Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-16
THE CITY SCHOOL SITUATION


The school question in this city Is
causing some commoton much OF II III
consequence of misunderstanding ana
some unjust criticism, That the Board
Of Education is IN face of hnancial
difficulty is beyond dispute. There is
not enough money in sight to meet eN-
penses for the last month Of the school
year. And there Is a debt OF SSVoyO'
which ought to be lquidated Fore
seeing the trouble. the board proposed
n change in the State law raising the
tax limit from five and half mills TO
seven mills. This raised a storm OF
opposition from the taxpayers, and the
Deseret News voiced the public sent-
ment A measure finally passed the
Legislature which, while modillcatloh
of the first plan, was Objectionable Tor
several reasons, and at the request OF
many prominent and influential eitl2ehs
the Governor very properly, we be-
lleve, vetoed the bill,
The next step of the Board of Educa-
ton was to order the closing OF the
schools month earlier than usual, and
for that the bdard is receiving some
very pronounced censufe The general
opinion is that Il the board had the dis
position to do so, It could devise ways
and means by which the present emer-
gency might be tlded over Several
plans have been suggested, but the idea
seems TO prevail that the board, being
chagrined at the defeat Of It's taxing
scheme, desired to retaliate by closing
the schools, to teach the obstinate tax
payers a lasting lesson.
Now all that may be largely conjec-
ture and inference and the board may
be acting upon its best Judgment, and
in view Of a situation not commonly
understood. The closing proposition is
perhaps the safest that can be put into
practice The tuition scheme we be-
iege TO be inadvlsable and Of doubt
full legality The subscription expedi-
ent is not likely to be successful, al
though due credit ought to be given
to Mr.. Geoghegan for his liberal offer
TO start It,
In any event, improper motives ought
not to be attributed to body of gen.
iemen, who are endeavoring TO pro-
mote the cause Of education in this city,
even If we do not agree with all their
plans. Certainly they do not deserve
any imputation OF wilful waste, great
extravaganza, or dishonest or dishonor-
able conduct in any sense Of the term.
lnsinuations OF that sort are unworthy
of any fairminded citizen and are ex-
tremely unjust to the Board Of Educa-
ton.
Nor is 1t right to saddle upon the
present board the liabilities incurred By
former administration. or blame the
incumbents for unexpected outlays con-
sequent upon fire or other accidents.
Close investigation will show that some
Of the charges made against them are
based upon conditions over which they
had no control, and which they had to
meet without being responsible for their
creation. The people Of this city ought
TO look at these facts fairly. before
they pass condemnation or hurl epithets
OF anger or discomfort
If il were not for the disarangement
OF the graduating courses. and the con-
sequent postponement Of promotions
which are a beneficial feature OF our
school system. We would not regard as
very serious the clipping OF OF a month
from the current school term. A large
number Of schools in country districts
will close about that time, and no trou-
Bile VIII arise or murmur BE- heard about
it. Just for once it viii bring no great
calamity to the city nor to the cause OF
education therein. That it would be
better to continue them to the end of
the regular school year we DO not dis
pute. But the board is following the
advice. cut your garment according to
your CLOTH" IN the way that seems
easiest and best. and Il there Is no other
practical way out Of the difficulty. we
win have to submit and It .4il. bee Well
TO do SO without needless grumbling.
one thing will have 10 be kept IN
mind that S. the people have reached
the full limit Of their endurance OF the
tax burden Il has been growing for
many years and they 90 not mean 10
stand additional weights. Reuonchment
win have to be the policy ~ the future
and those who win no. ador. IL win
meet with little favor from the voting
citizens OF this city, county and state
"Cut your garment according To your
cloth" will have to be pracucad 10 the
spirit OF the instruction, and politicians
had better open their eyes to It's clear
significance.