The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-16
BOARD OF EDUCATION ROASTED
Medfsrd Patriot Alleges Clique OF
nrie-i,er-Insfifntioa prGn0terS.

HHiEffeF-AnStibuEio EF"mDhF'N"
Guthrie. o. IT, Sept. 15.-The fight on
the territorial board OF education has
heen opened by the AIedford Patriot, which
says:
We mainetin that there IS in Oklahoma
an educational oligarchy that is detrimen-
tai TO the welfare of the people; one that
seeks 60 advance the few at the sacrifice
Of the many. This is composed of the
heads Of certain territorial institutions
and is known as the territorial board OF
education This board is one that IS not
amenable to the people, they are not elect
ed by them. but chosen by the boards OF
directors of the various institutions for
their learning and ability to conduct them;
the question Of their influence and adap-
tatfon to the work of the public scnools
IS not considered in their fitness for the
1laces they hold, though in their hands
is placed the entire control OF these
schols. We hold that by and through our
present system the county superintendent
elected by the people. are mere execu-
tvs Of III will Of this board and have
little or no rights themselves: that every
act of this board. the lists Of questions
used in teachers examinations, the course
OF study prepared for normal work, their
visits and lectures to the normals, in fact
every effort Of theirs IS to build up the
institutions over which they preside, at
the sacrifice Of the masses of the people.
The cne. in about 200 of those who OBJ
tain all the education they ever receive
in our common schools. is looked after to
the detriment Of the 199, who never see
the irside of these institutions and get
the education upon which they must rely
in life in the public schools. We do not
wish to be understood as blaming this
territorial board for the course pursued,
as It Is salaries to them and places for
those who attend their schools. 1t Is the
system we object to, that places the con-
troll OF the educational welfare in the
hands Of a board not elected by the peo-
ple. and whose interests, education and
adaptation are not that of the masses.
As evidence of these facts and of the
disposition Of this board to hold our pub
JIG school system in their immediate con-
troll, 10 exercise a mandatory disposition
toward them we cite the reader 10 the
course Of study prepared by them for the
normal Schools. where teachers. or ;h)Se
preparing themselves for school work, to
prepare our boys and girls for the public
life and responsibilities they must assume
IN after years, are supposed to congreCate.
As proof that the county superintendent
are merely executors of the viii OF this
board we quote from the introduction
Of the course Of study. "It IS expected
that county superintendent, conductors
and instructors VIII closely follow this
course Of study. strictly obeying instruc-
lions made" No matter what superin-
tendents may know as To the condition OF
the schools IN their respective counties.
the unimpeachable law of this board is TO
follow this course of stuIy, strictly obey
ing suggestions made" The board issues
the certificates To the conductors and in
struCtors, The board prepares the course
Of study. then issues mandatory orders to
follow it.
In entering she normal the pupil must
select certain years group Of studies
No matter what the requirements may
be for the work in hand he must con-
fine himself 10 this group. which. II IS
needless TO say, conforms to the classes
IA the normal or higher educational in
sututions over which the board -resiies
II the normal student. the teacher of our
country school. would be proficient in this
respect let him attend the institutions
As not all in fact few. can do this the
public welfare IS sacrificed by q system in
tended % COerCe attendance.
one Of the rules laid down for the
management Of the normal schools Is
- avoid discussions OF disputed points
or in other words, laccent unquestioned
the VIII ot the board For have they
not said i,. and Is not their word iawg
A three years course is manned o4,-
Yet probably less than half Of those who
attended normal this year and took the
rs or = group viii attend normal next wear
As 1t has come 10 pass that the majority
oi teachers only attend normals To enable
them - get certificates. SO they. can lees,l,-
receive pay FOR their services.
livery teacher who enters the srb,,l
room should have some s,ovla.7,,, -
oookkeepins, psychology. physics and
civic, Yet these branches are only +,,,.,,.
IN the third wears course one -s,,t,s.s
only by the few. United States bis.or,-
Is taught only Ia the second wear w.,
every teacher who enters the school roor,
10 instruct American citizens sbo,,l5 ~ !.
eyelopedia Of United States history.
APPLICATION FOR REWARD