The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01
The Biennial Report of Superintend-
ent John R. Park.
WISDOM AND LOFTY AIMS
THESE ARE NEEDED TO CORRECT
ALL DEFECTS.
Progress Being Made In the Rural
Observation-Disclosures Alone No
Longer Sufficient = Organization
and Supervision of Schools-Com-
pulsory and Industrial Education.

h report of State superintendent
Park of the department of public in
struction for the second biennial period
ended June so, 1898, was yesterday SUBJ
mitted to Governor Wells. It is a VOL
document and covers 25S pages
OF closely typewriter and printed mat
ter. The report states: THE progress
made by the schools of our state dur
ing the biennial period just closed is
extremely gratifying. In all depart
ments and in all places of educational
work throughout the state his prog
resS is shown. The schools are better
graded, a larger percentage of the
school population is in attendance, bet
ter teachers are employed, more suit
ab buildings are erected, and, most
propltlous of all, the people support
the schools more heartily than ever be-
fore.
When We take into consideration the
neWnes of our state and the hard pio-
neer life of her citizens, continued in
many localities up to the present time,
We cannot but look with admiration
and establishment upon the interest
they have taken in the education of
their children, n the solid foundation
they have laid for this great work.
The schools of Salt Lake City and
ogden often receive the highest praise
from experts acquainted with the best
school systems in the land, and are
compared favorably with those of cities
having several times the population.
Progress is also making in the rural
districts, and our rural schools COM
pare favorably with those of other
states. With a total assessed valuation
OF $lO4 1921 29, the people of Utah give
annually $1,1S3, 1922 to the support of
their schools. In proportion to her
wealth, Utah has many more children
to educate thar n other state in the
west. and. perhaps, in the Union. Year
by year., the growth of education has
Kept pace with the growth of the peo-
pie in wealth and opportunity
The report emphatically directs at
tentlon to defects and abuses that are
constantly arising. Nothing but hon
esty, wisdom and lofty aims held high
IN view can prevent them from eventu-
ally Vltiating he work of public edu-
cation Notwithstanding the nominal
separation of school elections from
party politics." the report states. mo
Itlcal influence is still often felt. There
is also a deplorable business Iaxity
very prevalent among those who con- !
DUO the financial affairs of the district
schools, outside of the large cities. and
a tendency to disregard the plain pro-
visions of the law with regard to dis
trlpution and use of school funds"
Summing up, Superintendent Park
states that he believes we have ar
rived at a stage in the development of
public education when mere enthusiasm
is not sufficient. What is wanted now
IS wisdom on the part of those who
administer public education, and those
make the laws governing it.
Along with demands upon the people
Tor more money for the upp of pub
1c education should go q determine
tlon to use TO the best possible advan-
tage what h people so willingly give.
Our education is not improving in pro-
portion to its increase in costliness.
Unless it can be made to do so. there
VIII sooner or later come a time when
the present willingness. to support the
schools will cease, and the people will
a reckoning, which will ex-
pose the weakness of our system. too
late, and perhaps endanger the insti-
tuition in which they now take lust
The report mentions in detail the
condition of the public schools, the de-
fects In the law, and recommends the
of measures calculated to i'm
prove matters.
The statistical part of the report Is
very complete. The items which are
OF public interest are here given: