Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-02-12
POPULAR EDUCATION.
The School Bill Signed BY the Govern or
TO-day-The Executives 0ongra-
tulations and Criticisms.
The Militia Claims Investigatlon--Elsht
Normal Schools Demanded-Pro.
ceedIngs In Both Houses.

Apropos Of the signing of the school bill
by Gov. Prince and the mention of the
name of Hon. Amsdo Chsves, of Valencs
county, as possible appointment as ter
ritorial school superintendent, it lie well to
remind the people, that while the latter
was speaker Of the house of the 26th ley.
islative assembly, he was unequivocalIy
and strongly in favor of free public
schools and supported by vote, voice an
influence the public school bill then
pending in the assembly. How
ever, the opposition was then
100 strong and Mr.. Chaves efforts III
that direction we're unavaiIing Whether
or not Mr.. Chaves receives the appoint
merit, he will BIZ III the future rs he has
been in the past, true friend of educa
ton and of American public schools,
which he attended for years i'll the city ol
Washington, and before he attended aud
graduated at the University at Washing
ton and received his diploma as an at.
torney and counselor of the supreme
court OF the District of Columbia.
NEW SCHOOL LAW.
The public school bill vas signed by
the governor shortly before noon TO-DAY
and the announcement of the fact was
sent to the assembled houses accom-
panied by the following:
| have the honor to notify you that |
have this day approved and filed with
the secretary of the territory house Till
No. So, AN act establishing common
schools in the territory of New Mexico,
and creating the office Of superintendent
Of public Instruction"
While sending this notification can
not refrain from congratulatlng you and
all the people of New Mexico on this m,st
important and SUSPICIOUS event, which
constitutes an era in the history of the
territory, will attract thousands of intel
ligent immigrants to our soil, and above
all insure to every one OF our children the
blessings Of an education which is the
key to prosperous and happy life.
The bill just signed, like all compre-
hensive measures, has its defects, and |
take this opportunity to call your atten-
ton to few points which should If pos
sbIe be remedled by q supplementary acc
before the end of the session, in order
that the educational system adopted may
not be crippled in Its execution.
l. The act calls for meetings from time
to time of the territorial board of educa-
ton, but no provision IS made for paying
the expenses of the members 1t is not
right to expect the president of the agri-
cultural college to pay the cost of trip
from Las ,ruces to Santa Fe at the time
Of each meeting. This can easily he reme-
died by providing that the necessary trav-
cling expenses shall be paid out OF the ter
ritorial fund.
2. Teachers institutes in each county
are provided for. These are OF the great
Est Importance, especially in our present
situation, az we have multitude of
teachers who have never learned anything
If the art of imparting knowledge, and
these institutes, ii properly conducted, are
really short normal schools. 1t Is to be
hoped that they may be held for a week
i'll each county, at least for two years to
ONE. But there is no provision for pay
lng any expense OF the institute. To make
them effective, instructors of special
qualifications and experience must be
present 1t is impossible to carry them
Oh without some outlay. This should be
provided for, or very important clement !
Il the school system will be paral zed
3. The provisions regarding examna-
ions and certificates should be made
more comprehensive rs well as definite.
There is nothing in the law which makes
he possession of q certificate essential to
,nploy ment rs a teacher. This require.
nent is absolutely necessar, i We are
o improve the grade of teachers, and rid
'ur schools of those who arr incompe.
ent. Justice to the tax payers who
,ear the pecuniary burdens, as we'll as to
he chlldren to be instructed, demands
hat thooe en ployed to teach shall possess
he proper ability.
The employment of unfit persons,
trough partiality or sometimes even frotu
ity, has been one OF the worst faults 10
ne past. There should be an absolute
rohbllion OF the employment Of any
lie Who has not certificate; and the
ranting of these certificates should be in
le hands of those free from local or
ersonal influence. Even if the granting !
certificates of the lowest grade be ,
lowed to he made as now provided in
le act, those Of higher grade should
9 issued only by a territorial board, in 4
rder that the system may be uniform, i
nd the certificates may entitle the hold. =
3 10 act in any part of the territory. 8
4. The tax clauses OF the act, do not !,
tempt any property whatever from as r
ssment. This Is contrary to the uni. :
,rsal American system and palpably :.
rong. Everywhere public property rs
ell rs that used exclusively for religious, !,
aud charitable purposes is ex- :,
upt. 1t is ~ absurd to tax capitol or ',
court house or school +
lllding itself, as it is unjust to tax n
urch, a cemetery, q hospital or an or "
IAN asylum. The omission OF proper :,
emptIon clause was no doubt unlnten- :,
,ualy, but ii is none the less unforlu- "
Ite and should be promptly remedled. 4
, endeavor to enforce the lax clause as :,
stands would be abhorrent to publc :,
ntlment, and would simply render the "
" obnoxious, and give its enemies an %
sumeDt for it's repeal. !.
i trust that the few defects thus briefly "
timed, may be remedied without delay. j.
lgned) l.. BRADFORD PRINCE. ;,
Governor OF New Mexico. =,
THE COUNCIL. 7;
YESTERDAY AFTERNOONS SESSION, "