Wichita eagle., 1888-03-22
THE PUBLIC soHooLs-A LOCAL CRISIS

| To the Editor OF the Esgle.
Are the citizens of Wichita sufficiently
awake to the bearing of the election near
| at hand on the educational interests of the
| city? The terms of Office of lust one-halt
| of the members of the board expire with
| this year, and their successors are to be
| chosen this spring Some of those who 90
out and In fact nearly all of them, have
| been long identified with the management
! of the public schools. They may not have
| brought the schools to an ideal state of
| projections; none will be more ready to ad-
nit this than those who have labored the
hardest and most intelligently. But will
! the people think enough, and enough to
the purpose, to send back TO the board
men as good or better than those who
go out'
Nearly two years on the city board of
! education, besides acquaintance with
schools all my life, have taught me some
thing about the character and composition
of a competent school board. | viii ven
ture to make some suggestions on the sub
ject, in the hope that they will be SO re-
ceived as to do some good.
First, a member of the board should be a
man of high moral character. Whatever
his social position, wealth, education or
party service, if corrupt or corruptible, he
should be elected to stay at home. Then
he should be an intelligent man. 1t is not
necessary that he have been through the
schools and colleges and that he be in the
highest sense an educated man. But it is
needfUl that he be an intelligent man.
That means more than that he knows the
current news and what the newspapers
say He should be man of broad infor-
nation and sound judgment. Whata pity
to set a man to the task of directing
thought who has never really learned how
to think or what is thought. A man who
goes on the board ought to have some
thing of consciousness public spirit
would almost say that he ought to have
some spirit of self-sacrifce. 1t is almost
the last place where man who is mercen-
airy. partisan or self-seeking ought to be
allowed to 60 l do not see how a man
can do his full duty to the public and or
the board without giving more time to the
school than the hour of the meet
ing of the board Will the voters of
Wichita test the candidates who are
brought forward by some such
standard as this? VIII the best citizens of
Wichita. without regard TO party, sect or
nationality, see to it that the best men are
put into the board of educationf Let
iguoramuscs and demagogues be elected to
stay at home.
am much impressed with the need of a
variety of talent on the board There
ought to be large representation of
shrewd, sound business men-men Of af-
fairs. men who know how money is made,
how to keep it and how to spend it wisely.
There ought to be representation of me-
chanics and competent builders on the
board. They can be of great service in
their special line of work. There should
also be some men of thorough education
on the board, and, If possible, men who
have had practical experience in schools
beyond the public schools. II sensible, in
telligent. upright and active men from
business, the trades and professions can be
chosen they will, in my Judgment, make
the best possible combination. write in
the interest of no party, clique or combina-
ton plead only for the best-for men Of
character and mind for the board Of edu-
cation. Now. is the time to attend TO this
After the election grumbling will do no
good if the wrong men be elected.
z. J. BROWN.