Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1914 — MONNETT-DE PEYSTER SCHOOL DOING WELL [ARTICLE]

MONNETT-DE PEYSTER SCHOOL DOING WELL

Distinguished Visitors Approve the /School Management—A Business Asset, for Rensselaer: After a two weeks’ vacation, the Monnett-De Peyster School fioj Girls resumed ts work Monday. The fall term, while not characterized by any marked advancement, has been one of substantial growth. Some greatly needed improvements have been added which have increased the efficiency of the work.. The sanitary conditions have been greatly improved by a new plan of drainage which has put the base men | play and Store rooms in perfect condition; and also by an additional bath room with complete fixtures. A fine new cement walk adds much to the appearance of the front, and plans are already made for an attractive lawn and flower bed when the spring opens. A fine new kitchen range has added much to the comfort and economy by making is possible to do practically all the baking for the family. A hew school room has been fitted up for the seventh and eighth grades and new black boards placed in the primary room. A fire escape has recently been added and changes, made in the building to render it as safe as possible from fire, and Chief Montgomery will soon institute a system of fire drills.

In the absence of a gymnasium a rude but serviceable outdoor basket, ball court has been provided and a friend of the school has furnished the ball, thus affording an excellent means of recreation and physical culture for the girls. Another friend of the school has loaned a first-class piano for the use of the higher grade music pupils. The health, scholarship, morals and the sdhool spirit have been all that could, be desired. Miss Mary E. Lunn; Who has been, successively, superintendent of the Boston Deaconess Work, the New York Deaconess Home, and. recently of the Dos Angeles Deaconess Home, has taken up the work of field secretary and will solicit funds for the iminediate and future needs of the school. Mias Wilcox, who has been performing the -duties of house mother, will also give her time to the field work and Mrs. Bessie Barr, just graduated from the Chicago Training School, will take her place in the institution. The school has been fortunate in securing the attention of recent distjainguished visitors. Judge Bartelme, former public guardian of Cook county and now of the Ohh cago Juvenile Court, after a visit to the school, placed a little girl for whom she is guardian, in the school. Dr. Chas. Fordyce, dean of the teachers’ college of the University of Nebraska, in a recent visit, commended the homelike spirit at well as the educational standards employed. Miss Ethel Clark of the Indiana State Board of Charities, was an interested visitor not long ago and expressed her approval of the general management in the home and the school life. *

This should concern the people of Bensselaer as an indication that this school is already attracting more than local interest and that the town is being recognized be cause of it. Moreover, the supplies and the labor for the improvements mentioned above were all secured within the town. The business management is wholly in the hands of representative buisness and professional men of the town and practically all the money expended for the school is spent in Bensselaer and the institution is becoming more and more a valuable business asset to the community. The School management acknowledges with gratutude the courtesy and cordial co-operation of the business fimte with which it has had ’relations this year and also the kindness of individuals who have given their services without cost or at greatly reduced rates. The number of these is too great for personal mention tout not for remembrance toy those in charge. Nor can special mention toe made of the splendid Thanksgiving and Christmas donations, but we do take this opportunity to thank the modest, unknown friend who provided our Christmas turkey. We trust that his joy in giving was equal to ours in receiving. The gfts of cash and donations by many outside of Bensselaer have helped to make possible the meeting of our year's expenses thus far, tout more help of, this kind is needed. This is not the place to rehearse the stories which illustrate the need of sueh a school, tout one urgent need of the sdhool should enlist the interest of every friend of children. One young girl who has been a student during the year

could not return alter the holidays because of Illness In her- family winch made It impossible to meet her expenses hem The school should have a provision for such cases as this. The citizens of R:r*selaer are invite! to visit the school and to learn for themselves of the w>rk that is being done Tor humanity >n their midst