The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-03-10
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
GRANTED BY BOARD
ROSWELL G. PUCKETT TO AT
TEND UNIVERSITY

Action Taken That Will Permit
High School Principal To Be
Away From Duties One Year;
Extension Of Religious Instruc-
ton; Various Reports Submit
ted To Directors.
Roswell C. Pickett, now serving
his third year as principal of the
Mankato high school, has BEEN
granted a years leave of absence
without pay and will not be in the
nigh schools work for the school
year and closing In June. 1923.
The board Of education, in session
at the high school building yesterday
afternoon, agreed unanimously to
grant the request Of Mr.. Pickett that
ne be allowed year in which he will
attend Columbia university, New
YORK City, for the purpose of obtain
ing MS master of arts degree.
NO arrangements for a temporary
successor to Mr.. Pickett have been
made at this time Plans of Mr..
Pickett include teaching in the de-
partment of education of the Uni
verslty OF South Dakota at Vermil-
Ion this summer, after which time
ne viii proceed to New York Mrs.
Puekett, during her husbands stay
IN Columbia has accepted a position
home economies in Wittenberg col
lege, a Lutheran institution, in
According to the terms of the
leave granted the principal will re-
turn to resume his duties here in
september 1923. He was only recent
elected for the post to succeed
nlmser for the year 1922 and his
salary was fixed at $4,000 per annum
Extend Religious instruction
The board voted yesterday to COM
ply with the suggestion of the minis
ter1al association and religious in
struction in the public schools will
De instituted at once for pupils in
grades from three to six Inclusive
Already instruction of this nature
IS IN effect for the grades seven to
eleven inclusive
Jack Spencer, business manager of
Inc Otaknam, high school publica-
tlon, appeared before the board Add
outlined to that body the financial
needs of the annual number in order
70 make that publication a fret class
issue. He explained that with ali the
varied income of the senior class.
there will probably be a deficit in the
nelghborhood Of 800. Acting upon
precedent set last year, the board
/ voted unanimously to allow the sem
ior class financial aid, available at
once. to the amount of 500 and should
mere be need for a slightly greater
amount later, the matter will be con-
sloered as the need arises
Aid For Teachers College
/ Mankato's city schools now
quantity of domestic science equip
ment whfeh is not in use and after
some discussion the board voted to
empower Superintendent e. s. Selle
to loan or make such ARRANGEMENTS
as ne sees fit with the officials of
( the State Teachers college relative
10 the colleges use of that material
1t Is probable Athat some of tbs.
equipment will be installed in one of
the large college dormitories.
! Superintendent Selle reported that
the work Of the school and city Ii
Josephine Squires, has been mu%.
than satisfactory to the school au-
thorities. He explained that the
schools are getting excellent helm
and cooperation from the librarians
and that the money spent by the
board of education for library pur-
poses is drawing more than value re-
ton are now being given in the
schools by both Librarians.
Truant Officer e. Fraser Soaring
made his report which showed a de.
crease In cases necessarily visited
The total fell from an average of
| thirty to twenty for the past month.
Submits Draft OF Budget
superintendent Selle submitted a
of the budget for this part OF 1923
which has already passed and the
report shows that the expenses are
being kept well within the amount
allowed in budget. The total allowed
was $10,435 and there is balance at
this time of $1969.91.
NO other business except the reeu
lar allowing Of bills was transacted
by the board last night. Bills from
work on the Lincoln school were ex-
amined and allowed. Those of the
board who attended the meeting
were Mrs. b. ID. Smith, General Gus
tar Widell, w. d. willard, r. A. Jen-
sen, e. A. Engwalson
On. March IA and Is there will be
number of firms from Chicago and
otner places send samples of school
furniture to Mankato and on those
dates 1t is probable that furniture for
the new Lincoln school will be
bought. Mr.. Engwalson reported that
while in Chicago in search of sniff.
able furnishings for the Lincoln
building, he learned that prices on
that kind of goods has dropped far
from its high peak and that in his
opinion there will be chance to
buy most economically. There will
be at least five firms here on the
dates named and possibly more
| w. e. Willard made a short report
of the state meeting Of scNo
In the cities which he attended with
General Widell several days ago. Mr..
willard said that the sole reason for
most gboard's attendance was TOR the
purpose of obtaining some precedent
that would enable them to 20 home
and lower teachers salaries. He ex-
planned that all over the state the cry
was to cut salaries and that II was
not only, from the communities where
band financial situation obtains. No
cut in wages for teachers was made
in Mankato for next year.
HYYnYT5 A urvzeN ~