The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-11-14


Legislature in January, 1911, used the
following language:
"The State no more needs nine Nor
NAL Schools than it does nine Uniyer-
stiles. This large number of Normal
Schools have come into existence not
because anybody felt the state needed
that many. but because some local
communities wanted an institution
supported from the State treasury.
The necessary result has been, that
owing to this division of effort and of
money, the State has not single Nor
nal School, adequately equipped for
this work"
If these schools In Oklahoma are to
be continued in the future, the people
should be advised OF that fact so we
can settle dow nand quietly submit
to the constant drain upon the purses
of the taxpayers to maintain this stu
pendous folly.
recommend that you abolish at
least three of the State normals; both
of the University Preparatory Schools,
and at least five of the District Agri-
cultural Schools, There is justification
for leaving the District Agricultural
School at Goodwell on account of its
location condition of climate, and the
soil of that section of the State, and
the further fact that it is so expensive
for persons in that section to attend
the A. & Nj. College. | recommend
that you consolidate the School of
Mines with the State University
making ii department OF the Uni
yersity. I have conferred with leading
educators all over the United States,
and almost without exception they adj
wise that the number of normals in
a State having the population of ours
be limited to two: that preparatory
schools be abolished, and that the
School OF Mines be made department
of the State University II. this is the
concensus of opinion of men who have
had years of experience and have dis
tinguished themselves in their chosen
line of work, Oklahoma will profit by
listening to their advice.
1t was thought that the last Legis-
latuer had made all of the appropria-
tions that would ever be needed In the
way of public buildings for these insti-
tutions, but the president of the Board
of Education advises me that 1t will
be necessary to appropriate money for
additional buildings at the Central
State Normal, Edmond, to erect suit
able auditorium and gymnasium at the
State Normal at Tahlequah; to erect
a dormitory for the Girls School at
Chickasha. and to put in a water sys-
TEN for the Colored School at Langs
lHll, ! uAiutISldiu titdl NhN dlNHihNiAe
viii be made that we have already
spent thousands of dollars for build
ings and equipment and that this will
be wasted If this contention We're
conceded. it would still be the part of
wisdom to waste money already spent
rather than to continue to waste
money year after year. generation aft
er generation, in trying to maintain
these Institutions
The Legislature Will save money to
the taxpayers il it will discontinue
these schools, and if no other use can
be found for the buildings, donate
them to the communities in which they
are located. We have already do
mated them to all practical purposes,
and in addition thereto are annually
donating the money necessary to main
tain them.
To pass this sort Of legislation will
require courage and determination on
the part of your body: every sort of
pressure will be brought to bear upon
you as it has upon me. You will be
fiattered, you will be threatened, but
the taxpayers, whose money is being
wrung from them to support these in.
sututions, have the right to expect
from you careful consideration of their
interests. The elimination Of the
schools that ! have suggested will
make it possible to have in this State
first class university. first class A
& NJ. college and creditable normal
schools. and will encourage the work
ing out of a well balanced educational
system.
The last Legislature very wisely
adopted law creating a single board
to have control Of all Of the educa
tional institutions of the State, witt
the exception of those that are under