The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-10
THE GETTING BILL.


To the Editor or the indianapolis journal:
The Geeting educational bill is so impor-
tant tnat 1t deserves weighty consideration
at the hands of our legislators. The pro-
visions of this bill are so far-reaching in
purpose. wisely constructed in the inter
est of progressive education that they
ought not to be twisted into such PERM
cious designs are attempted by the carp
ings of its opponents. The writer is of the
opinion that proper legislation at this time
will be of great advantage to the education
al interests OF the State. We need "a high
er qualification for all classes of superin-
tendents. more teachers of higher technical
training better system of granting Ii
censes, and certainly a high grade of in
stitute instructors. The bill now before the
Legislature promises these things. | be-
lieve in the nonstate institutions and see
no just reasons why the Geeting bill, as
they claim. in. any. way discTiminates
against them. Any assertion of this charac-
ter does violence TO the import Of the bill.
/ am sure that if the opposition will bring
forward a better bill the friends of progress
will gladly favor il. What We shall con-
tinue to insist upon is legislation that shall
be intelligent. progressive and call for high
er qualifications on the part of those who
shall have to do ~ the educational work
of the State. The claim of the opposition
that the present system as operated by the
state board discriminates to the detriment
OF the nonstate colleges Is Illogical and
without intelligent foundation. If students
prefer the institutions of the state schools
ii can but argue that the state institutions
are furnishing the kind of work that is in
demand. and the logical conclusion and adj
vice to those colleges that are not doing
so is TO go and do likewise. Any quarrel
in the educational family at this critical
period is to be deplored Good mother sense
and fairness ought 10 prevail at a time
when so much is at stake.
This is not time, neither is it agreeable
nor desired to see the baby act played in
this unnecessary agitation. If one institu-
ton or any set of institutions In. the State
ministration, and nobody is claiming this
let the other colleges learn of them. be wise
enough to improve their methods so that
share of patronage. This 1t seems, would
be more intelligent course than to stand
in the way OF healthful legislation now
| proposed and certainly badly needed. | am
reminded of the story of Lincoln. who
when he was impressed with the superiority
of the legal lore of Stanton and Johnson
| went home to study law as he never had
studied. so that when these fellows" ar
rived at Springfield he would be ready for
them. The moral in the story is plain
enough for any one to see.
The spokesman for the nonstate. colleges
has over and over again said that they were
not opposed to the main features of the
bill. but in their amendment offered they
show themselye5 opposed to the state board
granting life licenses TO the State Normal
graduates and opposed to any qualifica-
tons for county. town and city superin-
| tendents. Now. it is an easy thing to see
why county, town and city superintendents
should be qualified. and not an easy matter
| for any one to see why qualification of a
| high order should not be required by law.
If the children of this great commonwealth
are To be properly educated 1t must be at
| technical training The State has wisely
made adequate provisions for this in the
State Normal School Let no discourage
ment be thrown in the way III the OPPOSE
ton has any grievance against the State
Normal on account OF the life license
Let them ask for these state Normal IL
| ceuses to be limited richly to teaching be-
| low the high schools. and no one Will raise
serious objection. But do not talk about
S2lng away with the SEA- Oh pnts upon
| those willing to pay the price Tor the life
| license.
diana's school system-it does not mean
| cZarship. Let il not be medded with unless
1t be to bestow new honor to its already
enviable reputation by adding still more
dignity and wisdom to its prerogatlVes.
These great and wise features OF our edu-
cational system are 100 sacred 10 De
thoughtlesly tempered with. Suppose, Tor
| the sake of argument that the Geeting bill
fails TO mature. evidently Is the nope or
its opponents. what have they accom-
plished? AS | see it, the State Board con-
tinues. The no-standard qualification for
county, town and city superintendent con-
tinue to the credit and everlasting stigma
| of the opposition. The State Normal life Ii
censes continue TO be granted. The logical
| conclusion is that the State institutions
| have benefited and the nonstate schools
| have suffered by the agitation. Let US
| hope to see the bill pass. If there must be
| amendments let them be as follows: First.
| give the nonstate institutions fair repre-
| sentation on tho STATE Board; second, con-
| fine the State Normal life licenses to the
| work of the common schools proper and
| require high school examinations of these
| graduates for this kind of work, and / Ven
| ture the opinion that a speedy solution of
| the question will be reached.
j. c. WEIR, Supt. Schools.
New Castle Ind. Feb S.