The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-12-15
OPPOSITION TO
SCHOOL ODE
PROPOSED CHANGE LAW Is
CRITICISE
BIcElow EXPLAIN ! HE COZ
AND SAYS THAT 8 HAS BEEN
GREATLY MisREPRESENTED.

That there will be opposition to the
proposed new school code to come be-
fore the next legislature of South Da-
kota, seems evident from recent press
reports sent broadcast through the
state, which sought to stamp the pro-
posed law as radical.
Prof. Bigelow. who last month was
elected TO the state legislature from
Lawrence county and is to be the
champion of the proposed law, gave
the following interview regarding the
criticism of the code he is fighting
for:
Someone woefully misunderstands
or is mendaciously misrepresenting
the new school code which was unan-
imously approved at the recent meet
ing of the state educational associa-
ton at Huron. Far from being revo-
~lutionary, the new school code pro-
poses practically nothing which has
no been tried in some part of our
system. Its chief air is to use the
parts Of our present system which
have given the best results and apply
them to the remainder of the system.
This is not only good business, u it
would simplify our system tremend-
Ously.
The new code does not transfer
the state department to the shoulders
of the board Of regents, but merely
unites the two branches of the state
system. and will make each stronger
and more effective than it has ever
- lNfD.N t. will nrnUnnt tho
growth in this state of two separate
and rival systems, such as have ham,
pered the educational work in some
other states, and which threaten prog
ress in some OF those states.
There is absolutely nothing new in
the plan of certifying teachers, eX-
cept that it is proposed to extend to
tn many the privileges now granted
to the few. Graduates Of certain in
situations may now receive certlfl-
Gates upon evidence of their gradua-
ton and are not compelled to under
go the incessant grind every two or
three years, or prolonged eXamina-
tions. The new code proposes to eX-
tend this right to all who may produce
reliable evidence of having attained
certain scholarship, and thereby les
sen materially the number of whom
examinations must be given. 1t IS
true that the standard for certificates
is raised. but a series of years is given
in which the demands of the new
standard may gradually be met.
The claim that the new code at
tempts to take away u local self
government from schools is absurd,
In no state in the union is there so
complete and thorough a plan Of self
government as is proposed in the new
code of the schools of South Dakota.
For the rural, city and state schools
there is a governing body in absolute
control which is to be elected from
and by the people. There are no ap-
pointive boards in any part OF the sys-
tenn. such as we now have in some
cases. The new system is absolutely
and completely democratic in its plan.
We now have three system in use
in our state-that Of a local district
board for each ruarl school, OF a board
of education for all the schools in
towns and city districts and of a dual
system in our state school affairs, con-
sisting of an elective administrative
officer and an appointive board to
conduct our state schools. Under
which of these three system has the
most ogre been made in the his
tory Of our state? None will contend
that our rural schools have advanced
materially during the past twenty-five
or fifty years, nor is there much prog
ress in immediate prospect. Our state
schools, likewise. have not developed
in attendance. equipment or influence
as have those of our sister states,
while the state department has beer
powerless to accomplish what needed
to be done for the advancement of the
schools Of the state.
NO one will contend that there is
not local self government in our town
and city schools, and h new plan
proposed to govern the rural schools
in exactly the same way. The local
school director is merely an addition
al officer necessitated by the fact that
distances between schools are greater
in the country than in the town or
city. The people are already repre-
sented on the board Of education. and
to give the local director a vote would
be double representation. This would
be not only unnecessary, but unfair.
"The ~so-called attempt to cut loose
from state appropriations and provide
for state school needs by direct taxa
ton is another point Of attack. And
vet we have had direct taxation by
school boards in rural, town and city
schools ever since the admission OF
the state, without any great abuses,
and our constitution clearly contem-
plates such a tax for all school pur-
poses. The proposition is to extend
this practice to state school and de-
partment affairs. a plan already In
use in Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa
and many others Of u western
states"
-S-