seven students.
p. ]. Slettedahl was teaching it. Mr..
Slettedahl was willing to take the
school for three nights week at
81 so a night. He was a student OF
the normal, who had had some ex-
perience at teaching. 1t was expected
that the school would grow larger.
Judge Evan Hughes criticized the
superintendent for starting the night
school without having had a meet
ing of the committee on schools, and
he also SPOKE of the great amount of
expense that the board had been un-
der IF late for this and that improve
ment ard innovation. He was afraid
the night school would nrovn a more
expensive proposition than had been
anticipated.
- .- SnOui0 NOt DC OttH9y
o. G.. Olson thought if any good
could be ACCOMPLISHED by having the
night school. the expense should be
met willingly. President d. C. Da-
Yies expressed the view that the night
school would make better citizens of
the foreign-speakirg people ard that
vas rea''v what il was for. Secretarv
r. +. Soaring thought the idea would
he taken up enthusiastically. and he
told an interview he had with a son
OF Herman Knoff, member of the
night school committee of the Com
nnercial club. The yourg man was
so enthusia etic abcut it that he was
willing to bring two Scana'navians to
the school each night in his automo
bile.
Dr.. Beach, however. made the rath-
or striking remark that a great many
peonle living in this country were
traitorous]y inclired ard vet well edn-
Gated. end he believed that if edrca-
ton had the effect Of making traitors
out of the poorle from foreign conn
tries. they had better not be edu-
Gated.
Tried for Three Months.
vidin~ that the night school be tried
and if it proved successful. that it
he continued for three months Judge
Hughes, who complained Of the tx
pense, did not vote. hut the otN"r
members present, w. b. Davies. l..
T. jefferson. Dr.. w. A. Beach, Mrs.
r. d. Smith, Erick Epgwalson and
o. G. Olson, all voted aye. The
matter of hiring the teacher was left
in the hands of Mr.. Sperry.
DR.. Beach remarked in this con-
nection that he believed all of the
teachers should be hired and dis
charged by the SUPERINTENDENT. Mr..
Davies rejoined that in some cases
the board had hired teachers against
the will of the Superintendent and
they had turned out first rate.
Mrs. B. d. Smith of the school
committee reported that Miss Daisy
Ada Cooley, teacher Of English and
algebra in the hieh school, had re-
signed. Miss Cooley has secured a
position in ono of the high schools of
st. Paul Her place has been taken
for the time by Miss Emma ]. Hall.
It. was the recommendation of SUI
perintendent T.. j. Sperry and the
school committee that Miss Hall be
given the place permanently. This
was Endorsed by the board. Miss Cool
av's resignation was ACCEPTED and Miss
Halls salary was fixed at $50 per
month.
Was Elected Before.
Miss Halls home is in st. Paul
She is a graduate of Carleton col
lege. She has had about eight years
experience in teaching. mostly at
P'ue Earth and Pipestone She was
ELECTED tn. that same position by the
Mankato board last summer. but was
obliged to ask, for a release on ac-
count of illness. She afterwards had
an operation.
Pr. w. A.. Beach, chairman of the
committee on property and expense,
reported that just one set of bids
had been received for Horoscopes on
the Pleasant Grove, West Mankato and
Franklin schools. These bids were
presented by the Mankato manufac- 4
turing company, which agreed to place
steel and iron fire escapes on these
buildings one on the southeast side
of the Pleasant Grove school for sos,
another, on the southwest side of the
West Mankafn cchpOI for S10e ord on