Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1920 — COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES [ARTICLE]

COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES

A very successful rural educational conference was held at Tefft Wednesday. The roads were so drifted that the speakers for the occasion were compelled to go by train. Those who took the train from Rensselaer iwe-e John Rush, Warren Poole, Burdett Porter, C. M. Sands, Stewart Learning and JM. L. Sterrett. At Demotte they were joined by C. E. Fairchild. The party landed in Tefft at about 11 o’clock. Trustee Duggleby had previously arranged a sumptuous chicken dinner for the hungry /men. The domestic science department of the school served this dinner in a fashion that is deserving of highest commendation. Mr. Duggleby had given five of his best corn-fed fries, which were prepared superbly along with the rest of the superfine trimmings. The crowd began gathering early so that the preliminary school program opened at 1:30. The primary room, under the direction of Miss Poole and Miss Lottie Porter, put on a play and drill that was excellent. The intermediate room under Miss Lila Delahanty put on several recitations that won applause after applause. A stage had been erected for this, occasion ana it was nicely decorated. Following this school program, which was about a half hour in length, came the rural educational program of the "day. Principal Paul W. Ashby gave an excellent little address of welcome and then turned the meeting over to the county superintendent, who acted as chairman of Jthe meeting. The firsft speaker who appeared was Trustee Porter of Carpenter township. Mr. Porter gave a strong talk emphasising the taxpayers’ investment of their funds in educating the boys and girls in properly equipped buildings. Mr. Porter was followed by John Rush of Newton township, who spoke on ideal school conditions. Mr. Rush outlined his idea of an idehl school, building. Mr. Rush was followed by Warren Poole of Hanging Grove township, who gave sevegyfc-easons why teachers preferred tnWconsolida/ted schools to that of the oneroom building. Mrs. Duggleby gave an excellent and forceful little talk on the interest mothers have in

their children. She showed how a mother's sympathy In children’s play, their work, schooling, etc., etc.,’was of great service in Shaping the lives of the children. Chas. M. Sands felt at home among his fellows and expressed himself very emphatically as proud of his native township. He urged Kankakee township consolidated schools should show growth as the school grew larger. Mr. Sands was followed hy County Agent Learning, who spoke in a pleasing manner about the merits of the school auditorium as a socializing center. The speaking closed with Trustee Dug.who kept his audience in continnousViaughter with his puns and Trustee Duggleby catered to fie suggestions of Mr. Sands by snowing that the greatest present need of the school at Tefft was roami for home economics and land for agricultural and school gardening experiments. He advised the taxpayers to purchase the several lots adjoining the school grounds which could be purchased very reasonably from Ex-trustee Elwood Davis. After Trustee Duggleby had spoken upon the point the county superintendent called upon several of the taxpayers, who responded unanimously favoring the proposal submitted by Mr. Duggleby. Some of those who responded twere Messrs. Maloney, Fitzgerald, Turner, Albin, Stalbaum. Besides these were Misses Peregrine, Jones, Seegrist, etc. Prof. Ashby estimated 125 'patrons present who favored the project without any opposition from any angle. There is a fine school spirit among the citizens of Kankakee township who are willing to do anything to keep their school efficient and set an example to the tardy townships. ~ The next rural educational conference will be held in the west court rooim' at Rensselaer Monday, Feb. 2. This conference is designed to get the impressions from the taxpayers of Newton township relative to the construction of a centralized school or the rebuilding of the one-room structures as they now are and have been for the last 5 0 years. The cost of either runs about the same.