New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-12-12
A few Flaws in Minnesota
School Laws.

FelloWIeachers:-ld desire to call your
attention to-. subject relative to our
school laws, which is Of vital impor.
lance to you as teachers and to the peo-
pie who support our rural schools.
The school laws of Minnesota are SO
deficient that reform is very desirable
in many instances, I have alluded to
this subject years ago in this paper and
now desire to repeat my sentiments rela-
tive to this subject. hoping that some Of
our independent teachers will be suffi.
GENTLY aroused to take judicious delib-
GRAFTON in this matter and act accord.
ingly.
The present mode of electing Supt.
of Schools is condemnable for reasons
which will presently discuss. The
present system of licensing teachers
should be dispensed with, and the man
ner in which they are frequently en-
.ployed and resigned has an Ineffective
bearing in promoting the profession of
pedagogy and the welfare of our coun-
try schools, and ought to be amended.
Under the elective system it frequent
" occurs that man is hoisted into Of
flee who is morally, mentally and ply
sically incompetent to fulfill the SUI
preme duties of this responsible office.
Voters of independent school districts,
who generally control the ballot of a
county, but who are not directly con-
nected and interested in our country
schools, frequently give preference to
the man who is their fellow toWns-man,
and who may be of commercial import
ance to their respective business estab-
lishments- means of patronizlng
their stores and other adjustments,
or who, without the Office, would be-
come public charge. They discard all
to qualification and thus, it
happens that the proper man Is not al
ways secured for this important Office.
1t frequently occurs that political lea
ders whose ignorant sons and daughters
aspire for certificates, use all means to
hoist the man into Office whose pro-
pensity is propitious towards granting
said certificates regardless of qualiti-
cation,
1t frequently occurs that churches,
lodges and societies, politically assist
the man whom they recognize as their
or friend. regardless Of ability.
Thus il is seen, that the Office becomes
ostensibly corrupt in degree noxious
to our school system. It may be sug
gested to our next legislature to act
upon this question and lift this all-im-
portant Office beyond the reach of in
partisans and favorites.
Persons who are utterly disqualified
are frequently licensed as teachers be-
cause their relatives or friends may be
of great political Importance and adj
vantage to the Co. Supt. on election
day. This ought to be prevented. The
teacher should be made state official.
He should be examined by state board
of examiners; and his certificate should
be valid in all counties of the state.
Under the present law the sole power
to reappoint or resign a teacher, rests
with two members of the board. / have
had ample opportunity to observe the
evil results of this law. The best teach
ers who fail to please or favor personal
ly two members of the board, are incl
dentally refused disappointment and
have to resign their position to others
of inferior qualification. On the other
hand it frequently happens that teach
ers of small calibre are kept in the same
position for years because they know
how to keep on the good side Of the
board.
Moreover, I could cite cases where
school boards were even offered Indirect
brides for the positions which they had
for sale, and in some instances these
brides were secretly accepted. IWould
suggest then, that while the first APP
pointment of a teacher should be left
with the board, it would be preferable
to leave the re-appointment or discharge
of..that teacher to the voters of that dis
trict.
| earnestly hope that the independent
teachers of this county possess sufficient
enthusiasm to agitate this subiect-to
frame q bill to be presented to the next
legislature, that will answer the pur-
pose and remove the above stated evils.
and thus do noble act and make an
important step towards promoting the
welfare of our country schools. AS
long as pedagogy is not elevated to the
standard of a vocation SO long will our
school fail to accomplish the purpose
which the state has designed for them,
viz: to educate our youth to useful men
and women indispensable to grand
republic like the United States.
Respectfully,
AMI r DoMEIEp