School: Granton - Old Timer on School Program (1929)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Van Natta, Frisbie, Thompson, Crothers, Smith, Hawley

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) 1929

Old Timer on School Program (Meeting - 28 June 1929)

Probably the largest school board convention ever held in the county, met at the high school building, Friday. There were 292 who registered, some of whom were teachers; in addition to these there were quite a number who did not register besides several visitors, which would bring the total attendance to over 300.

Co. Supt. Margaret Van Natta spoke at the opening of the meeting in the forenoon.  Dr. L. R. Frisbie of the State Board of Health gave a fine address on general health, and precautions against contagious diseases, especially from the standpoint of school boards and teachers.

Prof. A. A. Thompson, Rural School Inspector, gave a strong address which might be entitled "What will you give?"  Mr. Thompson is one of the ablest school men of Wisconsin and is a veteran in the work.  He recalled that 35 years ago, when beginning his career as a teacher, he spent six weeks in Neillsville assisting Geo. E. Crothers, then County Superintendent, in a summer school here for teachers.  In the afternoon Mr. Thompson spoke again on recent school laws.  Mrs. Van Natta also spoke again. The latter part of the afternoon was taken up with the "Question Box"; Mr. Thompson answering questions relating to school law and policy which were written out and placed in a box.  All seemed to feel that the Convention was a very profitable one.

Miss Ada E. Smith helped Mrs. Van Natta in the registration work and other details of the program.

At Abbotsford on the Tuesday previous a similar Convention was held, at which 108 were in attendance.  Miss Marjorie Hawley, Supervising Teacher, came up from Stevens Point, where she is attending summer school, to help Mrs. Van Natta at this convention.