The San Francisco call., 1899-12-30
THE STATE AND SCHOOLS

y VERY interesting discussion had before
I \ the State Teachers Association at Sacramento
upon the problem OF school control The bal
ance OF testimony uttered against local control OF
the public schools The election OF School Boards by
the people was deplored because it presents an op-
portunity that is promptly seized for personal and
party advantage The conclusion reached that
the schools should be administered by State machn-
cry entirely the normal schools and the State
university. The only reason given was the political
corruption that defaces public school management.
To the thoughtful mind the evil indicated disease
that be eradcaed by changing the focus OF ad
ministraton. Among all the trusts committed TO the
people by popular government none is more sacred
than the administration OF the schools. 1t the
theory OF the founders OF our government that its
permanence depended not upon armies and navies
any presence OF armed power whatever but upon the
intelligence OF homogeneous people, assimiated into
form in the public schools Private and sectarian
education was not considered proper means for
training for citizenship because it the per-
petuaon OF differences rather than the development
OF unity.
SO the public school system has come to be re-
garded the very real foundation OF the government
As it the highest concern OF the people they
charged with its administration after the fashion OF
the New England town meeting system.
According to the debaers OF the question at Sacra-
the people have proven unfit for this trust In
It's administration they have failed consider the in
teress OF the schools paramount and superior per
sonal and party welfare and so, it is said, the local
control OF schools must and their administration
be transferred the State, eliminating far pos
sible. the elective feature
It will be a glance that this conclusion goes
deeper than the popular election OF School Boards and
have become Indifferent to the conditions upon which
popular government depends Senator Hoar's reso-
lutions to which we have referred approvingly de-
clare that the ballotbox be made as sacred and
as pure as sacramental vessel II it is not popular
government is doomed Ii It be that the people
must be excluded from voice in the management OF
their own schools it is because the ballo-box is no
longer vestal
In our judgment the remedy will not be found in
transferring authority and seating beyond the reach
OF the people That is poutcing symptom BUTT does
not reach the disease We DO not admit that we arc
with the pessimists. but we are considering their
statement OF the difficulty and the remedy they pro
pose Instead of scholars and thinkers school officers
and teachers standing in advocacy OF the removal OF
power from a place where II Is abused TO place It
where II may still be abused. why not exert a mis-
sionary effort among the people to recall them TO
sense OF the soemny OF their responsibility Tor their
own government? That is the only medicine that will
cure the disease which il it exist can easily noculate
every place in which the moving OF authority may
be pitched Our universities and academies are yearly
graduating vast numbers OF trained thinkers Are
these without influence on politics? The State has
trained them for its What service do they rem
der in return? II they feel higher impulse to public
duty and hear other call than is in the ears OF the
unframed who seek personal advantage when public
benefit alone should be considered, what answer can
the higher institutions OF learning make when their
utility is challenged and they put trial to prove
their right 10 exist?
The State controls the university. but when its wei
fare demands slight addition its facilities private
purse has to supply the feeling OF gratitude
for the generosity OF a private almoner to State in
stuton is lost in the humiliation caused by the State
crouching and shutting like beggar. Do not the
critics OF public school management see in this the
spread the State itself OF that diseased indifference
OF which they complain in the lower schools? And
seeing this do they not that the remedy must be
fundamental must be applied to the people the only
source OF power?