The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-26

lished by the members of school
boards. They leave their business
and spend many hours at night
working out the problems of tinanc-
ing some school with a most unset
fish idea.
The speaker said that he believ-
ed in curtiling present vast road
expenditures and spending more
money for education. He said that
there is plenty of state business
he did not believe in eConomiZing
TO any great extent in education,
for il is the bulwork of the nation.
"One of the greatest assets TO the
public schools of America is the
teacher. The teacher TO be worth
while must be in sympathy with tho
children and willing to sacrifice
herself for the sake of her pupils.
There are three vital things in
our American life. the home, the
church and the school. The great
est OF these is the home, where the
child spends its impressionable
years. The speaker said that it is
wrong to expect the school to do
home. The right start in obedience
II is best to keep church and state
separate. for every man has the
right to worship as he sees fit. The
best religion a child gets is at it's
mothers knee. In making this
statement. the speaker wanted to be
understood that the church has it's
place in the education of the child.
but II can not fasten religious re,
sponsibilities on the school"
Great Things Accomplished.
Professor n. II. Fuller. head OF the
de- partment OF rural schools at Man
kato Teachers college, was the last
speaker OF the evening. Mr. Fuller
expressed himself as more than
pleased with the results already OBJ
tanned at Rapidan. The speaker said
that with the proper co operation in
the future great things can be ac-
complished in the way~of giving the
boys and girls of that district equal
advantages with the boys and girls
of the city. Like County SuperintCu
dent Detamore, the speaker believe
in equality of education.
The meeting was brought to a
close by the entire audience singing
America"
Following this all those present
were served luncheon in the domes
| tic science department rooms in the
basement of the building.
History of The School
For several years the feasibility
and educational advantages to be
gained by combining the several dis
| tricts about the village of Rapidan,
as a geographical center for a con
solidated school system had been
discussed for some time pro and con
| b. citizens of the district. The idea
matured TO the point of taking def
mite steps toward fullfillment OF the
plan, the first of which was the pre-
Senting of plat Of land 10 the state
department OF education.
The plat was approved by J. NJ.
Mcconnell, state commissioner OF
education. on November 20, 1920,
ard ii included schools in districts
No. &c; Just school, No. II; The
| Spring Island school, No. 81: The
| Yaeger school and, the Rapidan Dam
school, No 100. To further the move
ment to make the school an assured
fact, a meeting was held in the
Spring Island school on December
8, 1920 George A Selke. rural school
inspector OF the state department OF
education and W. n Detamore, su
| DtElI VI saw
very full and frank statements, re-
| galding the success OF other consol
idated school systems established
! throughout the state and the cost oil
erection and maintenance OF such a
building.
The two educators especially en-
| phasiZed the problem OF transporta
ton as the most vital item of eX
penditurc to be met. They pointed
out that, as with any other co-op-
eratiVe enterprise, it's success de-
pended upon the liberal spirit oil
team work OF the community. Mr.
Selke and Mr.. Detamore urged
thorough consideration OF the pro
blems and an investigation of con
solidated schools already in opera
ton. This advice was followed out
by the promoters of the project and
in the spring Of 1927 a petition was
| circulated calling for an election on
the issue.
A majority of freeholders in al
but one district signed the petition
The election was held on May 4, 1921
and the result verified the indica-
.iops OF tho petitioners bv a vote OF
200 for the consolidation plan and
30 against il. An order of COnsolida
ton was issued OIL May of the same
year and a meeting to elect officers
was held soon after. The following
persons were elected to serve on the
board of education: w. l.. Council
man, A. r. Johnson, Y. A. Just, "
w. Hulce, A. o. Lee and l.. A
Yaegor To these men fell the un
enyiablc responsibility and task Of
building and organizing the new
school system. They devoted their
lime freely TO this big undertaking
in the true community spirit.
Bonds for the erection of the build
ing were issued for the new school
on December %, 1921. The plans OF
George Pass and Son. architects oil
Mankato, were accepted and The
contract for the building was let tc
Eric Carlstrom in January 1922
Work on the building was begun al
once and proceeded steadily through
the following months. ..
Description of The Building
The Rapidan school building pro
vides comnlete/ facilities for High
and Grade School work. with facili'
ties for, community activities which
are prominent feature in Conscsi
dated School districts.
For grade work FIVE completely
equipped forty pupil rooms are pro
vided. Each has west light which Is
ideal for school work and each is
provided with genuine slate black
boards, lacking strips, teachers cup
.oo.dc ord noat ronm adiOininP