The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-27
THE SCHOOL BILL.

The Boone News-Republican adds
it's voice to those who are advising
tle legislature to go slow in the mat
ter of passing the proposed new school
law. Careful analysis of the bill has
disclosed many Objectionable features,
or at least many features to which
many people are objecting. The pri-
mary fault of the measure, in the view
of the News-Republican, is that it puts
the whole financial responsibility OF
the public schools into the hands OF
men WHO have a reputation as edu-
Gators and leaves out business men
and taxpayers. The proposed state
board of educators under the terms
of the bill would consist of the state
superintendent, the presidents OF var
ious Iowa institutions Of learning and
three other professional educators to
be appointed by the governor. The
News-Republican says of this revolu-
tionary proposition:
This is a radical change from the
present system. No doubt these gen.
tlemen would all be we'll meaning and
earnest in their efforts to provide edu-
cation for the youth of tle state, but
there is we'll founded suspicion that
they would pay less attention to the
cost than the men who have hereto
fore been intrusted with the financial
| end of the school system. If it were
possible to give this proposed state
board carte blanche at the taxes OF
the state, no doubt they would de-
velop a system that would be the
pride of every citizen. Unfortunately,
4 however, there must be limit to the
amount of money spent on the public
schools. The hardest job Of the pres
ent school boards, composed of hard
headed business men and taxpayers,
as rule. is to make both ends meet
in carrying on the work of the public
schools. They serve without pay and
they are very often confronted with
problems which cause them to lay
awake nights. They are constantly
studying the balance which must pre-
vail between the amount of tax which
can be raised fo school purposes an6
the amount to be expended in carrying
, on the schools If this entire matter
is to be trusted to professional educa
tors who, as a rule are not heavy
taxpayers and are less apt to coun
: the cost, there is decided probable
: ty that the public school would be
5 come very much more expensive
> than is warranted by the presen
} wealth of the people
Y The Boone paper says truly that M
J one would wish to put a barrier in tn
e way Of attaining the highest excellenc
in all our schools, both city and coun
e try, but 1t must be recognized tina
e there is limit to the amount that cal
r be spent, even for the education 0
j. children. A county board of three i
n provided for which employs count
r. superintendent and all rural teacher
Re outside of the independent districts
e and it might be argued that this boar
t. would be a bulwark against excessiv
s. expenditures on the part of the stat
e board, but the News-Republican point
IS out that the state board would hav
Ut power to fix salaries and order expend
lures of all kinds and the chances ar
-e that the county board could not ste1
a the tide against the state board, th
De personnel of which would have onl
r. one ambition-the excellence of tn
It schools without regard to cost Ii
he view of the radical nature of th
al change proposed the legislature
ce wisely advised to make haste slowl
e- in the matter and learn the sentimeI
IS. of the taxpayers before taking DEF
le- mite action. To this timely couns
The Gate City adds its unqualified e
re dorsement.
z.