Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-24
THE SCHOOL MANS BURDEN.

in full military array" Is stated In NJ
entirely new form by the committed
that has been investigating the sources
OF public graft and civic corruption In
San Francisco.
Long study of the methods and the
spirit of graft and selflshncss In public
life that have prevailed In that city has
led the special committee of investiga-
tlon to make several remarkable rec
concentrations.
The most noteworthy IS the PROPOSE
tIon to safeguard the future of the city
by the reform OF the public school sys-
tenn. The enactment OF now laws de-
signed to dam up the sources OF cor
ruption. Is also emphasized,
Non~partisan municipal elections are
provided for under the proposed laws.
which would require n special court to
determine the rates and charges for the
public utilities. Corporations of
not only to give evidence against them
selves but to keep their books in col
laboration with the municipality.
This is only a part of what is to be
provided by law for the regulation OF
corporations, other proposals are still
more unique.
The committee points out that the
trial OF Patrick Calhoun disclosed a
considerable number OF citizens who,
when examined under oath as to their
qualifications for jury service. oompla-
Gently declared that they would not
convict a man for bribery, however
convincing the evidence, II, since his
crime, he has successfully broken q car
strike which was threatening his in
vestments."
AS a remedy for such state of af-
fairs 1t is proposed that no child be
permitted to leave the grammar school
until he has learned that the obligation
TO the State makes 1t incumbent upon
all citizens to set aside prejudice and
private interest and act as a juryman
in any case in which he may be sum-
moned, 1t is further proposed that tho
child in school be taught the law gov
erning corporations and that they be
impressed with the responsibility of the
stockholders for the wrongs done by
directors.
above ALL" says the committee, "he
should be taught that the corporation
is mere creature of the State, and
that 1t Is as much the duty of the citi-
zen to cry Stop thief to It's attempt
to steal a franchise as 1t is to raise q
cry when it discovers the treasurer or
any other official robbing the public of
its coin"
Now, all OF this is excellent. but 1t
simply means that every pupil must |
high school education. Children in the
grades cannot understand such mat |
tcrs In a way and to the degree re-
quired for such results as the recon-
mendatfons of the committee aim TO |
accomplish. In the high school these
ideas can readily and effectively be In
culcated but In the grades, the attempt |
should not be made.
Such a plan would speedily defeat |
itself II aimed at the elementary |
schools. which already have mora to |
do than they can possibly accomplish |
Moreover, the schools lack tho main
essential of success in any undertake |
ing 30 ambitious as the reformation |
of public opinion. They have neither
the financial support nor the profess
oil al Ja, !
and gigantic performance.
Fancy a young lady, in her teens |
or thereabouts, who is earning let |
US say, $40 per month. and who is |
remaining In the school-room only be-
cause she has not decided to get mar
ried this year-fancy such teacher
gravely instructing little boys and girls
in the law governing corporations"
and striving, in her sweet way. to I'M
press upon their youthful minds "the
of the stockholders for
the wrongs done by drectorsl"
Not one lawyer in ten, even if re.
quired to do so. he should make the
attempt. would be able to explain these
matters so that children would sense
them. Lawyers and Judges fall to con-
vince the adults. How then. shall the
average teacher do such work? II Is
clearly impossible.
Yet the report of the committee loes
strike at the root of the evil NAL
feasance is rampant just because ina !
people have never yet. In their feel |
ings. fully accepted the principle thut
public office is a public trust; nor can |
they accept such n principle until The |
whole mass of the people have been |
trained to look upon public duty in this |
way Probably no other agency than
the public schools can perform so vast |
a service. but before the schools ,an |
do SO they must be developed. |
strengthened. more and ADLER teachers
employed. better facilities added, an1 |
vastly higher compensation offered to |
teachers.
Great reforms can scarcely b. ac- |
complished without men and money.
Surely the present teaching force in
elementary schools can not be asked |
to carry still moro OF the white mans |
burden" and to patch up the civic
morals Of the Republic. while that
teaching force IL composed. In the |
main, of immature. unprofesslonal
and underpaid persons, most OF whom
remain in this vocation just long
enough to get some other employment.
This is the real issue: and II cam
not be met by loading upon the cle-