The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-02-20
Our Public Schools.


Ihe public schools are erected and supported
by the general public.
The taxes for public schools are LEVIED on Tie
people without par.iality Of iavoritism.
These two propositions being true, sush rules
and regulations should be established and adher-
ed to in tho management Of our public schools -
would insure equal rights and privileges to the
public in all matters pertaining to them.
This is what should be, but what is not md
can not possibly be, under the present system Of
Management For the school directors place them
selves in such position to the public that all their
acts must be governed by favoritism. Under the
present system, If two or more applicants who
are equally qualified as teachers, present them
selves before the board requesting that they be
employed to fill certain position in our schools,
there being only one position to fill, now let the
board Of education be ssked to whom of the tive
applicants they would give the position, would
it not be given to the one who had personally OF
by their friends the greatest influence with you2
Most certainly. This would be human, and the
people can never expect board that is compos-
cd of any better material. What is true regard
ing the employment of teachers, is true of jani-
tors also Of all matters for which money is paid.
Therefore, partality and favoritsm are evident
in every act of the board.
This favoritism is unjust and wrong, besides
being damaging to the public interests. It ID un--
just and wrong inasmuoh as it deprives equal
ability from an equal chance to gain position
or to perform certain acts. 1t is damaging to the
pablie interest inasmuch as it destroys competi--
ton and thereby enables the favored ones to OBJ
tain greater compensation for their services.
In consideration of the foregoing truths, our
school directors should place themselves in such
position to the public to be beyond the reach
of influence, and they do so by adopting
rules and regulations based on the following sug-
gestioas
Immediately after the election of the new
board, they should notify the public that in the
future equal ability and merit should have an
equal chance tor position IN our schools That
accomplish this purpose, they, the board Of ed
ucation, would, certain day, have examined
in their presence by the county superintendent,
ali aspirants for positions il our schools; and
having, by this means, ascertained the names of
the persons qualified, the position would be Civ
en- to the person who by proposal would teach
for the lowest price--the proposal to be made to
the directors under seal, and opened in the pres
ence of the beard and all the applicants Pro-
posas for ianitors in the same manner, also coal,
building, repairs, DC
The management of our schools to be based on
the principle that all other things being equal,
the position of teachers, janitors, contracts for
work, &C., shall be awarded TO the one who bids
the lowest.
Lest some overwise creature in this community
should construe for purpose) the foregoing
suggestions rejecting on the conduct OF the
outgoing school directors, the writer would
state positively, that nothing Of the kind is In
tended, and could not be, in fact since the pres-
ent board has followed the practice of their pre-
decessors in employing teachers, and in all 9TH
er acts for which money is expended. The sug-
gestons are intended for future boards, and are
based ON the experience not only Of the present
board, but of all preceding boards. That the plan
is practicable and just, must be evident to every
! one, and that it will, if adopted, be of immense
benefit TO the public is beyond question. Tho
writer would therefore suggest that the mex
board OF education be elected the issue Of
retrenchment and that the schools be operated
on the plan indicated by the above sugysstions
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