The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-02-03
THE SCHOOL QUESTION AGAIN.
Phases of the Question That Suggest
Need Of Prompt Action.

~ooSS VI kAsS 0UOSllVu ! u0S oU88SSl
Need of Prompt Action.
It may be laid down as a general
proposition, more or less applicable 10
every community, that the school ques:
tion does not occupy that high place IN
the public mind that it ought to. The
utter indifference with which many
parents, especially, and citizens general
ly. treat educational matters is little
short of criminal. While we are kept
awake nights by petty political problems
and are enthusiastic and di!igent enough
in the performance of our social duties
| we are oblivious to what Is going on at
| school-truly 1--WE don't care whether
! school keeps or not" It is only when
some special or selfish interest asserts
itself that a corporal's guard can be
"scared up" to attend school meeting;
and then through lack of knowledge of
the requirements of the occasion We act,
if at all, blindly upon the propositions
that are presented to us.
Any father or any mother, worthy of
the name. is proud of the progress made
at school by the sou or daughter. And
it is not parents only who are really in-
terested in the question OF good schools.
An ample educational system is the
proudest boast at any community.
The fame of Duluth as city of good
e0baole hoe ~ Fo,,,
lilies there and added thousands to her
population, thereby working in no small
degree towards her material develop.
ment. This is simply referred to as an
illustration that aside from, the educa-
tional the advantages to community OF
a good school system are important.
The few of our citizens who have CIV
on the matter any attention are con-
vinced that Grand Marais is away be-
hind the times in the matter OF schools,
that the system is inadequate to meet
present needs. As was pointed out by
the Herald last week, our schools are
overcrowded and the teachers have more
work than they can properly attend to.
The time has come when the establish
meot Of a graded school here is called
for. And there are those who deem it
advisable in making improvements to at
least lay the foundation for a high
school, which will be needed in not many
years to come. These are questions to
which all citizens should give devoted
attention. Some day we will be called
upon for solution and we want to be
prepared to act inteligently and for the
best interests of the whole. It is urged
that the only way by which all these re-
quirements can be met is the esta blieh-
ment of an independent school district.
And again, as this district is at present
situated, the law is an obstacle in the
way of that proposition. The law says
that an independent district cannot be
moro than six miles square except in the
case of consolidation of two or more
districts. AS the Grand Marais district
already exceeds the limited six miles
square We can establish an independent
district only by consolidation with some
other district. Here again a series OF
questions present themselves. so far
as this district Is concerned is consolida.
ton advisable? Is it practicable? Can
the people OF neighboring districts be
convinced that the benefits promised
them will justify such a step? The
county commissioners have the power to
recrganiza school districts, but only up.
on petition signed by majority of the
voters Of each district to be affected
70 meet pres ent pressing responsible
ties will impose large additional bur-
den upon this district. And while the
advantages Of proposed improvements
will be available to all the people of the
county this district is cut off with little
more than half the resources possessed
by outlying Districts. To add to our
| resources there must be reorganization
or consolidation. Whether such thing
can be done depends upon the spirit and
sense of fairness of the people OF other
districts to be affected.
In case the establishment of an indie.
pendent district is deemed by the PEG.
pie TO be unwise or impracticable
or for other reasons cannot
be accomplished there appears to be but
one other way by which a graded school
can be inaugurated. That is by vote
of the people at the town election.
Upon petition signed by: at least ten
voters presented to the town clerk not
less than thirty days before the annual
town election the proposition to estab.
lish graded schools, the question of pro.
viding means for the maintenance of the
same and, the election of board of five
directors will be submitted to the voters
at the polls. II this latter plan is to
be adopted there is no time to be lost.
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