Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-22
SALT LAKE CITY, APRIL % 1908
THE CITY SCHOOL SITUATION

The scheme to raise money FOR the
city schools by tuition fees, so that 'hey
could all be kept open for the full term
has not succeeded We are not sur
urIsed at that. Ii was not IN harinohy
with the free school laws. Better plans
were suggested but were not adopted
by the board, on the plea that they
were unauthorized by law yet they
were not more obnoxious to the tenor oil
school legislation than the method at
tempted and which has failed. Unless
the endeayors that are to be made to
raise money by entertainments and sub
scrlptions succeed, most of the lower
grade classes will be discontinued after
May 4.
II is understood that the eighth grade
classes and the senior class OF the nigh
school win be continued and possibly
some Of the schools will raise enough
money TO keep open, so that the extent
Of the alleged awful calamity to the
cause OF education. will be the closing
of some Of the lower grade classes In
the city schools, this year, one month
earlier than usual. Just that, and
nothing more.
1t is useless to try to throw blame for
this condition OF affairs on the Board
Of Education, the Governor or the So
called small coterie OF citizens" ac-
cused OF open and pronounced UNI
friendliness to the schools Unforeseen
and unexpected expenses were forced
upon the board which had TO be met
out of current incomes, debt for
which the present members are not to
be blamed stared them in the face, and
these with OUTLAWS exceeding anticipa-
tons and provisions, caused the appli-
cation TO the Legislature for increased
taxing power.
The veto Of the school tax bill was
not brought about by any hostility to
the school system" either on the part Of
the Governor or Of the prominent citi-
zens who appealed TO the Executive
against the proposed increase of public
burdens Nor is 1t true that his action
was not influenced by the voice OF the
people" The protest against raising
the limit Of taxation was popular ex-
preston. For the masses Of the tax
payers are determined that there shall
be q reform in this particular. Their
load has become greater and more un-
bearable from year to year, and the
time had come to call halt. What
with the State and county school taxes,
and the present five and half mills
city school tax added, piled on TO the
other State, county, city and water
taexs, large numbers of the poorer
property owners were unable TO raise
the money TO settle without mortgaging
or selling their homes 1t was not hos
tllity TO the schools that caused their
protest 1t was inability to pay.
To assert that the Governors veto
Showed hostility TO the public school
system" is to utter an absurd false
hood, without the semblance OF reason
or the shadow Of excuse. So with the
charge that the citizens who signed the
request for his veto were moved by I'M
frlendllness TO the schools, either open
and pronounced" or secret and silent. II
necessary 1t could be demonstrated by
facts and figures that they each pay a
great deal more for the support Of the
schools than either Of their accusers.
The assessment rolls viii furnish the
proof II 1t is required.
We believe the schools could have
been kept open to the end Of the term
II there had ben as much ingenuity, A.
nancial forecast and firm desire TO con
tinue them, as there was a determina-
tlon TO force upon the taxpayers an adj
dltional present ard prospective burden.
But be that as It may. the sum and |
substance Of the situation is simply |
that which we have explained. No |
"crushlngwelght" has fallen as a blow"
to our educational system" It re-
mains intact. For the year 1903 the |
term will be shortened one month just |
as the heated season is opening. and |
that only for the lower grades In the
city schools and not for an Of them.
Terrible Is It not? How win our splen-
did school system with all lis grades |
and classes and courses OF study, It's |
books and appliances, It's nle buildings |
and excellent appurtenances survive the
'weighi Of this crushing blow?"
Seriously, Is not the blast Of the blow /
er the only real blow" IN the case2 |
While the present situation IS not so |
very serious the prospects for the fu-
ture are bright and promising. Plenty
OF teachers can be had FOR our schools. !
even II a few We now have should re-
sign. The bulk Of immediate expense |
Tor building etc, has been met pro-
vision is made for bonded Indebtedness;
the school board has determined To "cut
the garment according TO the cloth"
past experience viii be a guide TO the
future. our school system Ia firmly
founded and admirably built up. and ]
there Is no need for direful prognostica-
Hons and rHful intimatlons OF disaster,
because circumstances have arisen rem
ieging necessary the closing Of some Of
the schools this year a month earlier
than Is customary. The Salt Lake
school situation is pretty well thank
YOU. /