The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-04-05
The SALT LAKE HERALD
Published Every Day in the Year BY
THE HERALD COMPANY
TIE SCHOOLS MUST BE KEPT OPEN.
lbllshed Every Day N the Year BY

# HE MOST REGRETTABLE NEWS that Salt Lake peo-
4 pie have had for long time was contained in the
announcement from the board OF education that ~ VIII oe
necessary because OF lack funds. close public
schools May possible that a way may be found TO
keep schools open until the middle Of the month or
few days later but face to face now with the Ger
tainty that the school year must be cut short
More we know that the school year viii contain
months The tragedy of the situation lies In the
that the action Of Governor Heber NJ Wels
would not have been struck at the public school
system With Governor Wells and with him alone rests
the responsibility. Taking advantage Of the shallowest
quibbe he cut OF from the board Of education IT'S only
avenue OF escape.
The first fruits Of his lack Of patriotism his hos
uy to the public sch0ol-caI st which you please-we
have already reaped. But have only made begin
ming. Unless method Of escape is found and IL
should be found the salt Lake public school system which
for years has won and the admiration and the un-
qualified approval Of educators throughout the country
seems doomed 10 decay and disintesrauon.
In showing figures which fictitious ana fraud
ulent and which those who prepared them must have
known were fictitious and fraudulent Governor Wells evil
IDENTIFY found the excuse he sought the bill which
gave salt Lake board Of education power 10 levy
slight extra tax for school purposes The figures were
that they showed that the board would nave az
the years end balance of about $4,000 in ITS treasury
the truth there could be no balance whatever
The only opposition the bin came from individuals
who have acted if unfriendy to the schools Few
number they exercised enough influence 20 compel the
governor 30 do their bidding This too spite Of the
practical unanmity with which the measure passed the
legislature spite Of the an but unanimous support
It received members Of the board Of education Ihe
people were it by overwhelming majority. If the
bin could have been submitted popular vote there Is
no question that would have been carried triumph
antly into the statute book.
Now thanks 20 Governor Wells and the coterie that
Influenced him. we are in fair way TO ruin far as the
schools are concerned with only eight months Of work
offered % them single hrst-class teacher, who IS
not rrevocaby tied here by family property or other
bonds VIII remain the employ Of the city. II would be
unreasonable to expect them remain for good teachers
are always In demand hrst-class salaries and for
period each year progressive communities maintain
their schools probability the principals viii be
offered nine months contracts year. The result VIII
be that large proportion Of the more capable ones VIII
go TO other fields Of labor.
The Herald confesses that the view It takes Of the
situation is pessimisc but its correct unless the
pubuc-spted the city take hold OF the situation
and solve only they can. Surely some plan for
overcoming grave obstacles that block the paths
of Salt Lakes boys and girls toward the education to
which they are entitled win be discovered
afford TO have it otherwise; we cannot ar
ford to let become known TO the world that our love OF
education pride it has suffered so miserable a
relapse such blemish would. besides AFFECT preudl-
cally every material interest OF the city