Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-06
PUBLIC SCHOOL REFORM.

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Omaha Woman's club has formulated
its findings and conclusions relative to
the condition of Omaha's public schools
n the ~retrenchment inaugurated by
the Board of Education. The report is
garnished with many platitudes, such as:
The efficiency Of the public schools is the
highest concern Of every citizen.
The school life OF the working child is
discouragingly short; to lengthen 1t at the
other end is futile.
The future safety OF our country rests
upon the standard Of intelligence devel-
oped In our children.
Taxes levied for education are the most
righteous and best investment the public is
called upon to make.
A woman's clubs greatest value tot
community Is Its stimulating effect on other
forces.
Coming down to business, the commit
tee declares that after two months in
vestigation 1t finds that the public
schools Of Omaha take high rank among
the schools of the country, that the cost
of education per child in Omaha Is a
fair average, that there is no special
demand for relief from taxation for
school purposes, that salaries paid in
Omaha now are but an average. Hav-
ing reached these conclusions, the COM
mittee recommends that all money re-
quired for the schools in Omaha shall be
raised by direct taxation, that Omaha
should maintain public school salaries
equal to those of other cities of the
same rank, that our schools be raised
above political and personal preferences,
that no teacher be retained who lacks
professional fitness for the work, and,
lastly, that civil service rules be applied
to both teachers and janitors.
The laborious effort made by the edu-
cational committee of the Woman's club
to investigate the condition of our public
schools Is highly c~ommendable, but the
conclusions reached would seem to in
dictate that the committee was more
Jealous for the restoration Of the for
mer salary scale for teachers than to
point out the weak spots Of the system
and the remedies for existing def
ciencies.
1t is always a disagreeable and thank
less task for public bodies to cut sala-
ries and lop of s~inecures. The demand
of the taxpayers has been for retrench-
ment and greater economy. The school
board has ~endeavored to respond to this
demand according to it's best judgment
1t is possible that the proposed cut of
teachers salaries may work injustice in
some individual instances, but it is a
case of cutting the garment according
to the cloth. II the Woman's club
would direct It's effort to specific cases
of injustice 1t would doubtless receive a
hearing.
The assertion that the public schools Of
Omaha take high rank among the
schools of the country is merely an as
sumption. 1t is a matter of notoriety
that our schools ranked much higher
abroad a few years & than they do
today. There is an abundance of talent
in the High school, but also insists that
seriously hamper its efficiency. Teach
ers have been imported and foisted upon
the school pay roll at high salaries who
are VIGOROUSLY below the standard. No
body contends that the kindergarten
should be abolished, but there is no good
reason why Omaha should employ four
times as many kindergarten teachers as
Minneapolis and other cities double and
treble Omaha's population.
Everybody will agree with the COM
mittee that personal and political pref
erences should have no bearing IN the
selection of teachers, but such a reform
cannot be brought about so long as the
man at the head Of u public schools
holds his place as superintendent by IA
voritism and political wire pulling.
The school tax question and the
proposition to raise the revenue for the
support of the schools exclusively by
direct taxation requires more extended
discussion. Fol the present, direct
taxation is absolutely impracticable and
will be for years to come, even If 1t
were feasible.