Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-18
RIGGS HAS PLATFORM
In Seeking denomination State School
Superintendent Presents Lives Issues
Pertaining to Educational System.


Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, March Estate SUI
perintendent John F. Riggs in an
nouncing his candidacy for renomina-
ton to his present office raises live
issues and says:
MY views on the educational ques-
ton as presented in Iowa az this time
nave been set forth at considerable
length in numerous public addresses
and published reports. Certain of these
questions are of such pressing import
ance that they should be solved at the
earliest time possible. 1t shall be my
purpose, therefore. if renominated and
reelected, TO urge the enactment of the
measures herein outlined
"First-There should be one simple
plan OF organization and control for
all public schools. The board CT direc-
tors should be chosen at large by all
the people of the district, the area Of
the district in the towns and cities not
TO be less than the corporation limits
of the town or city. and in rural com
munities, except in consolidated dis
tricts, not to be less than the school
township So far as the cities are
concerned practically no change is in
Volved in this proposition, but for the
country one simple system would take
the place of the three separate systems
nov in use, and would in consequence
greatly simplify the school laws and
their administra ton, and lead to a
more sufficient and economical man.
agement of the schools.
"Second-Every child is entitled to
4o,1,-
may be to those enjoyed by any other
child. Children, therefore. who live in
districts which do not offer high school
privileges should have the right TO at
tend high school in other districts and
have the tuition paid by the districts
of their residence.
"Third-Schools with a very low
average attendance from one to six
probably should be closed by law, and
any child thus temporarily deprived of
school advantages should be permitted
to attend the school next nearest his
residence; and where the distance is
excessive, transportation should be
provided at public expense
Fourth-The services rendered by
the school treasurers of the state car
easily be performed in the office of the
county treasurer, and at a saving of
expense to the people. The office Of
school treasurer should. therefore. be
abolished, and the more than $1,000
600 of school balances at all times
within the control of the school treas
urers, should be deposited in the banks
at interest
"Fifth-There should be constant eff
fort put forth to secure better quail
fed and better trained teachers, and
the standard of efficiency of new
teachers entering the ranks should be
raised as rapidly as conditions permit.
To secure these ends, more adequate
privision should be made for the train
ing of teachers. particularly for the
rural schools, and such training should
seek to give the prospective county
teachers not only thorough and exact
knowledge of the common branches
but a mastery as well of elementary
agriculture and home economics, in
order that the subjects of saudy pur-
sued in the country schools may be
correlated with and adequate to the
rich country environment, and that
country teachers may have an ircreas-
ing love for and appreciation OF the
beauty Of the superior advantages of
country life
Of my party for the high office they
have entrusted to me for the past six
years. and il thru their further favor
my public service shall be continued,
I pledge my best efforts to advance the
welfare of Iowa's greatest interest
the public schools
There are five or six other candidates
already in the field. Superintendent
Riggs has OF expected to again be
candidate and perhaps would not now
do so but for the fact that many of the
leading educators have urged that he
remain in the office until he has fairly
established the reforms for which the
teachers have been working for a num-
Der of years. He has outlined a def
mite program so that if elected it will
be sufficient notice to the Legislature
that this program is approved and
should be followed.