Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-03-24
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
Letter From School Officer Relating
to Proposed New School Laws.

Editor Public Opinion:
Having been a school officer the
greater part of my life and always
taken a great interest in our rural
schools, finally ask you to publish
in your valuable columns such part
of the new school bill that is before
schools and my standing towards 1t.
The bill is prepared by the Hon.
Paul Stillman, chairman of the
house committee on schools.
If the bill becomes law it will
repeal all heretofore existing school
laws.
1. For school purposes the ter
ritory of the state shall be divided
into county school districts each of
which shall embrace the territory
of a county except in special cases.
2. Each county school district
shall have a county board of educa-
ton of three members to be elected
at regular terms. No two of these
shall reside in the same civil town
ship and not more than one of an
Independent district. Said county
board of education shall draw no
salary or per diem but shall be i'm
bursed for actual travelling expenses.
3. They shall meet at the county
seat at least five times each year at
designated intervals. They shall
have jurisdiction over all schools in
the county, except those of indepen-
dent districts.
4. The county board of educa-
| ton shall keep in operation for at
least lao days of each year exclu-
| sive of holidays, sufficient number
of free schools for the accommoda-
| ton of all persons between the ages
of and 81 years.
5. They shall elect and employ
county superintendent of schools at
the time of his election. The salary
of such county superintendent shall
not be less than $1,000 per year and
travelling expenses.
6. They shall elect upon the
nomination by the county superin-
tendent all teachers and instructors
for schools under their control and
fix their wages.
Z. They shall provide necessary
revenue for the maintenance OF
schools under their control.
8. They shall through their Sec
rotary issue warrants on the county
treasurer for all moneys needed for
the conduct and support of the
schools under their control.
8. They may establish and main
tain county high school, or a coun-
ty teachers training school.
10. In each school township
their shall he chosen by the electors
a board OF trustees of three men,
bers-they would have the same
duty as sub-directors now have.
IL. The Office of township treas
urer would be done away with.
II. With reference to the coun-
try school district, it is believed ii
would be wise to organize the ter
ritory for local administration of
school affairs upon a county system
that with which all are familiar in
other matters of local government
under this plan the county school
district with its board of education
resembles the county with it's board
OF supervisors. The school town
ship and school trustees answer to
the township and township trustees.
IL. The board of independent
districts take the place in school af-
fairs as that of city and incorporated
town and its council in management
of other local affairs.
Permit me to dissent from this
Dill and begin with the county
board of education.
III the board of education shall
hire teachers, fix their wages, what
need is there of a sub-director? They
shall also levy taxes sufficient for
| maintaining the schools. 1t is in
| tended that the board fix uniform
| wages for teachers of rural schools.
If this works well we can ask the
! legislation TO enact law to fix uni
form wages for farmers hired help.
Is. If the board shall have the
power the same as our county super
Vlsors have we may as well pull up
stakes and leave this state. Why
1t would be worse than in ancient
and Brigham Young times when
they gave one-tenth yearly to
churches and nobility, but one-tenth
would not suffice here.
10. We must keep mum but pay
taxes. 1t is well to tell a person
what to do, how 10 live and live well
If it touches not the advisors pocket
book. l say, we shall pay the fid-
der If we want to dance by our
selves.
II. The board through their sec
rotary shall issue warrants on the
county treasurer for all moneys
used for school purposes.
III the county treasurer shall pay
out all money for school purposes
it will necessitate another deputy in
the treasurer's office.
Is. The board shall elect and
employ a county superintendent.
Why can't weudtuiohii cmfwyp
Why can't the people elect them
as heretofore? 1t is also proposed
to elect the superintendent in the
spring to take the office out of pol
itics. Would our board of education
have anything to do with politics?
Last falls election showed that pol
itics had nothing to do with the
county superintendent of schools