Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-18
THE PROPOSED SCHOOL CHANGE.

| '
cross is in circulation borne by mes
sengers selected by opponents of anyfea
reorganization who are speeding here
land there calling on the rural school
patrons to strike for their altar and
their fires 1t is said that book COM
lpanies are busy to marked degree.
Most of the fuss is calculated and
raised for a purpose. A whole lot Of
people are being fooled into the belief
that the integrity Of the rural school
system is being assailed and that q
plot is in progress to wrest control
of The rural schools from its immed-
late patrons and turn it over to city
school men. All this Is being worked
for all it is worth to discredit the bill
as whole and to check the move
ment for better methods and more
complete adjustment of the present
almost utterly disorganized and I'M
systemized rural schools.
! There may be some mistakes in the
Recommendations of the commission
that went carefully over the ground
and arrived at the conclusions embod-
lied in its report; but there is a vast
amount of wise suggestion evident to
all and that should receive the con-
sideration it deserves. The rural patron
who permits himself to be stirred to a
frenzy by design is making a serious
mistake. He should study the report,
read the bills and come to his conclu-
sions after due consideration. He may
recall the protest with which the new
| the predictions Of dire calamity rife at
] the time the plan was inaugurated;
| but if he will ask his county superin-
tendent he will find that the new
plan has proved itself and lisa step
/ to better things. What the rural
school patron should do is to weigh
plans for improvement Of his schools
as he weighs his cattle. He should
/
mot shut his eyes to advantage and
see only certain disadvantages as they
seem in his, opinion and as they are
shouted in his ears.
| We all know that the rural school
1 is very little In advance Of what it
was years ago. 1t needs reorganization,
/ II vii y,
the procession or degenerate 1t can
scarcely stand still. Now let us in
ouire into some of the recommends
| lions of the commission and find fault
or approve.
What is wrong with the county as a
unit of school administration? We
make it our unit of government. In
deed we have already made it the
unit of school supervision while we
have failed to systematic the county
schools into an effective unit. Will
some one say why the county is bad
as unit for school system and good
as the unit for organization along
other lines?
The suggestion TO make the term
OF the county superintendent begin and
end with the school year seems wise
one. 1t is the plan employed in en-
ploying teachers and superintendent
of the city schools which are simply
- a e,erroero +;0,, ~ M q NV schools G tho
county unit would be the aggregation
of many schools. Why should he or
she not be selected for peculiar fit
ness and the office be removed from
the collateral and trading stock of the
politician? Will some one offer wise
objection?
Abolish the Office Of school treas
urer? Why not? If not, why not
abolish the office of country treasurer
and establish system of township
treasurers for the various funds of the
county?
Why not truant officer? Don't we
need it?
Why not require some professional
and school training before granting
certificates to teach?
Why should not the county super
intendent have the authority to con-
denim unfit and unsanitary school
buildings? Do we want the children
Of the schools herded in pens? What
district in Iowa is unable to furnish
a decent building for school purposes?
Hundreds of men who are enthusiast
tically in favor Of retaining the pres
ent board Of control and who favor
the proposed state EDUCATIONAL board for
state educational institutions, are fight
ing the suggestion of county educa-
tional board Why? Would not an
efficient county board do the same