Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1908-07-18
To the Voters OF the City of Morris.

We wish to call your attention t.
the errors and partial truths in Mr.
Sivert's communication for thisweek'
issue of the Sun.
The hiring of home teachers has no
been an issue in this school election
We all believe in employing home
teachers but we do believe in requiring
of all teachers a certain standard of
scholarship and preparation for the
work @
As to the financial statement
would business house having the
same expense account in 1908 rs in
1901 be considered up.to-date and
progressive? It is true that the cost
Of our schools has increased, normal
department, manual training, music
and drawing, teacher of modern
languages and 7th grade teacher
have been added during these years,
and the enrolment in the III. S. alone
has increased from IS to 125. We
know too that during these years
there has been a decided increase in
wages, salaries, living expenses in
every avenue of life SO why should
not the teachers salaries increase?
A teacher who received $40 in 1901
paid $14 per month for board, while
most of our teachers some of them
receiving $50 per month last year
paid from 500 to 1915 per month.
Many of our country schools are pay
ing $50 per month. Is it reasonable
to expect competent tea cheers to work
for lower salaries than those paid by
country schools when expenses are so
much greater? There are, it is true
many cheap teachers available, but
can we afford them?
81 do not know where the board
finally would have landed if the
methods advocated by our Supt.
should have been still followed for
this year" After this statement Mr..
5iverts deplores the fact that Supt.
Smyser left so suddenly, leaving them
without his help in the selection of
teachers.
All of the teachers who are leaving
Morris, are to receive an increase
from $500 to $15 per month.
The principal of the Lincoln school
mas been employed for 1908 1909 at
S60 per month. If she is competent
and progressive will she continue at
5he same salary year of year?
When Supt. Ross was at The head
IF our schools, the board refused to
pay him more than $1,000 per year,
consequently Mr.. Ross left for a
broader field. Was it economy to let
him go? Do you remember the chaos
hat followed under the cheaper man?
Supt. Smyser who came in Feb. 1902,
spent the remainder of that year in
bringing about order from that chaot-
C state of affairs. 1t was this expert
,nce that brought about a scheduled
Increase in salaries.
One of the present members of the
'chool is trying to make campaign
for his side by telling how
the old school board had
,een during the past six years, all of
which time he has been a member,
Ind how during the last year the
present board have saved the district
'ome money. Now Mr.. Siverts has
erved on the school board six years.
During five of these years according
% his own argument the board has
been steadily running more in debt,
n running the schools with increas-
ng expenses to the district. During
he past year the expenses have been
tut down. Now if the methods used
md the changes made in reducing ex-
are justifabie, should Mr..
'iverts have the credit for it? Dur
ng the past five years we have never
leard word from him to the effect
hat the board was making needless
Expense for the district, never one
vord was uttered by him against in
rease of expense, but the records
will show that he supported every
neasure where increase of expense
vas incurred, also that he favored the
ncrease of Mr.. Smyser's salary. So
hat looking at this matter in an un-
light and considering Mr..
iverts argument as to why we should |
Import him for another term on the |
GARD, we feel that his argument is
7ithout merit and that no voter /
7ould be justified in supporting him.
Morris has always been proud of
er schools and justly so. Will the
eople of this city be willing to go
ack to the standard of ten years ago
! order to save few paltry dollars
nd cents? 1t is an insult to the in
diligence of the community to think
1ey will