Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-03-02
SCHOOL NOTES
By W. CLYDE N
County School Supt

they have voted their 63-cent levy on =
the hundred dollars valuation, and u
have received each year 500 from the owe
state to aid them in running a good
school. This year the state offered $500
assistance and Fisher should have got to
that much, for they have also 10 sup saro
port a colored school. Three years kess
ago they had no library, and no equip dca
meme worthy of mention. At this lnity
time, Miss Ida Bolts and the pupils Aare
did the %janitor work and spent the
money for books. Now the library con-
tains more than 100 books, they have idis
a case Of good maps, a fine globe, some rust
beautiful pictures, the house has been - =
underpinned and painted inside and ay,
outside. Had they got the 5000 from olae
the state, they would have bought a sea,
heater and met the last requirement 20
for approval. They expect to do that ! a.
another year. Is there a district in
Audrain County that cannot do as well fk
as this? Has your district done as " ~
well2 Why? -
Monday, the Fisher and Bolts
schools celebrated Washington's
birthday by having a debating contest ME
at the Fisher school. Miss Cook had TX
regular school work until noon, when VIM
all her visitors had arrived, an excel 'oun'
lent basket dinner was served and u q
most heartily enjoyed by all present. aspi'
The house was crowded full. The pro- 'e nj
gram was splendid and was well en- 2 on
ljoyed, especially the debate. The VII
question was, "Resolved that Wilson's prs
plan Of preparedness should be car %
Iried out. Bolts had the affirmative and men
won the decision. Miss Beulah Craw- wn
, ford is the teacher. All the debaters vas
were Students in the schools thew rem Kun
resented, yet in my judgment the de- hea
J bate would have done credit to a high hu
school. A number Of the visitors were Faro'
5 teachers and editors from Mexico. y
hope other schools will try the same. Q ne
/ Tuesday, Superintendent Wilson Eaw
) held the School Board Convention Of ana
Pike County at Bowling Green. He pumi
had more than 10 in attendance, and ono
a very enthusiastic and interesting lake
: meeting, While visiting the meeting, icy
7 Ia.rned From, a r,erber of tho hoard of
t a few interesting facts about the con- Z an
q solidated school at Eolia. They have J
: the second hest building in the state. hem
costing $4,000. They have a first OF
lclass high school with three teachers
III =. a. -1-AL 49,. 1Lo., L.xto =
SIS pupils in the high school, the most - !
S of whom are from the country-in- heel
d deed 20, nearly half are nonresident Tons
e pupils. They pay $25 tuition. The "a
high school is costing the district this Elne
uaar IN toc on ,ho s,oo vol,ot;on acct
$330-their valuation is $330,000. ~
a They built two new buildings for the ing
s rural children Of the district. Now III
1t wouldn't you like to live in that dis 81
trict that you might send your boy or y
give to such a school as that? Or iere
better still, don't you want to help
organize such a district in your COM
munity? oh
hi Vandalia has a great school this ~.
year The enrollment in the high n /
IJCdls 1ht iAAt III az hi6h
d school is more than 100, and more a
than half Of those are farmer boys us.
m and girls. This is a large increase
over last year, and the same is true
. for the county as a whole, and yet We Y
G are told that if we establish. rural 2 "
e. high schools that the boys and rirls ns.o
o will not attend them! Mr.. TugeJ the -
m superintendent, has an efficient corps =
of teachers who are awake to the "ps'
g needs of the children of today. They 'ulsi
al have access to the splendid library Of 'oV'
S. the Teacher Training Department, ~
it and are making good use of the OPP
lie portunity. Several Of them spent the =
past summer in school - all are pro- Son'
is ~gressive. Mr.. Tugel has also a class aug
A. of bright girls in the Teacher Train
lie ing Department. The past two years ie'
in his class has outranked the others Of
ir the state, and it looks like the pres
ent class will keep Vandalia High in =
the lead. Not only that, but the for !"
mer graduates have gone out and =
r made good. 1t seems to me that =
here is a good opportunity for a board nD
n that must look for a new teacher.
Vandalia has spent a large sum
this year, painting the walls and cell :
O. ings, buying new pictures, $50 worth
If of books, apparatus and best Of all,
they have put in an excellent system
Of steam heat-a great improvement
s, over the hot air system. The best
a is none too good for the children of :
IS. Vandalia. =
10 Farber is still getting along nicely.
n, The examiner has not yet come, but
re he has promised to. Everything now
S is in good shape for him and | feel %
quite sure that all will meet his APP
~proval. Mr.. Morris told me that he III.
p tried student self-government for a 'eSs
IN few weeks. He and the pupils were m!
i we'll pleased with the results-at apo
a least the majority were, and sincerely mtti
wished to go on with it. / an sorry apr
thaE cand;,;on orosa .hot ,oado a III
w 1880 rov
seem best to return to the old system. sud
: In school we are preparing for life. II.
a Why not learn in school by experience s.
is how to take and will fill our places ia
. in the world outside? For, will we / o.
le not be called on to sit as judge or an
jury and pass sentence on our fellow hin