The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-02-24

The meeting was called to order by
1.-THE President of the Board of Educa-
ltion, Hon. B. H. Marbury, and the
purpose of the meeting stated. Supt.
w. L. Johns was called upon to dis
lcuss "Some Present Needs of the
Pennington Public Schools" In his
discussion he pointed out the urgent
necessity of more room and more ade-
quate equipment for the Manual
Training Department; the pressing
need for a modern gymnasium, with
accommodations to provide proper IA
cilities for the physical development
of all pupils attending school in the
high school building, some three hun
dred and forty in number; and called
attention to the positive need, for
school activities, of proper auditorium
facilities. In the discussion of the
gymnasium feature of any proposed
building it was clearly pointed out
that such a gymnasium was not in
tended primarily for "athletic" pur-
poses where basket ball and other
comparative games were played, but
for daily work shop in which every
child accommodated in the high school
building would be given systematic
physical instruction and physical eX-
ercises under expert supervision from
three to five times every week. 1t
was shown that such gymnasium
would be in use practically every hour
during the day, and that pupils that
now receive little or no physical de-
velopment in school because of the
lack of space for such purposes,
would he given ample opportunity for
physical training. Such training is no
longer considered mere form of re-
creation, but very important part OF
every child's education. 1t was fur
ther shown that such training would,
without reasonable doubt, result in
greater pleasure and greater eff
cheney of the regular work of all the
pupils. The use of properly equip
ned gymnasium for purely competa-
tive athletics is entirely secondary
matter, and it would be utilized for
that purpose principally after the
close of school each day, and in the
evening. 1t was shown that in every
instance where well meaning citizens
criticise the building of a gymnasium
for school purposes, they have in
mind the purely "competative athlet-
ic" feature, and do not take into con-
sideration the use of such depart
ment for the proper physical develop
ment of all the children, and their re-
sultant better health.
In considering the Manual Training
Department, it was shown that the
room now used for that purpose is
entirely too small, and that the equip
ment Is entirely inadequate. The
present crowded condition Of that de-
partment makes it practically inpos-
sible to add the necessary equipment,
and more room is positive necessity
if even the present high school at
tendance is provided for.
In the matter of an auditorium OF
reasonable seating capacity, 1t was
shown that such room would be IN |
almost constant use throughout the
regular school day. In the present |
plan of departmental work in teach |
ing our high school and the upper |
grades, it is necessary that for music,
special lectures, and many other forms |
of special and modern instruction it is
necessary that pupils be congregated
in larger rooms where equipment un-
known in the regular class room can |
not be provided. A good many have
felt that special school auditorium
would be used only in special exercis-
es held during the evening. and that |
for special school purposes it would be
simply luxury. Such is not the case |
The evening use for school exercises, |
community gatherings and the like is
purely of secondary Importance. The
auditorium would be in daily use and
is school necessity if our pupils are
to be provided with the kind of school
training that they deserve and that a
progressive public now demands.
Following the first speaker, Mrs. o.
w. Bleeck, President of the Parent
Teacher Association, was introduced
in a very throughtful address ex-
planned how and why the Parent
Teacher Association had endorsed the
movement, and why from the stand
point of interested parents the new
improvement seemed necessity. Mrs. |
BIeeck's wide acquaintance through
out the state and her careful observa-
tion of the school advantages offered
in other communities, enabled her to
speak with authority on the need of !
such advancement for Pennington. |
Mrs. Bleeck was followed in turn by |
Rev. King, Mrs. w. N. Flaming, Mr.. |
w. s. Rariden, member of the |
Bocrd of Education for more than
twenty years, Rev. Thogmorton, DIR.
Courtney, w. N. Fleming. Sec. of |
Board J, p Cayce, and others. All |
agreed on one point, that the children
of Pennington deserve the very best |
possible school facilities available.
There was possibly some difference of
opinion as to the exact manner of pro-
viding those facilities, but all present |
seemed willing to discuss the matter
with an open mind, and were open to
conviction if any plan could be shown |
to be the best plan.
Secretary Cayce indicated in his |
discussion that from legal stand
point the district was in a position to |
vote a series of bonds not much ex-
ceeding $160,000, but expressed it as
his opinion that it would be unwise at
this time to undertake so ambitious |
q proposition, and thought it possible
to meet present needs by an issue of |
some thirty or forty thousand dollars,
that would in all probability be re-
e l. L,