The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-22
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
Editor Er.eRre..,


In the RevissO OF Feb. 10th there is q dispas-
stonatc discussion OF the proposed amend
ments to the chart er OF tho Aankato school
district, which does credit to the editor for
the calm presentation of his view OF the case.
Naturally he has seen on'y one side, the side l
do not agree with, and therefore with all re-
speci 10 him ] may be permitted to present
the other side.
lido not propose to GOES der points which
meet the Reufew's appreciation or rather
which are not attacked-and hasten to com
ment on those about which we differ.
His objection to the proposed change of Sec
ton 8 is that the selection of teachers n all
arrangements for the new year are made by
the old board, and In addition that the old
boar may even levy the taxes and thus leave
to the new board merely the carrying out the
plans OF the old board, and the supervision of
the schools NJ planned by their predecessors.
AS to the first objection: Everyone tamil
lar with the history of the schools knows that
In the selection OF teachers, and 10 all ar
engagements for the new year, the one-half of
the board holding over have had the control
ling vo ce. Now the whole question resolves
itself into this: Which Is better for the
schools that part of the old members OF the
board should name the corps OF teachers or
that thu whole eight should do it2
Furthermore, 1t is fairly 10 be presumed
that members OF the board are not elected to
vote for or oppose certain candidates for GER
tain positions. The board has the power at
any time. for cause, TO remove any OF its en-
ployes. This certainly protects the best In
terests of the city, and no friend of the school
nnnlI eeak m anhtaof tho faaahawa 80 &Aa
the whims Of an election contest. AS con-
Germs repairs, and all matters which could be
put of until the new members were informed
Of tho condition of things, the past history is
witness that such delay has always occurred,
and In consequence several times such repairs
have encroached upon school time In Septem-
Der, and others were put of from year to
year, heaping up expense, because OF the un-
satisfactory state OF things existing under the
present charter.
The possibility that the old board might
make the levy for the new school year seems
q point worth considering. 1t is not neces.
sary that they houId make this levy because
no return must be made TO the auditor until
Oct. 10th, and by that time the new board
could be presumed to act advisediy. II
deemed best a proviso can easily be added,
making the tax levy the function Of the new
ly organized board, but since no part OF the
money LEVIED in any school year is practically
available until the e school year, this OBJ
lection loses its force.
While 1t is barely possible that the old board,
familiar with the condition of schools and
teachers, might impose obnoxious teachers or
other employees upon the new board, 1t is a
fact that the operation of the law as it Is at
present has repeatedly deprived our schools
of the services of LIS best teachers, because
there was nobody in existence competent to
continue their engagement.
The position of member of the board is an
honorable, and certainly a responsible one.
1t Is therefore meet and proper that these
gentlemen-unsalaried-and vet dealing with
far more serious matters thar the aldermen,
should be free to serve the best interests of
the district.
In regard to section 10. The objection is
based on the assumption that the board of ed
ucation will always levy up to the maximum
limit. Heretofore the board has been com.
PEELED to raise more for school purposes than
five mills would give, and to do this were
forced to raise such additional sum under the
power given in the present charter to levy
"for repairing school buildings and for the
principal or interest on any bonds or other in
debtedness." BY the proposed change they SIM
ply seek to do In a straightforward way what
any and every board has and will be forced to
do under the operation of the present law.
Under sections Z and II the board have pow
er to borrow money, and that they have habit
ually been forced TO do this the following TIA
BILE will show: