Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1919 — COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES. [ARTICLE]

COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES.

The Jasper County Board of Education met in regular session in the office of the county superintendent on Monday, Jan. 6. The following new members appeared in the meeting for the first time: John Bowie, of Wheatfield; Alfred Duggleby, of Kankakee; Walter Harrington, of Union; Julius Huff, of Jordan; Charles Wood, of Milroy. The following trustees Who succeeded themselves were present: Grant Davisson, of Barkley; John Kush, of Newton; Warren Poole, of Hanging Grove. Clifford Fairchild, of Keener, has been reported down with the influenza. It is also reported that Burdette Porter, of Carpenter, is down with the influenza. Mr. LeFever, of Gillam, and John Pettet, of Walker, were not present. Charles Postill, of Marion, sat in the board for the first time in 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. Sands, the truant officer, was present most of the meeting. County Superintendent Sterrett was selected president of tho new board by virtue of his office. John Kush was elected vice president and Charles Postill secretary. Messrs. Sterrett, Kush and Poßtill were selected as auditing committe for tfce 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 stoed unanimously in favor of holding the institute from Sept. 1 to 5 inclusive. Charles Postill made a motion that the schools of Jasper county convene on Monday, Sept. 8. Mr. Bowie seconded this motion. The motion was supported by unanimous vote also. John Kush made a motion that all members of the board act in accord with the decision of the Attorney General not allowing pay to janitors and hack drivers during the quarantine period. Mr. Duggleby seconded this motion. 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 w r as 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 inconveniencfe of a board meeting at 2 o’clock each board day. He was requested by, the chair to make a motion embracing his contentions. He moved that the meetings hereafter bq convened at 11 o'clock instead of 2. Mr. Poole seconded the motion. It was then submitted with-

out 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 hia 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 gath-> erings where contagion is equally aa •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 Jasper county’a townships. Gillam, formerly in class 10, is now in class 9; Union, formerly m class 9, is now-in class-8; Marion, formerly in class 8, is now an class 7. The trustee’s salary, expense, clerical, etc., are made more or less aa each township slides from one class into another. The trustee’s office prior to Jan. 1, 1919, was a position of honor, trust and loss. Now the position was made more equitable by being more an office of honor, trust and a little wee profit.