Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19
POPULAR EDUCATION.
The Bee Advocates IL Free school Sys-
tenn Equal to the Best.

it'Atbo
The Bee Advocates ~ Free school Sys
tenn Equal to the best.
AS has been stated, the first campaign
of The Bee was in support of the law fol
an elective board of education and a com
prehensive free public school system. The
argument took the form of a series oil
signed letters, written by the editor, Mr.
Rosewater, explaining in detail the ad.
vantages of the proposed law. The first OF
these letters. published July 8, 1871, was:
THE establishment of a well regulated
system of free schools in this city, having
at it's base the primary grade and at its
summit the high school department, unde,
the direction of a board of education, must,
in our judgment, meet the approval and
cooperation of every citizen in this eu-
lightened community. The free school sys-
tenn was inaugurated in New England more
than fifty years ago, and has, with few
exceptions, been adopted in every northern
and western state. as well as in the states
on the Pacific slope. School government
in large cities must necessarily be more
thorough and systematic. To this end al
most every city in the union with over
10000 inhabitants has entrusted the man
agement of the public schools to a board
of education, whose members are elected by
the citizens of each ward, and who receive
no compensation for their services. The
board of education in every city-New
York, Boston and Brooklyn alone excepted
is vested with undivided control of all public
schools, including the High school in large
cities, which insured a harmonious co-opera
tlon-OtherWise utterly impossible in secur-
ing efficient school government. While we
consider the common school law of Ne
braska amply sufficient for the educational
interests of small towns and sparsely set
tied districts, every disinterested person
must, we think, be fully aware that 1t is
sadly wanting in many particulars, espe-
clally when, as In, this city, it is entirely
disconnected from the board of high school
go Inment. With a view. to secure unity.
ell and economy in Sthe management
OF schools, a law was enacted by our legis-
lature. providing for the election of a board
OF education in Omaha at the annual city
Election next spring; leaving, however. by
4 special clause, a privilege to our citizens
to vote for a suspension of the law in ques-
ton at the election called for voting on
the school bond question. Every citizen we
nope has read and digested the law as pub
lished in the Herald last week, with the
mayors proclamation. We shall take pains
from time to time to point out the PRINCIPAL
provisions thereof, and we believe that.
when fully understood by the masses of the
people, it will meet with general approval -
ADVANTAGES OF GRADED SCHOOLS.
The concluding editorial on Board of Edu-
cation question was printed July 10, 1871, as
follows: 49,
Tomorrow the citizens Of Omaha will. in
exercising their constitutional privilege at
the ballot box, determine upon what in our
opinion Is one of the most important cues
tons ever submitted to their judgment.
They are to decide not only whether thew
favor the iGGninU Of hapl. &c -
High school building now under construction
on Capitol Hill, but are also required to
lay the foundation of an educational system
which cannot fail to exercise the most
potential influence on the future prosperity
Of this city. In the nineteenth century
education is everywhere recognized as the
foundation of civilization and Independence.
TO this end the educators of all nations have
devoted their best energies in deyising the
most practicable methods for the systematic
education OF the masses. In nearly every
American city the free school system, man
aged by one Board of Education. has for
many years almost entirely superseded the
Did aristocratic pay schools and the cumber-
some methods of divided public school gov
eminent. In all these cities the children of
the rich and poor receive the same lessons
from the same tutor. After many years ex-
perience this system has been found to ac-
complish all that is desired of a complete
system of graded schools. Tomorrow every
blliHth huOuiu meet lUlS question without
prejudice and without fayoritism to those
who from self-interest or some little tech
nicality desire to continue the old system.
We have in the past week placed before
our readers the history of our public schools
and High school, and the reasons which in
duced the legislature to pass the new act.
Sufficient time has been given for the discus
sion of this subject to confirm us in the
belief that the people will vote for a Board
OF Education, Notwithstanding the profound
silence on this subject so carefully observed
by the professedly leading men
In this city, We know our citi-
Zens, who at all times maintain
a high position in the front ranks of western
Will not allow Leavenworth, Kan
sas City, Davenport and even Des Moines
to outstrip us in a thorough, well governed
Of public school government. What
ever may be the opinion entertained by anv
on the bond question, there Ger
tainly can be no good reason shown why
they should not all vote for the Board OF
Education"
The canvass OF the votes resulted: In favor
of the Board of Education, 9iS; against. 1Ol.
Total number of votes cast. 1,049.
FRIEND OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Bee has also been the steadfast
friend of higher education and the up-
holder of the State university in all It's
legitimate aims and demands. 1t first
TO the university, editorialIy,
22, 1871, in the following language:
we are pleased to acknowledge receipt
of an invitation to be present at the formal
of the Nebraska State university
at Lincoln, September s. In this era OF
educational progress nothing will to the
historian of the future seem more marvel
Gus than the fact that, within three years
after throwing of the robes of territorial
Nebraska opens a state uni
versity on a spot where four years ago the
prairie wolf and buffalo were monarchs OF
they surveyed. We hope the people
support the effort of our educators to
establish at home institutions of a higher
grade of learning by that liberal patronage
which we believe this institution fully de-
ieryes."
A year later. August s, 1872 The Pee
gain called attention to the work OF the
lniyersi:..
THE STATE UNIVERSITY,
THE State University of Nebraska will
eopen under very favorable auspices On
eptember 70. Chancellor Bennett has