The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-06
FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

MANUAL TRAINING.
ing is fast growing in every state, and
! Utah should not be behind in advantage.
! The benefit of manual training schools IS
inestimabie, as It places boys and girls
in position 70 so from the scnoo-room
| into active life. Manual training IS prac-
teal and of grsaE value 10 the state. II
rspays every dollar thus spent, as IL
makes better and more useful citizens
Tire work, when properly executed, is at
tract-Ye and interesting; the pupli dis
cove-s his power TO use the tools and 10
MANUFACTURES articles Moreover the dlS-
c!pi.ne OF continuous and effective work
| is valuable.
The study of mechanics is the forte Of
a large class of our pupils. With proper
caiie-t artisans ana designers. II the
state undertakes ule education of It's
youth. Il should be in lines eminently
practical This class of pupils is as much
entitled 30 the aid of the state in the de-
velo-mer- of its talents, as that class
which elects the present university
course. 1t is to be hoped shat tue scaooi
fr-.d now being creased by the sale OF
lands. donated TO the state by the EN-
ablng act VIII permit of the addition OF
manual training to our schools.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The administration of the High school
has been eminently satisfactory, consid-
ering the unfortunate arrangement OF
!
1tle annual rental is more than the in
terest on the bond thai. would furnish the
money required<to erect proper building
But as Salt Lake City school district Is
bonded to the maximum amount permit
ted by law, this remedy is ncs aVailaole
The only other aftermath is a special
tax. WHICH must be FRS, submitted 10 a
vote of the taxpayers. When our conslt-
uents manifesE a desire TO assume ullS
burden. the board VIII be pleased to exc
cute their will
THE BOARD.
During the entire history of the board,
there mas occurred nOuling or nature 10
cogip-,-C mise rs sanding or to justify Sc
we're Official criticism of its members.
While mistakes nave doubtless been made,
the acts OF the board have been deter
mined 10y no o-her consideration tnan the
welfare OF the schools. Ab-hty TO per-
form the work assigned has bSsn regard
ed "a the essential qualification OF It's en-
pioyees. Neither personal favortism nor
political conSidera tons have dictated ITS
appointments. This is record upon
winch both the board and the public may
properly congra tulate themselves Nllie'
noting with gratiflcation these ifactS, L
feel Il my duty to call attention 10 the
danger CT marring this record. Under
the pressure for employment that exists
everywhere, not a few applicants for eV-
cry kind of position at the disposal OF the
board are wiling 10 make use of political
affiliations personal friendships ana pr1-
vate pulls" to gain the desired place Il,
is no longer uncommon LOT dppllCdHlS dl-u
their friends TO visit members IN ulsir
private offices, not 10 present applications
for the consideration OF the BOARD as
body, or even to present evidences or Pc
culiar fitness or qualification. but TO i'm
perfume them Individually and personally
for favor and support. The practice IS de-
cidedly on the increase. In fact, believe
there have been more cases OF IL IN the
past year than during the entire previous
history of uae board. luis is all wrong
anu should not only meet with unqualined
disapproval, but should be summary
stopped. An effort made TO secure ad-
vantage of any sort from members IS OIL
most questionable propr!ety. The preva-
le-ce of this sort of thing in san fran
cisco and other large cities has resulted
in scandals in the board, charges of per-
Sonal and official corruption against mem
oers, and disgrace to the SCHOOLS. Apph-
cations should be made in writing 10 the
board, or 10 chairmen of committees, or
TO officials designated to receive them on
behalf of the board, after which conSiq-
Grafton of them should be given in the
proper committees II IS by such means
only that serious evils may be ayerted,
namely, scandals connected with appoint
ments, Impairment of the schools ell
ciencr. and public loss of confidence in
the fairness, impartiaHty and disinterest-
ednesS of the board of education
Since my last report muca has been 2c-
compl:shed by the state land commission
in the selection of lands granted to our
public schools and higher institutions OF
learning by the enabling act" passed by
congress. While but few Sales have been
made, much of the land mas been APP
praised and prepared for market. Its
sales should realize a large amount to the
public school fund l am informed that
It is the intention to invest the money
derived from these sales. as far as posi-
BILE. in municipal. county and state bonds.
The wisdom of such investment cannot be
questioned. This VIII materially reduce
the state tax for the support of the public
schools
The action of the board has been sub
mitted to some criticism on account of the
levy for the support Of the public schools
for afae ensuing school year The cr.ti-
c;sm generally is made by those who omit
to take into conS.derat ion that the school
tax of two mins-S50,o OJ-refunded last
year, and for which the sinking fund was
used to the extent of .S7,97I.33. is re-
levied for the present year, by CHAPTER
Is of the laws OF 1891
To express II briefly, there was levied
for the present year to pay bonded in
deioteiness, s54 e7i.3S; to pay interest on
bonds, $40, 25t; ,-otal, 49,, 1913, which the
laws of the state require 10 be collected
be borne in mind that the law requires
the board to collect annually a sinking
fund equivalent to per cent of its out
standing Indebtedness Other municipal
corporations have elected to ignore this
important requirement. If those who de-
sire to subject the action of the board to
the fact thas one-fifth of the entire popu-
lation of Salt Lake City is enrolled in
the public schools Ca much larger pro-
portion than any other city in the Union),
there would be less complain as to the an
nual expenditure and q more correct ap-
probation of the financial difficulties ex-
rerienced by the. board in its efforts to
furnish the necessary school buildings
equipment and teaching force, for SO
large a portion of our population.
In behalf of the board, l desire 10 thank
the parents for the almost unanimous
support they have extended to maintain
the high standard of our public schools;
the teachers for the interest manifested
in the success of their pupils, and the pu-
pills for their loyalty to their teachers and
fer the care they have exercised in main
tanning and preserving the property of the
board. The buildings and grounds are
free from every evidence of vandalism.