Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-23
TO SCHOOL DIRECTORS
State Superintendent Fowler Meets Mem
bsn Of Douglas County Board.
FAVoRs CONSOLIDATION OF DISTRICTS
cites Method Adopted I'm New York
and Ohio where smaller schools
Are Done Away with
AdvsntaEeousIy.

e. The school directors Of Douglas county
spent Saturday afternoon at the COURT
house askine~w. X. Fowler, state super
intendent Of public instruction. questions
about the things that have bothered them
in the discharge of their ofioiAl duties.
The meeting was arranged and conducted
by E. J. Bodwell, county superintendent. in
pursuance OF a law passed a little more
than a year ago providing that such a con-
ference should be held each year. In
Douglas county ls2 men we're qualified to
participate aud nearly that number were
present.
Before the quiz opened superintendent
Fowler spoke Of the general work In the
state and particularly emphasized the
merits OF the plan Of consolidating the
small schoo districts. This plan he favors
and advocates. believing It would result In
decreasing the expense. while increasing
the efficiency Of the great work OF teaching
the young idea. He cites the success OF
the method adopted in New York and Ohio,
where the smaller schools are done away
with and the children hauled regularly 10
and from a central school large enough to
accommodate all.
Insurance and Mutual Concerns.
The questions that we're asked him vheu
he concluded his address and invited in
quiries were many and varied, but ths
principal one was whether school boards
have the power and right to insure school
property in mutual companies. Mr.. Fowler
answered that he belieted they had. but A.
B. Detwiler Of school district No. IL took
issue with him in this opinion. afhrming
that a school board has not the right 70
involve the property in an unlimited in
debtedness. which would be the case. he
argued. II Il insured in a mutual company,
because a mutual company Is necessarily
one of unrestricted assessment. Mr.. Det-
wiler admitted that his line Of argument ID
one furnished in numerous pamphlets and
circulars sent out by old-line companies,
but he said he had faith in II because there
had been a decision from the supreme court
sustaining II. He could not recall the de-
cision we'll enough to quote 1t and there
being no copy OF the statutes available.
Mr.. Fowler. still clinging to his original
opinion in the matter. said he would in
vestigate fully upon his return to Lincoln
and notify Superintendent Bodwell Of hlI
finding. Attorney Herring of the city
board said that in his opinion a board had
a right to insure in any solvent company.
oath is OverwOrked.
Answering another question. sUpsriH-
tendent Fowler said that in taking the
school census the new oath need not be
demanded for each specific statement year
after year. but that It was intended. he
thought, primarily as a remedy in those
cases where parents are obstinate In maxi
ing answer to the census takers questions.
This came as welcome news to many and II
was disclosed that some of the questioners
have been working the oath overtime. not
only requiring parents to swear to the
number OF children in their respective
families, but going further and making the
somewhat embarrassing, though innocent,
demand that they swear the youngsters ara
their own.