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Show OUR SCHOOLS (Concluded). UK DR. PAUL S. K1CI1ARDS. The decision of the Board to introduce kindergartens throughout the district and vo do the work in five years which is now done in the firse six elementary ele-mentary grades is a forward step of great significance and in harmony with modern tend encies. Decided improvements have been made in recent years in methods of teaching, curricu lum content, qualifications of teachers, school equipment, Ion ger school year, better attendance, attend-ance, and in numerous other re spects. With all these improve ments it ought not to be difficult diffi-cult to do in five years now what was previously done in six. By adding the kindergarten as a preparatory step in school work we are sure it can be made a success and that it will be possible pos-sible to turn out our high school graduates one year younger than we have done heretofore, and save one year in the life of each child after he reaches the age of economic value. Our teachers are far better nrpnarpd in thpir nrnfpssinrinl - 1 x - 1 -' du' ies than they were a few years ago, and a large percent ag of them are attending summer sum-mer schools, extension classes, and taking correspondence courses in order ip further im prove their professional attainments. attain-ments. The rule which elimin ated married women from the teaching profession in our dis trie1 displaced some of the very :nost efficient teachers in the vice. We shall feel their loss keenly, but in practically every 'sase, we have been able to replace re-place 'hem with well trained, highly recommended experienc-3d experienc-3d teachers. The rule requiring residence in the district, hereafter may vork a hardship on a few teachers, teach-ers, but once 'he rule is esta blished and all teachers become accustomed to it, we are convinced con-vinced that i1 will work to the mutual benefit of both teachers and schools. The "Clean School Contest" which was ini' iated last fall has resulted in better care of school buildings, school grounds, and school properties of all kinds, and has also stimulated greater interes in health and physical education which was made a part of the campaign. The campaign cam-paign is to cover a period of 12 months, and will not be con eluded until the 1st of next October. Oc-tober. Our transportation system has worked out admirably dur ing the past year. We are transporting trans-porting about 1500 pupils; re pairs and overhauling of cars are done in our own shops ; corn-Detent corn-Detent drivers are selected from among the most deserving s'udents, and we have been wonderfully won-derfully fortunate that serious accidents have been avoided. Our health work made commendable com-mendable progress during the year. Hundreds of physical de ifects have been removed, and .contagion has been kept well under control. Through vaccin ation and inoculation over 200o children were immunized to small pox, diphteritis and typhoid. typh-oid. The greater per cent of the 2000 children were in Bingham. The importance of health habits ha-bits and the constant care of the physical organism through proper diet, cleanliness, exer cise, rest, sleep and recreation have received the daily attention atten-tion of teachers and students alike. The County Healeh Department De-partment has cooperated with tis in making our health work the working relationship established esta-blished between that depart ment and our schools seems to hn highlv satisfactory and bene ficinl o both. The financial condition of the distric is a sourer of genuine satisfaction. Our flsscined valuation valu-ation this year will be about $15,000 per capita of school population. po-pulation. If conner con'innes jts upward course on the mxi-ket the va'natir n wil be still hiJier. Two additional years of pnsne iy in the mining industrv would enable eh. Bord to liaui-date liaui-date oif bondpd indebtedness cot"p.1pMv. When that shflll be accnmnlished. vith onlv the norj ition" b'Wrf, tiv 'ith -p11 of our new buildings splendidly equipped, the financial and phy sical condition of Jordan District Dis-trict will undoub4edly be the in te State of Utah. "This he place." |