The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-10-20


ery," and advocated the training OF both
boys and girls in the duties and require
mants of the home life.
Miss Julia Haskell, chairman OF the
educational committe, presided at the
afternoon program.
Mrs. Wheeler's paper on the School
laws OF Nebraska:
The School Laws of Nebraska.
There are a number Of good things
which might be said Of the school laws
of Nebraska-too many for the time.
Do the laws make tho schools what
they are? Are the schools as good as
they can be? II yes, the laws are all
right. II no, remember that no law is
self enforcing, either o. the statutes or
of the home. What different propo.
sition it would be to train up child in
the way he should 60 IL the home laws,
once enacted and delivered to him, in
sursd obedience. We know that be.
hind the law Of the home must be a
force impelllng or compelling acquies-
cence. Behind the school laws OF Ne
brsska must and does stand the force OF
public opinion. which is absolutely irre-
sistible. And what makes public opin-
ions We, the people. II city school
boards are corrupt, il school dis
trict officers are inefficient and indl7-
ferent, it lie because We permit it. Not
even behind the screen Of no suffrage
can we women shield ourselves from or
shirk this responsibility. The school
district in this state is all powerful in
school affairs, and every woman twenty
one years old holding real or personal
property assessed at the last annual
assessment, or having children of school
age in the district, is entitled to vote
at annual meetings and school elections.
School age lie five to twenty-one years
School district officers are: Moderator,
who acts as presiding officer OF the
board; director, who acts as clerk, and
treasurer, whose duties are those usually
performed by that officer. The district
board consists of these three officers,
who are elected at the school meeting.
This board employs the teacher. makes
the course of study and does all things
pertaining to the management Of the
school. except what the school meeting
itself determines, as, for example, what
the tax levy shall be. The importance
OF the school officers to the community
interested in having good school ie
tremendous. Whom you elect for school
officers is as much more vital to the
childrer's welfare than whom you elect
for governor, as it is more to you who is
your husband than who is your pastor
Yet how many 60 to the school district
annual meetineY How much thought
and discussion is given in our homes to
our school elections in comparison TO
what is given to who shall be governor,
or senator or congressman. Yet the one
affects not nearly or personally but as a
state, the other in our nearest interests
our children Not to decry keen in
terest in all public sffairs-far from it
but let us not overlook our nearby duties
and opportunities The educators in
our state realize the gap between the
district school as it is and as it might
be. Some of those who have considered
the subject with care favor larger
graded schools and transportation Of
pupils where necessary. But such
changes, no matter how advantageous
must be sanctioned by the voters at the
school meetings and must be agitated
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