Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-05-31
Our High School.
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Wisconsin cities and towns never take IL
pleasantly when the state university removes
their high school from the accredited list;
put the rage OF the Viroqua Republican at
such recent action is quite beyond any ex-
preston that we have hitherto noted
Stoughton. Milton and other communities
have IN times past met the disappointment OF
being dropped from the list " schools whose
graduates enter TIE university without ex-
animation; but Ii remains for the yiroqua
paper, whose editor Is said to be member or
I. Q school board. to style the Young Dro-
lessor who made the last inspection of teach
ers, work. equipments. etc. a "bum," blow
nard ana T amply 70 him other offensive epi-
thefs. The duty OF going out from Madison
TO make these examinations is not pleasant
business and there should be some protection
especially for such gentlemanly professor
as In this instance, against yillication Of the
scandalous kind administered by the Viroqua
paper. A formal expression of regret would
seem to be In order from the school board
As matter of efct, 1t is admitted by those
familiar with the facts that the effectiveness
OF the school is unquestioned. Last year
Prof. Turner made an adverse report. the
erect being warning 10 the board that I'M
less their school was speedily improved it
must be discredited. The receLs. inspection
by another expert showed that tie requisite
Improvement had not been made. There was
an opportunity even then for the board to
protest against the report. In the case of
another school, In northern Wisconsin, only
last night an inspector made a special journ-
ely In response to such a protest, tnat no pos
sible room for injustice might remain. In
another case, the full school board ma5e a
long journey to Madison to renew an adverse
report. In the case OF Viroqua. no word OF
question was raised by the school board
nothing but most abusive article In u local
paper.
That the Viroqua people agree With the
conclusions OF the Madison inspectors is well
known. Certainly the board must think so,
Tor they have taken official action, retiring
attention to the fact that u new staff of five
teachers is contemplated Four of them are
already engaged and all are university grad
yates.
The CENSOR confidently asserts that
the language and sentiments which
characterized the article in the Viroqua
Republican as condemned in the fore
going editorial from the Madison Journ-
al, do not represent the position or senti-
ments of the people of Viroqua. We
have no authority to speak for the school
board, but hope and believe it does not
represent the opinions, language or atti-
tude of that body toward the university
or its representatives, In the opinion
of the CENSOR, based upon public know
ledge of the signers of the petition for
the appointment of special committee
to act with, not investigate, the school
board the movement therein suggested
for the Ipbuilding of our schools, if
consummated, would have proved last
ing source of strength and support TO
that body and the beginning of an en-
frightened knowledge of our schools and
their true needs and of the responsible
ties and duty of parents and citizens in
the premises. It is not too late to re-
move all misunderstanding, which up TO
this time, has prevented united action
for our schools and our children's well
fare and to convince the school board, if
they need such conviction, of the purity
and disinterestedness of motive ON the
part of those engaged in this movement
and of the determination Of the citizens
ofV iroqua that personal pique, selfish
ness, or other elements adverse to our
schools shall and must be suppressed
from whatever source it comes. If united
and unselfish effort cannot be made for
our schools and children, we are, as a
community, in sad plight indeed We
are sure it can, must and will be. Will
the school board ieadf 1t is only just to
say that Mr.. G. j. Smith, the member
of the school board referred to, in the
Madison Journal editorial, as the writer
of the article in the Republican, dis
claims any knowledge of the same, AS
to the system of inspection OF high
schools by our state university, as at
present existing, the CENSOR is bound to
submit the opinion that it is INSULT
cient and unsatisfactory. A thorough
examination, say of one week, would,
we believe, be welcomed by school
boards, parents and teachers as an an
nual test of the schools efficiency and
helpful to the university itself in ensur-
ing well equipped students for admission
thereto. For ourselves as a community,
let us cease from carping and contro-
versy giving each other due credit for
purity of motive and henceforth work
unitedly for the betterment of our edu-
cational institutions from district school
to unsiverity.