The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-03-16
County School
Board Convention

Pursuant to call of Superintendent
j. Clyde Akers, at least nine-tenths of
the school districts of our county were
represented by their board members
at this important meeting, which was
held in the High School building at
Pennington last Saturday, the 10th
inst. This large representative body
of school officials was augmented by
the following leading and prominent
school men of our city high schools:
Supt. Melcher of Bonnie Terre, Supt.
Danuser of Esther, Supt. Jadwin of
Leadwood, Supt, Jones of Desloge,
Supt. Baker of Frankclay, Supt. Johns
of Pennington, Prin. Knight of Mitch
ell, Supt. King of Ste. Genevieve
county and Mrs. 0. w. Bleeck of
Pennington. If an earnest school
spirit existent in our county had ever
been questioned, this great meeting
and the intense inter manifested by
each and every one present would
Danish any such imaginings. The
convention was formally opened with
devotional exercises led by Supt.
Johns of the Pennington schools, af-
ter which County Superintendent
Akers stated the program for the day.
The first subject, "The Rural School
Problem" was introduced and very
thoroughly and intelligibly presented
and discussed in it's many and diff
cult phases by Mrs. o. M. Bleeck of
Pennington. Mrs. Bleeck pointed out
many of the hindering difficulties and
defects existent in the present day
rural schools and suggested some ex-
Her presentation of this important
rural problem elected much applause
and paved the way for many interest
ing and profitable discussions, chief
of which was made by Supt. Melcher
of the Bonnie Terre schools, not that
all of the discussions were not inter
esting and instructive, but his mas
terly way in picking out the flaws
now existent and suggestions as to
remedies made his talk extremely
gratifying and pleasing to all present.
The remainder of the forenoon session
was devoted to another all-important
question, "How to Get the Most Eff
cient Service from the Teacher" This
subject was very ably presented and
analysed by Supt. Jadwin of the
Leadwood schools, whose clear in
sight of the problem made it very ev-
ident that his knowledge of what the
equipments of a worthwhile teacher
should be and how they may be OBJ
tanned, was not superficial but pene-
trated to the inner heart of the sub |
ject. Many instructive points were
brought out by all the participants in
the debate of this vital subject. Our
Superintendent was not silent on any
of the topics discussed and his views |
are always pregnant with information |
worthy of the most thoughtful con-
sideration. The School Board ques-
ton was given thoughtful considera-
tion at this meeting and was clear to
be seen that all present realized that
the duties of the boards and the in
fuence they exerted and could exert
had a vital effect not only on the
present but the future of the schools
of their jurisdiction. We are sure
that all will take up their arduous du-
ties with a new zeal realizing that
they in very great measure hold the
destiny of their respective schools
in their own hands.
Mr.. Thomas, president of the Board
of Education Of the Knob Lick Con-
solidated Dist, made some timely
suggestions which were heartily re-
ceived. His idea, concisely stated,
was that boards should be unit in
school affairs, should be in perfect
accord with each other, that they
should lean heavily on the County
arm for counsel and
advice, in word, that hearty and
friendly cooperation should always
maintain in their closely associated
educational county heads. This end
ed the forenoon session.
Promptly after assembling for the
session the subject Of San !