The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-12-07
WOULD GUST
SCHOOL TREASURER
State Superintendent Riggs Says the
School Treasurers Have Cost
Iowa $69O,O00 in 4 Years.
COUNTY EDUCATIONAL BOARD
Free High School Privileges Urged
for Country PupiIs-Rural Schools
Show Loss Of $4,000.

Free High School privileges urged
for Country PupiIs-RuraI Schools
Show Loss of $4,000.
John F. Riggs, state superintendent
of public instruction, in his biennial
report to Governor Carroll, calls for
the abolition of the school treasurer,
reorganization of the school control, the
creation of a county board of educa-
ton and several other matters of more
or less importance. In all, he makes
Ight recommendations which, II car
ried out, will completely reorganize
the school system of the state. His
eight recommendations are as fol-
lows:
.First-There should be simple
and efficient form of school organiza-
tion and control.
"Second-There should be county
board of education with certain pow
ers and duties specifically defined by
statute.
'Third-The office of school treas
urer should be abolished.
''Fourth-The very small schools
should be temporarily closed.
"Fifth-High school privileges to
be offered all youth at the expense OF
the district of their residence.
"Sixth-The salary of the superin-
tendent of public instruction should be
increased.
"Seventh-Sundry sections of the
school law should be so amended as to
remove unnecessary restrictions.
"Eighth-The law should provide
greater safeguards for the health and
comfort of the pupils"
Big Fund in Treasurer's Hands.
On the proposition to abolish school
treasurers, the report says:
"Since this recommendation was
,ade four years ago, there has been
)proximately five and one-half mil
IN dollars in the balances in the
lnds of school treasurers at all
mes. The use of this money has
sen free to the school treasurer or
to the banks in which it was deposited.
Had the thirty-second general as
sembly ordered the balances deposited
in banks at per cent interest as
recommended, the earning by this time
would have aggregated at least $44O,-
600. In addition to this, school treas
urers have been paid in salaries with
in the past four years not less than
$25O,OOO."
On consolidation of schools he says:
'sWhile Iowa has but few consoli-
dated schools, they are all successful
and are growing constantly in favor
with parents and pupils. So far as
am aware no consolidated school in
this state once established and put
into operation has ever been aband-
oned. That consolidation is the ulti-
mate solution of the country school
problem is the firm belief OF many
educators. The consolidated school
gives the advantages of organization
and classification of pupils that is not
possible in the one-room school, and
lit offers high school privileges within
easy reach of the homes of the chill
dren. 1t furthermore makes possible
the school as the community center
and promotes it's rational development
and largest usefulness. The following
table is compiled from the latest re-
ports received from ten consolidated
schools. These reports were made for
the month of January, 1910, and thus
cover a period of unusually severe
weather"
Arguing for high school privileges
Or all at the expense of the districts
their residence, the report says:
Approximately one-half OF the
hildren of Iowa live in districts
where high schools are maintained.
In such districts those prepared for
high school classes receive their sec
ondary school training at public ex-
pense. The other half of Iowa youth
enjoys no such privilege, and if they
receive the benefits of high school
training, they must pay tuition. 1t
seems incontrovertible that if a part
of our youth have the right of high
school training at public expense, all
should have this right. If the home
district does not maintain high
school, and the child has the ambi-
ton to go to district where such
school is maintained, the district OF