Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-31
A PLEA FOR THE
COMMON SCHOOLS
----------------------------
Tendency Manifesting Itself to
Over Educate, Says a
Provo Teacher.
EGGERTSON TELLS THE STORY
Principal of Parker School Takes Issue
On the Pending L. Of u.-A. @.
Consolidation Controversy.

1--WE hold these truths to be sclf-evi-
dent;
That ali men are created equal
Tho state legislators seem NJ pres
ent to be graphing with educational
problems as well as financial ones In
considering the propriety Of adding
the Agricultural college TO the Uni
versity on Utah
trhe old saying, "A fool and his
money are soon parted" holds good
with nation, state. or an individual.
The governor In his message to
the legislature provides subject mat
And being especially interested in the
common schools. that part of his mes
sage appeals most TO me. The gov
crnors quotation from state supt,
Nelson's report THAT it is not well
to allow the primary schools to suf-
fer on account Of too liberal support
being given to the higher institutions"
Is worthy of investigation.
PRovo's CONDITION
AZ the close Of the half year Of
inent was made by Vice President J.
w Farrer of the board OF education,
that on account of lack Of funds the
schools would run only eight months
this year. While Provo ctty's condi-
tior is here quoted, hundreds of other
school districts in the state are either
in as depressed or worse financial
condition. And while it is gratifying
to note that s2l per year is expended
per capita for children Of school age
enrolled in the common schools; yet
IL ~ to be regretted that this amount
varies in the different counties and
cities OF the state as two to one.
Americans. are proud OF their splendid
educational growth. They have taken
inspiration from the educational views
OF the Immortal Jefferson. and arc hop
ing and trusting IN the Intelligence OF
the voters, the common citizens
Equal and exact justice TO all aud
special privileges to none" Is the mot
TO- But when we find a condition con-
fronting US where 30 per cent of the
school children of the state
are prevneted from graduating from
the elementary schools on account of
early disadvantages, and an agricultur-
~ college Is extravagantly maintained
which is duplicating the work of other
state institutions of learning. we must
cry out Some one has blunderod."
RATES PER CAPITA.
Let us look at this question: Ac-
cordlng to the majority report of the
college commission of 1905. the rate per
capita for college students at the agri-
cultural college was over si,100 per year,
while at the University of Utah IL was
less than $500. and all the students of
he college could have been educated
u the university very much more eco
At the school for the deaf dumb and
bind Ii appears that each pupil costs
he state over $500 per year besides the
'ost of esta hlishing the institution The
'ame is true of the industrial school:
md the cost of maintaining a school
Tor the feeble minded has been figured
At $4,000 for establishing the school
and 5000 per capita for maintaining the
same per year. Six hundred dollars is
more than tho average income for the
families of the state, and Is also more
than the average yearly salary of the
public school teachers who have de-
voted three, four or five years 10 learn
ing how to teach.
AS a taxpayer and citizen, am in
favor or education, Improvement, and
progress. Nothing Is too good ii we
can afford 1t: but necessities should be
considered before Injuries and the
greatest good for the greatest num-
her. But when We have tens of thou
sads OF boys and girls IN the state who
will never receive any other education
than that received in the primary
schools outside Of adapting themselves
to the practical pursuits of life, / saw
with others, give the children of the
common schools a better chance that
they may at least enter the field OF
citizenship with an elementary educa-
tion.
KARL O. MAESER'S PROPHECY.
TWO men in Utah have especially dis
tlnguished themselves and become en-
deared to thousands OF her citizens. viz:
John r. Park and Kari G. Maeser.
Allow mo TO quote from the prophetic
words OF DR. Kari q. Maeser In regard
10 "first Impressions" and equal ed
ucatlon,1 "Frocbel's Kindergarten"
aud higher institutions Of learning. Or.
Maeser says: THE work OF making the
FIRST impression upon the chIlds mind
in regard TO school life, and OF giving
the little one correct start in observa-
ton and self activity, should be en-
trusted 10 skilful hands,"
The children OF one region OF coun-
try are az good as those Of another, ana