The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-31
FOR ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Recommendations of the State Teachers
ASSOCIATION OF South Dakota.

the puDllc SCHOOLS are watching the
proceedings Of the state legislature
with great interest. The State Teach
ers' association has always had much
influence in matters relating to educa-
ton, and because of that fact 1t will
be interesting to note the action which
has been taken to influence legislation.
In 1894 the educational council, then a
branch of the State Teachers associa-
ton, at it's annual meeting at Parker,
Immediately preceding the meeting Of
the state association, had for it's con-
sideration the educational systems Of
several Of the northern states. The re-
suit Of the deliberations of the council,
after carefully comparing the South
Dakota system with those Of states
prominent for their success in educa-
ton, was q resolution requesting the
appointment Of a committee by the as
ISOLATION to investigate the system of
schools and report Upon a practical
plan of revision. The report was
adopted n the request complied with.
A committee of five was duly appointed
for the purpose mentioned, consisting
of b. f. Hood, chairman, of Huron;
j. w. Shannon, of Huron, president Of
the board Of regents; DR.. Louis Nc
Louth, president of the agricultural
college; Superintendent w. w. Girton,
Of Howard; n Superintendent Sue ].
Neill, Of Deadwood.
This committee spent much time il
careful and laborious investigation al
quite a sacrifice to themselves. The
school system of this state was care.
fully reviewed n compared with the
system of states prominent for their eff
Gent schools. The report was made tc
the meeting at Huron last December
and the committee on publication, con.
sisting Of C. M. Young and George NJ
Smith, has just prepared for publication
d clear statement Of the report as Il
was finally presented. These recon-
mendations cover practically the whole
ground of the needs of the South Da
kota schools and are as follows:
The educational system of the state
should comprise all state institutions and
all schools which are supported in whole
or part by public funds
The management Of these schools should
be vested In a superior board to consist
or - members, together will the super
intendent of public instruction. who should
be ex-officio a member of tse board and Its
president.
The members of this board should be
elected at a joint session of the ~iegisla-
ture in a manner similar to that provided
IOr the election OF the Un1teQ states Serc
ators. The legislature should provide q
law for the first election and the term Of
office Of the members, and should specify
their powers and duties.
The superintendent of public instruc-
ton should share with the board in the
joint management Of the school system;
he should have exclusive control of the ru-
raj schools and such graded and high
schools as shall not be placed by law UNI
der the control of the supervising board.
The board should be empowered to pro:
other higher Institutions of learning. AL
graded and high schools and all element
airy schools of the state. Under a we'll de.
fined law they should exercise control oven
the financial management of all schools
under their charge; they should limit and
define the kind and amount Of attainment
necessary to enable the student to enter
the state university. the Agricultural col
lege, the normal schools and all other
schools under their charge of whatever
grade. They should also provide fcr the
examination OF all pupils In the lower
grades Of schools. They should provide
for the examination Of all teachers and
for the granting of teachers certificates
and Of diplomas and degrees from various
schools. In general. they should take ex.
ecutive and financial charge of the school
system or as much thereof as may be
placed under their charge.
The superintendent of public instruction
should perform all the duties now pre-.
scribed by law, excepting such as may be
hereby transferred to tho board. To these
NN"'N
named.
It is desirable that such amendments
be made to the state constitution as shall
carry these suggestions into effect.
The committee makes two suggestions
in regard to UNCONVENTIONAL schools: Q)
That a standard of attainment be estab.
lished by the supervisory board for the
comforting of degrees. and that all insti.
tutions having power to confer degrees be
required to conform thereto; co that the
right to confer state certificates be given
to such UNCONVENTIONAL institutions as es.
tablish normal departments which shall
be approved by the board as to the scope
and character of the work.
The committee ommen that the
state establish high schools as a part OF
the school system. These high schools
might be the higher departments of the
graded schools in cities and towns. All
such hould be subject to state control ir
reference to courses of study, work done
certificates Of graduation, etc. 1t should
be optional with the school boards of the
cities and towns to place their schools un
der state control or not.
The committee expert SUI
pervision Of work done, and that state
courses of study be prepare for institutes
and ungraded schools and that these insti
tutiOnS be required to use such courses OF
study exclusively.
The committee recommends that cities
and towns of certain grades having suf.
1cient population be permitted to estab'
lish manual training schools and kinder.
g%artens.
1t was recommended that the last sen.
tence OF section D, chapter g, law OF 1890
be stricken out, so that regents may be
chosen as trustees Of state Institutions.
The committee recommends the creation
of three new grades of certificates for
~ a grammar grade; go IA high
school grade. They further advise that
there should be special examinations for
each of these certificates covering the
branches to be taught in the given grades
only, but that such examinations should
be open only to persons giving evidence OF
attachments equal to those given by the
entire course in the high schools under
charge of the supervising board. The rom.
mittee further suggests that the present
law be so modified as to recognize tho
graduates of reputable colleges and also
holders OF state certificates, normal di-
plomas and life certificates issued by
other states.
The committee suggests that to be eli.
gtble to the office of county suDerintend.
emit the person should be the holder ci
a first grade county certificate or be q