BURT COUNTY SCHOOLS

AS to efficiency and valuable assistance in all war work drives, the teachers and members of the boards in rural districts were in the lead. They were the agency which made the wheels go round, all home activities were nurtured by the rural teachers and school boards. W. T. Poucher, county superintendent of public instruction, is a dynamo of energy, and a natural born organizer, he had the confidence and respect of all the school organization, affording him the opportunity to put the effective war-work machinery in motion through the teachers and pupils that reached the home of every one in their respective districts.

  The county council of defense by its questionnaire cards obtained the property qualifications of every resident in the county, and on a percentage basis figured out how much each should subscribe to raise the quota assigned the county in each and every drive. Each school board was informed of the amount apportioned to their district on the property basis, also the amount that each patron should subscribe in proportion to what he was worth. Cards were distributed, informing each patron in the district of a meeting to be held in the school house at a certain day and hour, and that they were expected to be there and subscribe their share. The moderator presided and called for each to announce the amount which was recorded by the secretary. Usually it did not take more than an hour to raise the quota assigned the district. Each district held their meetings at the same hour, each phoned to the county chairman the amount raised, then he wired to state headquarters, that Burt county had gone "over-the-top." It was an easy, simple method that permitted of no shirking, each gave support to all demands on the county in proportion to what property he owned. Of course, many gave more than was required, in some drives like the second Red Cross, over double the quota assigned was subscribed. All the Liberty Loans were conducted through the school district organizations. Also all the food-card pledges and other conservation information were handled by the teachers, pupils and patrons in the same way. Superintendent Poucher, teachers and school district officers are entitled to much credit for their efficient work, which made it possible for Burt county to be entitled to first place in state and nation in most all drives to raise funds to win the war. As a compliment to the school district officers the list of names and number of their district follows; if it were possible the names of teachers would be included, but the changes are so frequent that three different persons performed these duties during the war period in the same district: