Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1919 — COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES. [ARTICLE]

COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES.

The Jasper County Board of Education met in regular session in the oince of the county superintendent on Monday, Jan. ti. The following new memoers appeared m the meeting. ior the first time: John Bowie, or Yvneatneld; Allred Dugglefiy, ol Kanxaxee; Yv alter Harrington, of Union; Juiius Mud, ol jordan; Charles Wood, of Milroy. The following trustees wno succeeded themseives were present: Grant Davisson, ol Barkley; Jonn Jxusn, of Blew ton; Warren Toole, ol Hanging Grove. Cun ord r aircmld, of Keener, has Deen reported down wuth the influenza. it is also reported tnat -Burnette Porter, of Carpenter, is down wum tne influenza. Mr. LeT ever, ot Giiiam, and John Pettet, ol Waiker, were not present. Charles Postill, ol Manon, sat in the hoard for the first time m a way and also for the second time in a way. He succeeded Mr. Harvey Wood, Jr., by appointment last'November. That term of appointment expired December 31, 1918. His term for which he was elected began Jan. 1, 1919. Chas. M. bands, the truant officer, was present most of the meeting. County Superintendent Sterrett was selected president of the new board by virtue of his office. John Kush was elected vice president and Charles Postill secretary. Messrs. Sterrett, Kush and Postill were u > lected as auditing committe for the board. Upon a motion presented by Mr. Bowie And seconded by Mr. Duggleby to hold the county institute this year the first week in September, a vote was submitted and stood unanimously in favor of holding the institute from Sept. 1 to 5 inclusive. Charles Postill made a motion that the schools oL Jasper county convene on Monday, Sept. 8. Mr. Bowie seconded this motion. The motion was supported by unanimous vote- also. ' John Rush made a motion that ail members of the board act in accord with the decision of the Attorney General not allowing pay to janitors andhack drivers during the quarantine period. Mr. Duggleby seconded this mdtion. This subject provoked considerable discussion. The trusthroughout the discusson were willing to do all that was legal for fear that the accountants would cause them trouble. To them the trustees who left office December 31, 1918, without paying the bill did so to give

the newly elects a dangerous problem to solve upon entering the duties of their new office. Mr. Harrington finally called for the question and a vote was taken. It was voted unanimously to stand by the opinion of the Attorney General, whose authority is the highest in Indiana. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Bowie offered a few remarks eliciting the inconvenience of a board meeting at 2 o’clock each board day. He was requested by the chair to make a motion embracing hie contentions. He moved that the meetings hereafter be convened at 11 o’clock instead of 2. Mr. Poole seconded the motion. It was then submitted without further debate or discussion and was unanimously supported. Charles Postill stated that his teachers were under positive instructions to teach the schools until he ordered them to stop except in case the teacher became ill. That teachers were not to report pupils to the truant officer who were conscientiously objecting to school on account of the influenza. His position was that the schools stood open equipped with a teacher to receive all children whose parents were willing to send them. The presumption in case of absence should stand favorably to the pupils until the teacher was convinced that the parents were abusing the situation, Whence the truant officer should be notified. County Truant Officer Sands was present and expressed his assent to Mr. Postill’s position and recommended this position to the other trustees. Children’s parties, loafing about depots, stores, attending picture shows and other public gatherings where contagion is equally as possible as at school are some of the guide markings to test the sincerity of a parent’s fear of the epidemic. This matter was discussed in an arbitrary way but it met with the approval of all trustees present even though it is not recorded by the secretary among the minutes. The state board of accounts has reclassified several of Jasphr county’s townships. Gillam, f ormerly in class 10, is now in class 9; Union, formerly in class 9, is now in class 8; Marion, formerly in class 8, is now in class 7. The trustee’s salary, expense, clerical, etc., are made more or less as each township slides from one class into another. The trustee’s office prior to Jan. 1, 1919, was a position sos honor, trust and loss. Now the position was made more equitable by being made more an office of honor, trust and a little wee profit.