The Mena weekly star., 1919-07-03
SCHOOL NEWS.

Supt. Wilbanks has issued diplomas
to l02 girls and boys who have COM
pleted the common school course this |
year While this is indeed an excel |
lent advertisement for the county, and
a great individual achievement for
the pupils, the county at large has
much to accomplish since the total
number of eighth grade graduates is
only about 1871 per cent. of the total
number of pupils who enter our
schools. An effort is going to be
made to increase this percentage.
The attention of the members of the
various school boards is respectfully
called to Section 1869 of the school
law, which requires the fling of
teachers contracts Immediately after
the contracts are made. More eff
Gent service can be rendered by the
county superintendent if the informa-
ton contained in these contracts is
available at the beginning of the term
rather than at the close of the first
month.
Directors are also requested to send
in the enumeration reports as soon as
possible. July 20 is the time limit for
the filing of these reports. If any
district has failed to receive blank
report, one can be obtained from the
superintendent.
On account of lack of funds in
the state department of education.
the county superintendent will be
unable to furnish daily registers to
all the districts this year. Superin-
tendent Wilbanks has only nine copies
which viii be given out to the dis
tricts which need them first. Other
copies can be obtained from Nails
Bookstore, in Mena, at SOC each,
postpaid.
The directors of Pine Hill and New
Hope districts have taken a long step
forward by purchasing new desks for
their schools. District 1S is building
new house and intends to furnish
lit appropriately Cedar district is
progressing nicely with it's new house.
Union Grove intends to use the plans
furnished by the state department in
the construction Of it's school house
Shady school opened June 30 with a
very good attendance. All of the di-
rectors and number of patrons were
present and all pledged themselves
to help Miss Seabie Jones make her
school success. Miss Jones will
certainly do her part. These people
intend to clear the grounds and 9TH
erwise improve their school property
this summer The pupils made ex-
cellent records in the spelling tests
and they will easily exceed the STAN
dard required of them before the
term is over.
The averages of the June teachers
examinations showed the need of es-
pecial preparation in three of the
same subjects that the March ex-
aminations showed. These three are
arithmetic, spelling and theory and
art of teaching. Surely all teachers
should be efficient in these three sub
jects if they hope to succeed. 1t
might De suggested that there is
something wrong with school sys-
tenn that graduates pupils who are not
thoro in spelling and arithmetic
two subjects that the student will
probably use most after he leaves
school. Superintendent Wilbanks
will use standard tests and measure
ments this year in both arithmeti,
and spelling with the hope that TIL,
standard may be raised.
The Teachers Circulating Library
is becoming very popular There are
now AZ books in the library, includ.
ing the state reading circle books fol
1920. Late books received are;
"The Science and Art of Teaching"
by LaRue.
Moral Education" by Engleman.
Public School Administration" by
Cubberley
A majority of the active teachers
of the county are members now