Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-02
CONSIDER m rAInLY.


In considering the educational bill
now before the Legislature. there
should b. M misapprohcnsi1n u that
part OF the measure which provides FOR
tho election Of school boards ana school
rupcrinterienis by the people, In cities
81 the first and second class. That mp
pears to b. tho chief point Of objection
20 tho bin raised by our morning con-
tcmporarieH.
In discussing differences of opinion ns
10 ~ merits. II will be- just as well not
10 imputo improper motives 10 the
supporters or opponents 81 the PROPOSE
tian. And there should b. no attempt
to cloud the subject with cxtraneous
matter. nor 10 picture evils a. a noccs.
Hary result from the adoption of the
proposed change. which have no con-
nection with Il and which are purely
imaginary.
There n 10 be- no change m tho pres
cnt system " conducting our city
schools. Nor u there ~ b. any attempt
TO Introduce politics In the schools or
IN the plan ~ their management.
Nothing OF this character can be- found
IN the bill introduced. Neither r. u 10
he secn IN the purpose In View IN rcok-
Inc the change that II proposed.
We now elect State superintendent
~ public instruction. We ALTO elect
county auperintondents and school
trustees. And further. We elect our
rity boards of education. hut the city
school muperntendonts are appointed
by the city boards. II y proposed 90
make that office elective hy tho people
Just the same ~ the Offices " county
and State supcrintendonts. Also rim-
ply TO change the date u the election
OF city school boards. That ~ the
whole matter In dispute.
There II no earthly need Of having the
school boards elected In December,
while there IL general election In
November. The latter IN a better time.
expense VIII be saved by the change.
aud much bitterness viii b. avoided.
II IL urged By contemporary that
1T Will degrade the public schools.
contnminnte the pupils, divide the pat
irons and aHitaie the community aH
nothing else could"
We must oonfcfa surprise at these
bald assertions. They are not sup.
ported by an attempt at proof How
the change of date ~ election can pro-
ducc all these evils. or nffcct the schools
or the pupils iniuriourly. ~ not point
ed out We do not bcliey. the con-
nectlon can he established. n aEita.
ton II 10 he avoided. the change viii
aid In ruppreHaing II. There have been
more agitation and scandal over school
conventions and elections IN this city,
than over any other kind. Aud the
bitterness ~ feeling that has boon en-.
rendered over alleged packing Of COM
yentlons Tor sccthrinn purposes. and
the scheming and plotting. said To have
preceded those meetings Tor personal
ondr. ought to be- removed entirely
There h no other offcctual means than
TO clear away those special cauouHc'
and cahalH, aud that viii be arcom'
pllahcd by a FRYE and full expression
81 tho people nj the polls
Now nn 10 the election of city school
superintendent when n can be- shown
that the election ~ county and state
HupcrintendcnlH causes any ~ the 81.
rnntlc evils, threatened II the poopl,
are permitted 10 express their choice
81 city school superintendent. We mas
he able 10 pee a possibility ~ such d
friRhtful result A. It II. the terror h
but u buTnhoo, Every objection that
ran be- raised against the election ri
city Huporlntendonts would appl,
equally 10 the election Of county and
state superintendent, but ~ that
works Wen there II no reason To think
that this would work m.
our nw-mnkcrH win benefit thlr cts
grcatly by passing favorably on Those
features NJ the educational blli The
very large majority of our cltlzeni
would speak cmphatically In their rup.
AnVf