Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-01-09
SCHOOL NEWS
(By Mrs. Minnie O'Neil.)

Most of the schools of the county
are again in operation Some did not
find it necessary to close at all while
some have been closed ten weeks
The question of making up the time
has been troublesome one but the
situation has been somewhat relieved
by the action of the State Board OF
Education. The following letter from
Superintendent Ross will be of much
interest to both teachers and school
boards:
"While number of ways are sug-|
gested for making up time something
might be said in regard to them. 1t
has been proven that Saturday teach
ing one week after the other is not
satisfactory 1t would be better to
teach only every other Saturday
I We do not advise 1engthening the
school days especially for rural
schools. That can be done in high
schools, but the day is long enough
for rural and grade pupils.
1t would be much better to lengthen
the term in the spring. Please notice
that the diploma examination will be
held three weeks later than usual
At a meeting of the State Board
| of Education held December 20,
| careful consideration was given to
the school situation growing out of
the prolonged influenza epidemic and
the following resolutions relative
thereto were unanimously adopted by
the Board:
EtBe it resolved by the State Board
of Education, assuming that schools
may resume work not later than
January L, 1919, that if schools make
up at least one-ha1f of the time that
has been lost neither the credits OF
their pupils nor their standing as
schools will be called into question on
| account of time lost, and that fo1
making up this time any one or al
of the following methods will be ac-
/ ceptable: Teaching every school day
/ regardless of the usual holidays
4 teaching at least every other Satur-
day; extending the length of tbs
school day by equal additions to the
recitation periods; extending ths
length of the term in the spring.
''Be it further resolved that the
case of schools not following the
above suggestions will be considered
only on individual showing, and spec
ial investigation by the Board"
Since even this plan means tina
one-half of the time that has beer
lost will not be made up, it will b,
absolutely necessary in order tina
the course of study may be covered
as effectively as possible that all dis
fractions, extra school activities ant
E'side issues generally be rigidly ex
cluded so that there may. be no in
terference with the legitimate schoo
work; also that all but the most i'm
portant and essential matter be elm
mated from the course and the recita
tions to the end that by concentra
ton and speeding up'-by inten
sive work generally, pupils may no
be crippled in their further progres
in their school lives.
In keeping with the foregoing an
on the advice of the attorney genera
that in such an emergency it had tn
authority to do so, the Board ais
voted that he county diploma examin
alton for rural schools this year sha
be held on April 25 and 20, and fo
graded schools on May 80 and 81
also that the normal training an
: high school credit examinations
held on June and z.
There is no occasion and no autl
ority in law for considering the clo
ing of schools for the remainder
the year
II w D. Ross,
State Superintenden
II =