By JIM THOMSON 



Aif't (diter, lAA Racerd 



farm west of Franklin. His major cash 

 income comes from the raising of 150- 

 200 hogs annually. His major crops are 

 corn and soybeans. 



Gibson also is serving as chairman of 

 the Morgan county school survey com- 

 mittee. He would appear to be the log- 

 ical man to put at the head of a com- 

 mittee seeking the betterment of rural 

 schools. 



In fact, the Franklin high school board 

 president was asked by State Superin- 

 tendent of Schools Vernon Nickell to 

 serve on the state school survey commit- 

 tee and the state school association ad- 

 visory committee. Gibson declined the 

 invitation because of the press of farm 

 work and other duties. He said he was 

 afraid he couldn't devote the time the 

 job deserved. 



Besides farming and serving as presi- 

 dent of the school board, Gibson has 

 been vice chairman of the AAA since its 

 start, spending much of his' time in the 

 AAA office in nearby Jacksonville. He 

 is also president of the National Farm 

 Loan Association at Jacksonville. A vet- 

 eran of World War I, he is a member 

 of the American Legion and the Jackson- 

 ville Kiwanis Club. 



Speaking on rural elementary school 

 reorganization, Gibson said: "Sientiment 

 for reorganization is far stronger now 

 than it was a few years ago. The con- 

 sensus of opinion is that there are too 

 many one-room schools in our county and 

 that we are going to have difficulty rais- 

 ing enough taxes to meet the state teach- 

 ers' minimum salary law." 



The beautifully landscaped, eight-room 

 Franklin high school, which cost $42,000 

 to build during depression years, reflects 

 the high standards demanded by the 

 North Central Association. 



A superficial glance through the rooms 

 reveals clean, attractive surroundings 

 with up-to-date equipment, including an 

 unusually large library, maps and charts, 

 and visual aids equipment. 



Prmcipal Harry Fitzhugh and his staff 

 enjoy the full confidence of the board. 

 Fitzhugh, in turn, appreciates the co- 

 operation of the board in providing 

 needed equipment and instructional sup- 

 plies. "When they see the value of any 

 of our requests," Fitzhugh said, "they 

 are quick to follow through for us." 



Board President Gibson hopes some 

 day to see vocational agriculture added to 

 the curriculum. Meanwhile, Franklin 

 high continues to enrich the community 

 with young men and women leaving 

 school with a finer and clearer sense of 

 values in no small measure because of a 

 slight, quiet farmer who believes that 

 nothing that can be afforded is too good 

 for the education of the youth of his 

 community. 



Above: Charles P. Gibson (right), Franlclin high school beard 

 president, chats with Principal Harry Fitzhugh on the front steps 

 of the Froniclin school. High educational standards of school are 

 due in no small part to Farmer Gibson and the close cooperation 

 between school board and faculty. 



S=^ 



Left: At their farm home Mr. and Mrs. Gibson loolc over the 

 certificate he received from the Illinois Education Association and 

 National School Service Institute in recognition of his dis- 

 tinguished service to the public schools of the state of Illinois. 



JUNE, 1946 



11 



