The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-11-15


AN anchor is as good as a sail
once in a while" Professor J. NJ.
Mcconnell made this apt statement
last night at the meeting Of super
intendents of the Southern Mime
sofa Teachers association when dis
cussing the Minnesota school laws.
This meeting was presided over
by f. J. Sperry, superintendent of
the, Mankato schools, and was held
at the Commercial college, The first
topic discussed was THE Plan of
the Department Of Public Instruc-
ton for a Commission to Revise
and Codify School Laws" State SD
perintendent c. G. Schulz led the
discussion, explaining the plan. He
said: Our school laws are the re-
suit Of slow and gradual growth
and have changed more fundament-
ally in the last ten years than in
any similar period of time previous
~. The laws have been modified
and brOadencd rather than really
changed.
Zone session Of the legislature
could not make all of the changes
necessary in the school laws, so in
stead of attempting any very eX-
tGnSiVe charS eS at the next session
of the legislature the department Of
public instruction favors the plan
of having the Legislature authorize
The governor to appoint a commits
sion of five Or seven members TO
revise these laws and standardize
them. The establishment of agricul-
tural high schools, teachers train
ing schools, and the matter of state
aid are some of the things which
will require attention. The laws
should be brought in harmony with
these things and should be unified
and balanced.
Study School Situation.
This commission should devote
itself to a thorough and careful
study of the school situation in the
state, but it should not concern it.
self with anything outside Of pub
lie school work.
'If the people Of Minnesota are
satisfied to ask for just those
changes which seem imperative we
would build better for the future
growth if the legislature provides a
commission with sufficient means for
them to carry on their work.
! Professor j. NJ. Mcconnell Of the
Mankato normal school was called
upon for a discussion of the sub
ject. Professor Mcconnell said:
1--WE have in Minnesota some of the
best school laws in the country and
some of the worst | am heartily
in, Inv In fol
and feel that his plan is the only
sensible way in which to agitate
this proposition. The laws should
be changed so that they would bal.
ance our school system as the vari
Gus departments touch each other
But this should be done only after
wide consideration of the matter.
MANY people are telling us what
! is better plan than what we now
have, but | am old fashioned enough
/ to believe that our system is still
/ a pretty good one, and it is better
to use the things we have which
are satisfactory than to make
changes without proper considera
/ ton and regret them afterwards. An
anchor is as good as a sail once in
! a while i.
There has never been a time il
/ the history of Minnesota when com
mon sense and conservatism Were
more needed in revising school man
agement. This coming Legislature
will be the one which will do it
Discussed the Plan.
President c.. Fl. Cooper of the
normal school George B. Alton, in
spector of state grade schools ant
/ State Superintendent Schulz discuss
ed the plan more fully.
A motion was made by Professor
Mcconnell and carried that the res
! olutions committee be instructed t.
make a resolution asking the legis
lature to appoint such committee
superintendent Baker of Alher
Lea led the discussion on the sub
ject of the law regarding the com
pulsory attendance at school. Mr.
/ Baker gave an interesting talk il
which he said that as far as hi
school was concerned the law wa!
!, entirely satisfactory He recited i;
number of instances which had com,
, up in his own school in connection
with the law and showed how h,