The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-27
CHARITY And
EDUCATION
Supt. Olsen Wants the Two
Separated.
PETITIONS SENT OUT
Asking the Legislature to Remove
the "Cha1itable" Stigma.
PETITIONS SENT OUT
TERM MAY AFFECT EFFICIENCY
County Superintendents Will Circu-
late the Petitions and Return
Them Promptly.

J. W.. Olsen, state superintendent of
schools, has taken personal. charge of the
movement started in T h Journa !
last week by Professor D. L. Kiehle of the
state university. Under Mr.. Olsen's di-
lIection, a petition has been prepared and
copies are being printed, asking the legis-
lature to remove from the schools of the
state the stigma Of ''cha:ity'' applied by
as follows:
The undersigned citizens, in the interest
OF public education, beg leave to make the
following represen tations:
Firstly a majority decision of the su-
preme court, it has been decided that the
law placing the management and control of
charitable, reformatory and penal institu
tons under the board Of control, includes
the state normal schools under "charitable,''
and that these schools are therefore subject
to said board. F." .a'' +.
Second-That in this majority decision it is
expressly stated that 1--WE (the COURT are not
required to hold, and we do not hold, that
normal schools are, as matter Of fact, as the
term is generally understood, charitable in
stitutions - .s,-.
Your petitioners represent that, notwith-
standing this qualification this authorta-
tive announcement that the schools are In
| some sense charitable institutions" is inter-
preted by the public as assigning them to
this class of institutions and accordingly, as
determining the attitude of the state toward
them irs the support which it gives them, as
we'll as in the administration of the appro-
pration which it, makes. <-..s
Your petitioner further represent that the
historic classification of the schools for the
people as Charitable originated in the fact
| that under. monarchial and arstocratic form
of government, the common people were not
recognized as belonging to the governing
class, and, therefore, that the assistance af-
forded in the education OF their children was
regarded as charity.
| Your petitioners submit that in a govern
| ment "of the people and for the people, our
educational institutions have attained to the
| same honorable rank as other departments
! of government and that any seeming de-
grading Of them to the rank of charities
would be serious blow to their efficiency.
Your. petitioners therefore respectfully ask
that to remove every suspicion of doubt as
to the honorable rank of education in the
state of Minnesota, your honorable body shall
by resolution otherwise, make such ex-
plicit classification Of the public school sys-
TEN, including it's institutions, as will at
once accord to them the high rank and
dignity to which they have attained and
will forever distinguish them from those in
situations that charitable, reformatory
and penal
Petitions Widely Circulated. ~
Copies of this petition will be sent to
| every county superint endent in the state
and to every city superintendent They
| will see that the petitions are circulated
and returned. With the petitions are
! sent the following letter:
| Dear Sir: The nclosed article by Dr. Kiehle
Will sufficiently explain the occasion Of this
circular. The undersigned, representing the
| state in the two capacities to which they have
| been appointed, are called upon by the COM
mon sentiment Of the state to provide for a
! petition to the legislature for such action as
will remove all doubt as to the rank Of public
| education in the state Of Minnesota If yol,
| are in accord with this movement, will you
| sign this petition, and see that it has the
largest possible circulation. Please observe
| the following instructions: t.--
/. Secure the signature Of all school officers
and teachers. a.. friends of education who be-
and not charity.
2. Return all petitions not later than Feb.
TO- to the state superintendent Of public in
struction, st.. Paul, MINI.
! 3. Communicate by letter to your senator
and representative, requesting them to give
| this interest their personal attention. d.
Hoping to hear from you in due season We
are, in the cause Of education, very sincerely
yours, j. w. Olsen,
| 49,, Superintendent Public Instruction.
.z.ass5 S. ]. Race,
| President Minnesota Educational Assn.
The communication of Dr. Kiehle, in
pamphlet form will be enclosed with each
\ at i