Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-03-04

1s Y ~
Inasmuch - I am candidate foY
school director in the West Des Moinss
Soool District, and 1t is impractioable toI
me 70 personally communicate my views
concerning our schools to any CONSIDER
able number Of the people Of the District.
| take this method of expressing myself
to them believing that it Is only fair % Ill
concerned that my general attitude re-
specting our common schools b a. thor
oughly known as possible II, order that
the electors of the district may more intsl-
ligehtly vote at the coming school elect
lon on March 1lth.
1st.-I believe that our common school
system was established to teach tho
masses, upon whose education the sue.
cess Of government by the people" very
largely depends.
2d-I am in favor of free school books,
because the experience Of those districts
that have adopted this system shows that
il is . great saving to the district a. :
wAole; Is again.t the present systemj
that it substantially diminishss the large
per cent Of children Of school age not en.
rolled in any public school (about AZ per
cent in this district) and who are in great.
est need Of education; and that its advan-
tages far outweigh its defects.
3D. am In favor Of strict business
administration Of the business affairs Of
the district, and believe that On accounting
should be lmads and published to the peo-
pie that is self explanatory. and such -
would be required by the ordinary busi-
ness man in the conduct Of his own busi-
uess. sss ~
4th.-I am in favor of more active
policy. by the board in the school affairs
Of the districts. believing that our schools
are safer Is rule in the hands Of board
Of citizens elected by the people. than they
are in tho hands Of one man who 10 Meth.
or elected by the people nor directly re-
sponsiable to them. and who 10 answerabl0
to no ono, if not the school board; and
that the best way to guard our public
schools 10 to deny to any one man tho
power to Laisuss them.
5th. ~ believe that superintendenos e
be valuable. should be personal rather
than through assistance.
6th.-1 am ID favor of the employment
of our own citizens - teachers; ~ against
non residents. when the interests Of eur
schools csn be IS well served thereby.
7th.-I believe that discrimination
against any person on account Of his OF
bar religious belief or church connection
should not be tolerated in the common
schools.
~ am In favor Of the high schools.
tho grades aud the kindergarten; but !
hslaevs that our schools should be made
most efficient in the grades, which carry
79 per cent ofthe total enrolment.
9th.-I believe that one section Of the
district il entitled to as good teachers and
other school facilities ~ any other part;
and that unjust discrimination in this 70.
spect is inexcusiabls.
10th. In regard to the 80 called "fads''
In our schoolsl believe that the people
should know just what each one costs ;
that "lads" should not be pressed upon the
people by the school administration. but
they should be called for by tho people
after full knowledge Of their cost and
benefits, before bong permanently adopt
ed that they shoul,' he discontinued fos
tho present and that the funds gong to
MAINTAIN them, together with that which
may be saved by a strict business admin-
istration, should be expended for more
necessary things, such as good light, good
air. comfortable seats, and other whole
some sanitary conditions not now enjoyed
BY msny of our schools. Let necessariss
come first and fads" afterward. If at all,
when public sentiment in their favor is
strong enough to justify Increased taxa
ton for their support A. D. PUaH.