Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-07-25
Motion Made to Drop Pro-
ject as Federal Aid is
Questionable at Present.

The effort to establish a Smith
Hughes agricultural system in the
Askov high school was brought
to close Tuesday evening at a
special meeting of the school
board when it was voted to drop
the matter. Questionable Federal
aid at this time was given as the
reason.
The school officials and the
board have worked nearly a year
and half and had already gone
ahead with part of the project
so thought that a full explanation
of the sudden termination would
be in order. The following arti-
Gle, giving complete details, is
submitted by Superintendent Otto
G.. Hoiberg and has the approval
of each member of the Askov
Board of Education.
Patrons of Independent School Dis
trict No. II:
At special meeting of the Board
of Education held Tuesday evening,
July %, it was voted to give up the
idea of establishing a department of
vocational agriculture in the Askov
high school, for the time being at
least. This action was based upon
letter received few days ago from
E. D. Carstater, State Director of
Vocational Education, who stated that
the State Department of Education
has refused to recommend the estab-
liShment of vocational agricultural
department at ASkov and that it
would be questionable whether Fed
eral vocational aid could be granted
the Askov school for such a depart
ment.
Why the Delay?
A number of questions naturally
arise in the minds of interested pa
irons: Why has it taken almost a year
and half to discover that our school
could not qualify for a Federal-aid
agriculture department? Why have
time and money been spent by School
District No. II in preparation for a
special department which could not
meet with the approval of the State
Department of Education?
These questions are valid and can
be answered best by a brief review
of the correspondence carried on to
date between the Department of Edu-
cation and the office of the superin-
| tendent at Askov.
On January 81, 1899, a letter was
written to Leo L. Knuti, State Super
visor of Agriculture Education in
dicating that the Askov board of
education wished to establish an
agriculture department and request
ing instructions as to procedure as
well as "any other data of interest
| in this connection"
Mr.. Knuti answered that he was
very pleased to hear of Askov's in
terest in an agriculture department
and indicated that ''the next desirable
procedure would be to have me visit
your school and look over the stu
ation."
School is Inspected.
The proposed visit occurred on
March IA, 1889. Mr.. Knuti was un-
able to make the trip personally,
and therefore sent Harry j. Peter
sen, Assistant State Supervisor of
Agriculture Education, in his place.
Mr.. Petersen examined the proposed
setup during the afternoon and met
with the board of education that eve
ming and explained the various fac
tors involved.
We were given detailed information
as to how much we would have to
spend for equipment and teachers
salary, and as to how much money
we might expect in Federal and state
aids.
After the first year, for instance,
the annual cost would be about $500
for the department, and Federal aid
would be available to the extent of
approximately one-half of thi S
amount. The net cost to the school
district would thus be between 5000
and $l10O per year.
The board and superintendent were
faVorably impressed with the situa-
ton and felt that department on
this basis would be beneficial to Askov
community life and financially with
in range. Mr.. Knuti, in a letter of
May "a, 1889, wrote that Harry Pc
tersen had reported, after his Askov
visit, that che thought your school
would be fine situation for a de-
partment, were the proper facilities
Groom, furniture, texts, etc. pro-
vided"
Proposal Tabled for 1939-4O.
Because of the building program
and the uncertainty of the extent
to which district funds would have
to be used for new gymnasium equip
ment, the board of education felt it
advisable to table the proposed agri-
culture department for the year 1882
40. At its regular July, 1899, meet
ing a resolution to this effect was
passed.
A half year later, on January 81,
1910, Mr.. Knuti wrote to us indicat-
inc that he would ho o1od 70 boor &c