Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1920 — COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES [ARTICLE]

COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES

By Co. Supt. Sterrett

Big “better schools” programs are In progress from one end of Jasper county to the other. The Rensselaer city schools gave an afternoon program in the primary building last Tuesday and the remaining portion of the school gave an interesting program in the evening at the high school building. The Kankakee township program was given in the presence of 117 persons on last Friday night. The program was given by teachers, patrons, pupils and the trustee. Trustee Duggleby led In the open house discussion. Those appearing on the program were: Mrs. Sands with her primary class; Goldie Hodge, Anna Jasperson, Elizabeth Clawson, Eva Turner, Mrs. Milt Jones, Lila Delahanty. Music was furnished by the high school chorus. Miss Addle Harris, the principal, was the guiding spirit of the evening. The meeting at Rensselaer opened at 8:30 and closed at 10:45. The meeting at Tefft ran until after the midnight hour. The Hon. W. L. Wood went to Fair Oaks last Tuesday night where he assisted in their program on this school betterment program. A large crowd listened to a masterly talk from the ex-state official. Miss Ruth Watkins, teacher at Blue Grass in Newton township,

gave a better schools program last Friday afternoon. The school gave an Interesting program by way of Introduction. Papers had been prepared by the advanced pupils dealing with problems of Interest to the school patrons. Trustee Rush was present and gave an excellent address pertaining to the school situation in Newton township. Trustee Postill has been perplexed with the congested situation in the primary room in the South Marion Consolidated. There are fifty pupils under one teacher, which is ample work for two full time teachers. A solution will soon reach a culmination, but just what it is has not yet come into realization. The schools at Union in Jordan township were closed last week on account of an epidemic of scarlet fever. Trustee Huff will likely hold these schools closed until after the Thanksgiving vacation. There appears to be many cases of scarlet fever in Jasper county and the number is increasing. Teachers should not hesitate to send children to their homes when they are not well, regardless of symptoms. Care should be exercised by the teacher to disallow any farcical cases of sickness. Some parents and children will use the scare unwisely unless the teacher Is alertlve as well as firm. A very successful program and box social was given at the Surrey school last Friday night. The school presented a number of recitations as the "’prelude of the evening. The chief address of the evening was given by Trustee Postill of Marlon Township. MY. Postill expressed himself in *»very convincing manner

relative to better schools in Indiana. Mr. Postill was followed by Trustee Rush, who expressed himself as favoring better schools in Newton township. After the speaking Mr. Postill sold boxes and encouraged spending for prizes until the Surrey school netted a neat little sum of about $27. Miss Gifford, the teacher, had her domestic science pupils exhibit their practical work. It was pleasing to note some of the accomplishments along this line. The Marion-Newton teachers were hosts to the Union township teachers in their regular joint institute at North Marlon consolidated last Saturday. A pooled dinner of wonderful proportions was served In the domestic science parlors. The fried chicken was but one of the many Items on the menu. A few afterdinner speeches from Messrs. Postill. Blue and Campbell gave a happy closing to this sumptuous affair. A better schools program was given at the Barkley church last Saturday afternoon. The program onened by all singing “America.” Ex-Trustee William Folger of Barkley township opened the program with a talk on the schools of today, yesterday and tomorrow. Mr. Folger was followed by Charles M. Blue of the Parr schools, who was at one time a resident of Barkley within sight of the Barkley church. Mr. Blue gave a supplemental talk to

Mr. Folger along similar lines except that his experiences were personal, hence different. Mrs. Jordan of near Gifford gave a well-received extempore talk upon the school history of Newland and vicinity. Mrs. Jordan is a pioneer resident of that vicinity. Mrs. Jordan was followed by the Rev. John Dean, the local pastor, who gave a masterly talk along educational lines. Prof. AT C. Campbell, principal of the Fair Oaks high school, followed with a reminiscent talk which explained that the speaker taught school in Barkley township several years ago, but that the Barkley of today was a different Barkley than when he taught at Gifford. Mr. Campbell was followed by Mrs. Frank Schroer of the Blackford district in Barkley. Mrs. Schroer read a carefully prepared paper enunciating her ideals of a model school. Mrs. Paul Hall of the Pleasant Grove district closed the program with a carefully prepared -paper wherein she gave her idea of what she hoped her little girl would get in the schools in her locality. The Pleasant Grove boys and girls under the direction of their teacher, Miss Evalyn Hauser, rendered an excellent number on the program worthy of commendation to both teacher and pupils. The success of the program was largely due to the Initiative of Miss Jennie Eib, teacher at Burnstown in Barkley. The better schools programs are still in vogue in Jasper county. The chief aim of the state department is to get the people to thinking about their schools. If their home school is defective then it is well to give the matter publicity. Without pub-

llcity Indiana will continue to drift। along without apparent interest in the biggest institution in the state.’ It will also stimulate local pride in communities where the schools are functioning properly. Thus it will awaken a sense of shame where the schools are defective and a sense of pride where the schools are entitled to commendation. No harm can result when a campaign produces such wholesome results. People are prone to drift until they are accused of drifting whence they will rise in resentment and strike with gratifying retorts. Therein lies the friendliest campaign that has been put on in Jasper cdunty in years. The liberal-, ity of the pre%p in Jasper county has been one of the primary aids in reaching practically every home. It is with a keen sense of highest regard for the newspapers of this county that the county and township officials wish to voice their appreciation. Indiana resents seventeenth place educationally and Jasper county resents any other than first place unless peculiar local conditions absolutely prevent It.