The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-05
EDUCATIONAL MEASURES.

some pOOq educatlOnal DIS are pcnu
ing before the Legislature, One OF
these is Senate bill No. 81. by Mr.
Stookey, providing that certain per
centage Of the State revenue shall be
set apart each year for the University
the Agricultural College. and the Nor
NAL School, and for apportioning the
amount so set apart among these insti-
tutions on definite percentage. Very
naturally, those in charge of those
schools are much in favor Of the bill
because it is a decided advantage for
those who are running business of
any kind to know all the time as def
nitely as possible what revenue they
can depend upon to conduct that bust,
ness. As it has been in the past, all of
these institutions arc dependent upon
the biennial legislative appropriation,
and until that is made, they do not
know what income to expect Often 1T
appears that advantageous propositions
have 10 be passed by because of this
uncertainty. The managers of these
schools dare not incur any expense be-
yond the merest minimum, because OF
the ever-present doubt whether the
Legislature will approve or not. But
with an approximately fixed income,
the funds can be so disposed of by
those in charge of the institutions that
the best results can be obtained. We
are glad TO believe from indications
that the prospects of the passage of
this bill are good.
Another bill, also by Senator Stock
ey. was introduced in the Legislature
on Friday, authorizing n State tax of
half a mill on the dollar of valuations
for, tie maintenance of High schools.
This is in accord with one of the con-
stitutional amendments, adopted last
November. The lack Of. or poor sup
port for, High schools throughout this
State has been seriously felt in the cdu-
cational field. The original means pro.
vided for the pupil to pass from the
grade schools to the University was
the preparatory course at the Uuiver-
Objectionable from the educators
standpoint all the time. as unduly ham
pering the University. entailing ex-
peuse upon il which does not belong
there at all, and disioining the educa.
tional system. More serious than this,
however, is the necessary concomitant.
that the pupils who should be attending
a high school near home, where they
could be under the home influence, have
been taken away from that and sent to
the preparatory school at the Univer-
sity. where they are in strange environ
ments, where the home influence is
very much weakened Just when 1T is
most needed. The bows and girls should
be at home until they are prepared to
take the University course. But here
tofore the idea has been altogether too
much TO send them to the prepa ratory
course at the University, in place of
keeping them at home TO attend their
local high school. Fortunately, the sen
timcnt in favor of high schools has
been gaining very rapidly in this State
in the last few years. And we are glad
TO sec that this sentiment strongly sus.
tanning the high schools already estab.
Iished in different parts of the State is
to rule. and that there is a dis
position to strengthen the local high
schools by the practical application Of
the constitutional amendment, as adopt.
ed. The Stookey bill carries out the
idea upon which the constitutional
was framed and ratified,
and we trust to see his bill passed with
OIL serious opposition.