Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-02-19
TOWNSHIP vs.. DISTRICT SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
Editor W(tlllur Tribune:

81 CM.
Editor Wtll,nar Tribune:
The proposition to change our
public school system from the old
and tried District to that of the
Township plan, IL transition
freighted with possibilities of no
small import. Whether they be pos
sibilities that shall act for veal or
for woe in the future life of our COM
mon schools, ia the problem just now
confronting and tating thefriends
Of educat ton.
Much has been said in favor OF the
change and much that is Of no force
considering our different environ
ments and circumstances. State
Supt. Pcndcrgast suggests that "the
proof Of the pudding is in thecating"
and endeavOrs to substantiate his
position by n host Of witnesses who
testify as to the epicurean flavors OF
New England puddings. But we
must remember that the East is
tlensely settled as compared with
the West. And even then we must
take those testimonies with some de-
gree Of allowance. They were all
from the upper ten of the educa-
tional forces Of that section. We did
not hear from the people themselves.
We heard from the friends of the sys-
tem-nOt it's opponents. 1t can not,
Of course, be denied but that the
township scheme offers some adyan-
tages over the district system. 1t
probably offers an economy in OK
penditures after the change shall
have become an accomplished fact
should it become such. This saving
would be effected In two ways: l. A
less number Ut schools. This, in
very many instances, would he of
great advantage to the schools, con-
sidered, not only as an economic
question in the saving OF the running
expenses, but, also, by uniting two
weak and half.hearted schools into
one strong, vigorous "hive," would
add greatly to the efficiency of the
same. 2. By having centrally To-
Gated a grammar or higher school
and employing a competent teacher
ut good wages, there might he had
three or four small houses in the
outer edges Of the township for the
smaller pupils, If not in winter at
least III summer, where cheaper
teachers could be had to preside over
the budding and pcatic genuiees liv-
ing In the territory contiguous there
to.
But whatever may: be said of the
advantages OF the township system
where practicable, it can not. it
seems to me, he successfully denied
that it is eninently impractical-as
has been suggested by the Argus
that such a system should obtain in
this western and northern country,
this home OF the northwestern biz
card, coming us it SO often does,
with scarcely a moments Fremont
ton or warning; this land of deep
and constantly drifting SHOWS,
where for weeks at times there is no
team road scarcely passable.
But there is one count in the indict-
nent against the township scheme
that is, to my mind, paramount to
every other. l regard the present
agitation OF a change from the dis
trict to that Of the township system,
the more especially when considered
in connection with some otoer coin
cident incidents, as prOgnistic of dan.
ger to our civil liberties. do moi
like this Capitalization policy. The
school district is, in it's governmental
function, the most nearly n pure
democracy of any feature IF ou1
representative government. Supt
I'endergast suggests that the pro.
posed scheme will cut down the mum.
Der OF persons representing the peo.
pie in each township from IS to 3.
see no benefit to accrue from that
One who was reputed wise has said
that Tin Il multitude of counselors
there is safety." If ours is, az Lin.
coin said, 4 government of the PEG.
pie, by the people, for the people
then the more completely the govern.
ment is in the hands Of the people
the better. There is tendency
among the wealthy, and even among
certain type of churchmen, and
fear the same principle is beginning
to obtain even among certain etluca.
tors, of forming in this country an
aristocratic form Of government
They are beginning to repudiatc the
principle enunciated iii the national
Constitution that all men are ere
ated equal. with certain inalienablt
rights, and that the government de-