Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-21
SCHOOL ELECTION BILL.

pared 90 present 10 the Legislature.
having for it, principal objects III"
election Of school boards, IN cities of
the first and second class. on the day of
general elections; and the election. az
the same time ~ Hupcrlntendcn,a 81
schools for such cities. The latter pro-
vision seems TO excite more opposition
IN some quarters than the former II
IL a. followai
"on the Tuesday next following the
f'rst Monday In November. 1873, aud
every four years thereafter. there shall
he elected IN cities ~ the iirst and Sec
ond class q superintendent ~ schools.
who shall subscribe 20 an oath 81 uiilcr,
and rhall enter upon his duties on the
first day OF January thereafter. His
term OF office shall be for four years
and until his successor shall be- elected
and qualified. In case of the death.
resignation or failure from any cause
10 act. the board Of education shall
elect n superintendent 90 M the uneN-
pifed term. The salary of the city su-
perintendcnt OF schools shall be 300
per annum. 10 be- paid out Of tho funds
~ the board of education
our morning contemporaries think
this vicious proposition. and call up-
on Legislators to leave tho schools
alone" The Herald at first opposed
the plan Of combining the school clec.
,lon with the general election. but now
thinks this II not 20 bad" but says
"thc proposition to elect the city super
intcndent OF schools at tho same time
and In the same way ia extremely Vi
cioua.''
We have carefully considered the OBJ
jections advanced 20 the measure. but
fail 10 see their force. We agree with
our contemporary Ia this;
III there IL any partisan feeling bc-
hind this measure the Legislature VIII
do well 10 leave u alone. n sectnrian
sentiment furnishes the inspiration
from which the bill has sprung. the
lawmakers OF the State should BE-
equally chary 81 giving II favorable
consideration
But ''if'' no such motives or feelings
are behind the measure. wherein II II
vicious. or In any way improper or In
. jurious7
our contemporary adds:
Keep partiaanahip out of the schools.
Keep religious prejudice out Of the
schools"
We fully endorse those sentiments.
We would not only keep such influences
out Of the schools. but would. II pos
tihle. keep them out ~ the school
teachers. MS tho most likely method of
excluding them from the schools, We
would 40 further. II we could. ANA keep
them out Of school boards ana every
organization ana officer having the con-
troll OF school affairs.
hut wo do not see. at present, why
the change OF date NJ the election OF
school boards viii have the erect OF
making amy Injurious change In the
spirit and management Of school nf-
fairs. II will save expense. and may
prevent some 81 the hcartburnlnEH ana
partisan and Hcctarlan methods and In
iiuenccs which have made some ~ our
school Conventions and elections a
public scandal. We agree with the
Herald that this proposed change would
mot be bad thing" indeed We have
about reached the conclusion that II
would be good thing.
Now. why should the election of n
city school superintendent. by the pco-
pie instead OF by a school board. inject
partlsunship or rcctafianism into the
school system II would be simply
giving the people the power to elect d.
rcctiy the person they want, instead NJ
giving that power to the majority OF
board. with the danger of getting "a
person whom they do not want
And why n there likely 10 be- amy
more danger OF injury 90 the city
schools. from tho election at the polls
81 a city superintendent. than thcrr II
TO the county schools by the popular
election Of county superintendent, and
Of the state Superintendent OF public
Instruction.
No harm has come tn the state nor
10 the district schools from the ,loc-
ton ~ the state and county Huporin-
tondents, why should II come from the
election ~ city superintendent
The principle ~ bringing the appoint
ment Of public officers as closely 60 the
people aH possible. h recognized AS a
good one. The popular election NJ Unit
ed States ScnnturHand even ~ the prrH-
idcnt. Is advocated strongly ON that
principle. Experience shows that II
works wen, There appears To u no
ground for the alarms which have
sprung up over the proposed measure.
and the more we look into 1t the clear
er It appears 10 rs 10 be- founded on q
correct understanding ~ the school slt-
uation.
Let thore be- no confoundlng ~ the
proposition 10 elect instead of appoint
city school superntcnd- nta aud
change In the System now In operation
for the conduct uf city schools, The
former is contemplated. the latter Is
not
Nobody wants 10 impair the structure
or Interfere with the workings OF our
school system. No one wants to mar
II or change Il or stay its progress,
The purpose behind the legislation pru-
posed We believe 10 be-, the maintenance
Of that system aud Improvement In tho
methods By which the welfare Of tho
city schools shall be promoted and in
creased