Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-12

First-The Board permits each Truste
to control absolutely the affairs OF his ow
district. This constitutes one school DEF
pot, with ample opportunity to be es selfish
prejudicial and small as he pleases, an
veil his actions behind the Board. Anothe
objection to the one Trustee idea is this
Even if he be honest and competent b
lacks the backbone and matursd plans
given by counsel and divided responsibility
This last thought is an important one. Il
all those States where certificates are issue,
by the County Superintendent, the exam
nations practically amount to nothing
One man seldom has the moral force t
withstand the implorations of an UMPIRE
pared applicant, especially if her relative
are numerous and influential. Friend
ship. pity or fear breaks down the system
But Board brace and nerve one anothe
until they can and do send away near fit,
per cent. of the applicants to make bette
preparation for the important vocation
they would SO lightly enter
So with Trustees; one could hardly with
staud the pressure that might, and fire.
quentlv would, be brought to bear upor
him, to sustain an unworthy, hstless bu
good-natured teacher
Second-The districts in these townships
are governed by Board, the majority O
whom do not live in the district whose
affairs they control, are not accountable tc
the people, the destiny of whose children
they control, and who are not affected by
the consequences of their own acts The
schools or Florida Georgia, Mississippi
| Nortn Carolina, South Carolina and Wis
| consin are organizations of this class.
| Under this head would fall the sugges-
ton | freqaently hear, that the County
Board of Education, or q committee OF
! in anArrna41npo1
should appoint teachers, and pass upon the
manner in which they discharge their
duties. This system is in vogue in several
of our cities. We all know the result.
The schools are as much "spoils " result
ing to the successful party, as are any
other of the municipal departments OF
| government, and young ladies have been
| compelled to " see" the boss in order to
hold their positions. This system adopted
in counties would make the Elective Board
a schening party machine. The member
who could make appointments where they
would do the most good would be the sue
cessiul one. Theoretically, the plan of
having Board of Experts elect teachers,
sounds well. Practically, it. like the cleo
ton Of United States Senators, would soon
become somber tinged, if not dyed in cor
ruption and dirty politicalism.
do not believe the world is growing
worse. In fact it is my confident opinion
that from the time the only man in it
worth saving from the deluge, got besstly
drunk, to the present hour, it has con-
tlnually become purer and more honest, as
well as more cultured and refined Yet
the desire to acquire wealth has ever over
come the virtue of many men. All exper-
fence is that the temptation to become rich
by defrauding the Government mas been
harQpr IN rrSJGf thar, nthar. Dkah1
because the loss falls on 10 one in particu-
lar, and because the crime is more easily
accomplished than any other theft or
fraud. a still stronger reason for it lies
III the fact that society is prone to c0ndone
this crime; and instead of ostrac.zing the
criminal and burning him up with uni
versal contempt, it frequently, an, too fire.
quenuy, lavishes its caresses upon him and
assigns him to posts of honor. There is
no evil to-day doing so much 10 undermine
the characters of young men. and sowing
broadcast seeds of dishonesty and doubt;
none that threatens society and assais the
very foundations of our government, as
does this one.
Up to this hour the school system has
remained pure, since honesty has marked
its administration. Although one-fourth
or more than one-fourth of all the taxes
collected in the State are devoted to public
education, no frauds or populations dis
grace its expenditure. How long would
this remain true if small Board were 10
absolutely control the expenditure of from
$4,000 10 $4,000 per annum? God
pity the results on the morals of our chill
dren when they hear parents and teachers
talking OF thefts and frauds, By men in
honorable positions, of the money devoted
to their education. 1t seems to me that the
ofT
the system in that neighboripg Peniten-
tliary where convict was heard 10 re-
mark - am here for swindling. and the
State has put me to making shoes with
pastehoard soles." The democratic system
is that in which ths people elect Trustees,
with powers plenipotenrary.
Our government rests on the idea that
our people are capable of self government
Stop aud take in the scope of this accepted
plalitude. Il includes government in its
every function and department If the
people are capable Of passing upon laws
affecting revenue, property, domestic rela-
tons, morals. and even human life, they
can successfully manage their school af-
fairs. We may safely say the will of the
people is law in school matters as well as
others.
The popular will is carried out by chosen
officers. They are held to their proper
duty by an admirable system of checks and
balances. So there are checks upon Trus-
tees, to prevent their abusing tEeir author
ity. They can not employ a teacher unless
he first shows himself competent 10 teach
u is q 1gt,e check that prevents Trustees
from passing upon his competency; fer in
those States where this is permitted Trus-
tees license the person they desire TO en-
ploy without much regard to bis qualifca-
10 ole 2l,.- Il No.
| tutes board of experts to examine teach
ers-
Our method Of levying school taxes. in
stead OF leaving it to be done By each dis
| trict, is great means of securing liberal
! and equal education. The restriction
! placed upon the use Of he State fund, The
creation Of q library fund, the forfeiture of
balances unless an eight months school be
maintained, are most salutary checks
J The right of teacher who has 8 written
| contract, to appeal to the County Superin-
| tendent, in case OF dismissal, without being
| driven to tedious, expensive and doubtful
lawsuit, is plain simple matter OF justice.
! This is a check that | would extend by
striking out the word written" by GREAT
| ing committee of appeals to consist OF the
| County Superintendent and two members
| of the Board of Education, and by making
! the presumption conclusive, that teachers
are employed for the full term, unless the
contrary appears IN writing.
| can think of no other limit that |
would place upon the power of Trustees.
Every system has its faults Where ours
is al fault the remedy lies. not in taking a
backward step toward older forms, but in
the education of the people. Under our
| system there are cases where Trustees act
arbitrarily ignorantly and most uniustly.
But these are human characteristics and
assert themselves under every form of ad-
ministration. Ny experience and observa-
ton is that the great body of Trustees, like
the great body of the people, are wise and
Just. In fact, they are long suffering and
! full of mercy" much more prone to forgive
and overlook the faults and shortcomings
of teachers than to punish them.