Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-06-28
By ". CLYDE JOHNSON.
County School Supt
THE WAY TO LIVE

| found the above verse On the card
Of W. II. Lyndh, visitor for the
Springfield State Normal School. Mr..
Lynch visits the schools Of his terri
tory, then gives an interview to the
local paper in which he scores their
few follies and praises many copies Of
the paper, and mails them to the other
newspapers in the district. He is a
subscriber TO more than a hundred
papers, magazines, and the like.
He is a very jolly spirit, and is doing
a great work in his district. 1t was
my pleasure to meet him in our con-
vention at jefferson City a month ago.
May he live forever.
This was Mr.. Lamkin's first con-
vention, but to my notion it was
the best we have ever had. There
was more to be learned, more inspira-
ton, more enthusing and preparing US
for the most successful years work in
our history. Surely we may expect
great things under the administration
of Mr.. Lamkin.
The greatest feature of the CON-
vention was the work of DR.. Holden,
of the Agricultural Department of the
international Harvester Cmpany. His
work was so interesting and worth
while, that together with T. j. Wal
ker, rural school inspector in Mr..
Lamkin's office and possibly other
county superintendent, | expect to
spend this last week of the month and
of the school year in Chicago work
ing under him. / anticipate a very
pleasant and profitable weeks work.
AS this closes the school year, l
think we should recall the many good
things done by the teachers, children,
school board members, and patrons
during the year.
At least 81 schools are now ap-
proved and several more are ready.
| think we shall have 40 in another
year, or so per cent. Forty-one have
heaters, about six of them bought
this year, and others are getting ready
to buy. At least 10 have jackets which
is far better than the unprotected
stove. About a dozen have drinking
fountains to protect the health of the
children. Many guarded against
disease further by digging deep wells,
cleaning out the old ones, and purify
ing the water, cleaning the outbuild-
ings, and using chloride Of lime in
them. Who will be the first to
screen against the fly? One new
house was built. Macedonia and
Sneed with but one dissenting ballot
have just voted bonds, to put up a
modern building to cost 1900.
There are a half dozen others that
will do likewise in a few years.
And how could they make a better in
vestment of their money? At least
one building was remodeled, Elm Bend,
and a number made extensive improve
ments, adding a porch, anteroom,
solid foundations, and such like. Most
Of the schools held one or more sup
pers or entertainments of some sort,
and obtained considerable sums of
money for the purchase of library
books, and other much needed equip
ment. Nearly all of the teachers have
a f~irst-grade certificate or better,
many spend their summers in summer
school, and about a half dozen got
married. The salaries are slowly in
%creasing, but are not all what they
should be. Enrolment and punctu-
atty is increasing, but neither is
what it should be. Six schools last
year used free text books, and were
well pleased. About as many more
rural schools, also Vandalia and Lad
will use them next year. Far
Der has successfully done a years
work under consolidation, getting
three years work approved. Laddonia
has succeeded in becoming a first
class high school, and harrisburg now
gets two years. work accredited.
But time and space forbids that
many things be mentioned. Truly,
are moving in Audrain as
evidenced at the annual school cleo
lion, when one rural school voted 90
cent levy without a dissenting vote,
md another decided to build a school
house, besides the many others that
voted levies in excess of 40 cents.
Last year but one school got State
nd. This year six are eligible, and
.wO others are but 5 cents short.
Iery likely they, too, could have got
t, had someone made a strong effort
But nothing is too good for the chill
lren of Audrain county, and they are
Tot yet getting half they deserve.
t pays to invest in the best possible
ducation. That is what / am work.
ny for, and shall contiue to work for
n n capacity or another 50 long
IS | live, and here are my sincere con-
'ratulations TO you who have done
hese things for the best interests Of
our children.
NEW HOPE ITEMS
Bernard Sellers, wife and little