New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-01-24

held q trump pet. % only the swiller,
through which the whistle comes. /,
The School Question.
Intelligent reasoners are gradually
awakening to the defect in our public
school system. II 4 late number Of the
3 Forum We read the following very true
ltconcclusion by DR.. N. Rice, continued
BY 2 commentary compatible with his
linitiatory assertions.
The public school system Of the United
States as atpresent constituted, saws he, IS
entirely without a found ton. The board
Of education OF each locality is PRACTICAL
lly vested with absolute authority to .on..s
duct its schools il accordance with any
whim, and conseq uently it is not far.
wrong to say that there are in our co,,n-
try as many school systems as there are
cities, towns, and country districts. Are
the results OF q system which grants these
privileges to lay boards Of education SO
flattering as to justify US in the belief
that the ideal system of schools lies in
absolute local controll I believe not. It
| is claimed by the advocates Of our pres
lent system that absolute local control is
ideal, because it Offers the most favorable
rtunities for advancing the schools
and that the opportunities for introduc-
ing radical reforms would be greatly di-
minishcd, if the local officials should be
hampered by laws which would limit
independent authority. But those who
use this argument leave out Of consider
alton that absolute local authority affords
as much opportunity to INSCRIPTIONS
members of school boards to plumber the
schools, as il does to conscientious per-
sons to raise the standard Of these insti-
tutions. And, IS under existing condi-s
tons, there is nothing to prevent new
board Of education from DESTROYING 1T
single sweep, all that may have been
done for years BY faithful workers to-
place the schools upon q proper founda-
ton, the system has q dangerous feature
Of leaving the interests Of the children
without any protection whatever, beyond
the good will Of ward politicians. IN q
number Of our cities the schools have
reached . degree Of excellence that, all
things considered, places them among
the best schools in the world. But If by
8 turn Of politics these schools should be
brought under the spoils system their
downfall Is almost sure to follow.
The danger which threatens the latter
has already been made manifest by. In
consistent changes ID the curriculum for
the sole purpose, IS il has been limited
ct, to aid booksellers, and those who
bring about these changes. Can We look
for trnc progress whore the motive for
= change in the curriculum is to rob the
parents rather than to look after chill
dren's INTEREST," Let our citizens forget
party il this IS wen as in other matters
OF equsI Importance, and invite the gull
81 ones to spend few summers at those
resorts known as penitentlaries; for in
our public school system lies the hope
Of our nation our future prosperity JOUR
Z
liberty, every thing We hold dear to our.
hearts. Let It be free from al that
which threatens 70 mar ita progress as 1.
practical educator OF the masses. Let IL
be foatered as the dearest institution in
the land, and to al who are not in favor
Of this, cry hands Of |!