The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-05
IsY r. KENNETH EVANS.
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What are the school facilities?"
This question is always uppermost in
the mind of a man when seeking
a city wherein to locate which will
provide all the advantages most
parents desire for their children.
Every father and mother is interest
ed in the welfare OF their children
and wish to provide for them as ade-
quately as possible all educational
advantages.
There is not single thinking man
of today but realizes that with the
swift march of progress in the
world, and especially here in Ameri-
ca, the coming generation must be
more fully equipped to meet new
problems than were many of their
fathers. Taking this into considera-
ton there is nothing of greater i'm
Lortance in the upbuilding and ad-
ancement OF community than the
maintenance of adequate school Ia
cilities.
B.ue Earth county as a whole is
exceptionally well equipped from an
educational standpoint and Mankato
is known as the educational center
OF Southern Minnesota. With its
unusual facilities FOR all manner OF
scholastic training this city is yearly
attracting greater numbers OF fam
lilies and young people from other
towns seeking an education. There
are colleges, academies and schools
of varied intent and purpose. The
individual may find in this city train
Ing along any line he may wish to
pursue. 1t has been conservauvely
estimated that the number OF per-
sons receiving training in the schools
of Mankato last year would go wei
above $500, this including the child
rem attending the parochial and pun
lie schools as well as those taking
work in the academies and colleges.
The citizens OF Blue Earth coun-
" and Mankato have always made
concentrated effort to bring about
any needed improvements in. the
school system which would increase
its efficiency. Every year additions
or some new features are added
which serve to keep this system In
the fore front in accordance with
the growth and advancement OF this
section of the great wesS
Look into the life. OF a town
that is proud of its 'educauonal "a
cilities, spends generously OF It's
money for the maintenance OF ats
schools. where everyone works Tor
the development of such educational
institutions and you Will lind a city
wide awake to all phases OF ad-
+. yapcement, educationally,g morally
and commercially. On the other
hand. a city which pays little atten-
ton to the upkeep OF its schools,
ueglecting its educational possipnl-
ties is usually non progressive
community taking the course OF the
least resistance.
The public schools OF ManKalo
have long been we'll established and
the character of their work has been
the growth of years under super r
vision of competent directors The
first public school in this city was
held in a little log cabin which stood
lust a short distance from where Lne
franklin school now stands. rms
was in the year 1855. The first school
building in all this part of the state
was that old log house and that WIN :
ter's term was, without DOUBT, the
first school taught in this region 10
a building erected for school pur-
poses and paid for by puplc TAX
The enrolment was thirty seven
The contrast between that little
school and the present modern sys
tenn throughout the county presents
i'm a vivid way the advancement and
growth which has taken place during
the course Of the last half century in
Blue Earth county.
The Mankato High School
The Mankato high school system
includes one senior high school anc
two junior high schools; They are
recognized for their proficiency, the
senior high school being memoel
of the North Central Association o.
Colleges and Secondary SCHOOLS
They consist of the grades. seven u
twelve, inclusive of the city system
of..schools. The senior school con.
sists Of grades ten, eleven ant
twelve; the junior school OF grade:
seven and eight and nine. The las
wear of the Junior and the three
wears of the senior school CORES
nopd to the usual work of the tradi
tional four year high school course
This year there are 4l6 pupils en nt
rolled in the senior school, whlcf
Graduated a class Of lat last year
The lincoln Junior hiSn school hal