Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-01
orr COMMON SCHOOLS.

officers and agencies. The ordained
channel foI such expression-the ballot
box-should not be obstructed, diverted
or it's exercise restricted, except for
urSsut cause, demonstrated beyond
reasonable doubt. Though, often il
not generally, prompted by intelligent
purpose and sincere desire to enforce
recognized improvements and abolish
existing evils, unnecessary or immature
and ill-digested Legislative interference
with local self government is in and OF
itself serious evil, subversiye of the
fundamental principles Of government
under republic and inevitably tends
to lesson the interest and sense of re-
sponsibility Of the communities 80 re-
strained, to their injury and to that OF
the cause the Legislature has espoused.
Judged by the foregoing standard,
the bill 263 g., the authorship OF
which is accredited to the state super
intsndent Of public instruction, Harvey,
in enc feature at least, is, in our opinion,
premature and ill-advised. BY stroke
OK the pen, the most important, and we
may say, the most honorable county
Office in the gift OF the people is to be
removed from the elective column.
We admit, as national and state edu-
Gators of acknowledged eminepce and
undoubted disinterestedness claim, that
our rural schools are in sore need OF
supervision of higher character and
quality and OF methods of instruction
and administration vastly superior to
those now in force In order to be COM
mensurste with the needs OF our day
and generation and of the money ex-
pended therefor. We admit the truth
OF the indictment that, too often, the
state and county superintendent Of
schools "acts at the behest of politicians
and relatives" Yes! At the behest
OF the "people?" No. VIII the State
Journal deny that this charge is
equally true OF appointed officers and
bodies such as the commissioner Of
labor, the state board of control, and
even the board of regents of the normal
schools? For ourselves. we most en-
phstically deny that the people" in
even apprecisble minority, consent, even
passively, to the prostitution Of the
public school system to the servile pur-
poses of the political manipulation.
What is the proper remedy? Get
nearer to the people, not further from
them. Abolish the party caucus and
convention and revert to direct
nomination by the people under a pri-
mary election law. Elect the state and
county superintendents, in the spring,
with Judicial officers. Ultimately, the
suggestion made last fall, by Mr.. Bruce,
q prominent Milwaukee educator and
democrat, that both parties agree upon
and make one nomination for superin-
tendent Of schools. will prevail and the
established precedent in the election of
q justice of the supreme court will gov
ern the selection and election of the
highest educational officer in our state.
IL the county is too large give the
county superintendent power to appoint
an assistant, with the legal qualifications
no himself must possess and thus pro-
vide q school of practical training for
the duties Of this high office. Develop
q system for consolidating the district
INTO township schools, at first by per-
missive legislation. The existing rural
district and city school boards desire,
rs they sorely need, education as to the
responsibility, dignity and duties of
their Office. Let the state and county
supsrintendents cultivate and fertilize
this field prolific with possibilities for
future effort and thirsting for the know
ledge and guidance they can and should
impart and give.
For no purpose do the American
people give 80 ungrudgingly as to the
maintenance Of our common schools at
the highest degree OF attsinsble eff
cheney. The press is ready and anxious
to disseminate information, from experts,
rs to existing faults and their remedy.
On no question is political partisan
ship more Indignantly repudiated. The
people should not be deprived OF existing
Incentives to active and living interest
in their hools,-rsther that interest
should be further stimulated. We be-
lieve bill 263 s would, unnecessarily
and upjustifisbly, curtsil their electoral
rights and destroy that interest. We
therefore oppose it's enactment in its
present form.
Seventy mine years ago was the year
without q summer. Frost occurred
every month in the year 1916. Ice
formed half-inch thick in May. Snow
fell to the depth OF three inces in New
York, and also in Massachusetts in June
Ice was formed of the thickness of a
common window glass throughout New
York on the 9Th day of July. Indian
ooru wsa an Trojan that the craater mart