Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-31

| DOunudrleS anu UlIeCJOI CloSSi loA
each of such districts. Many powers are
delegated to the subdirector either by
tile law or by the township board, SO
the subdistrict within the school town
ship Is in effect a unit. While under
| the township system proper, a board OF
directors OF three or more is chosen at
large from the township, or as in In
| diana, one trustee is chosen to have
charge of all the schools Of the town
ship.
Under our system we have In round
| numbers $4,000 directors, 5000 secre-
taries and 5000 treasurers-a total OF
| 81. 900, or a school officer for every
sixteen persons enrolled in all the pub
| lie schools of the state. Where respon-
sibility is so widely distributed and the
administration so cumbersome loss in
efficiency is sure to result.
"The principle of the district system
IS that the people Of the neighbour
hood shall have control of their own
school. In a new country 1T Is the first
form of school government adopted and
later becomes exceedingly difficult to
change because of the conservatism
that always clings to the established
order Of things.
THE plan Of organization proposed
by the commission retains a board of
school trustees in each township with
such powers as local board can best
exercise. including the right to NOM
mate the teachers, while a county
board is to handle the larger features
OF school administration. The state
would pass easily and quietly to the
new system. The people would OBJ
serve no sudden change. Here and
there very small school would be
closed and the children be provided for
in neighboring districts, but all such
changes would be made gradually, and
only where 1mperatively demanded. In
time a considerable number of the
small schools would be eliminated, for
with district lines no longer a barrier,
ii would be found that less number
of schools would accommodate all the
children Of the county and inconven-
ience no one as to distance from school.
The army Of school officers would be
reduced from $4,000 to less than one
fifth of that number. We should have
unity and harmony in the school adj
Of the county organization
instead Of confusion, coordination in
stead Of sepc ration, and economy in
stead of waste.
THAT the condition OF our rural
schools Is in general far from satisfac-
tory, end that under their present form
Of organization and government there
is small hope Of great and permanent
are facts that no on
can successfully dispute. With these
facts clearly before the Thirty-third
general assembly as they will he. it is
that there will not be an
earnest effsft icade to solve the diff
fcul. problems presented. Nd subse-
qunnt general assembly for = quarter o.
a century Is Likely to be so largely en-
gagged with school problems. 1t Is
therefore of the greatest Importance
that wise counsel prevail at .his lime
AS 7 view The situation, the supreme
!!.ty of the ',our educationallv In Iowa
is that the state be faced right in her |
policy. I have mentioned |
d few of the larger features Of pro-
posed educational system, particularly !
those that have direct relation to the |
rural schools.
There are many benefits that should |
follow the organization proposed-free
high school privileges for all Iowa
youth longer tenure for teachers. sal
aries commensurate with the service |
rendered, effective inducements for the |
professional and scholastic improve
ment OF teachers, closer and better SUI
pervision of rural schools, efficient ex-
ecution Of the compulsory attendance
Iaw-these, with the broader and more
training soon to be required \
Of all prospective teachers. and the
application Of sound business methods I
in school administration, ought to chal-
enge the interest and command the
united and earnest support of every
member Of this association and Of I
every citizen of Iowa who believes in I
placing the schools where they will /
render the largest service to the chill
lren and youth Of the state"