Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-09-25
IMPROVE IOWA SCHOOLS
Commission Will Recommend I'm
portant Changes to Teachers
Association.
THE INVESTIGATION THOROUGH
Better Iowa Schools Commission Has
Gone Into Question Deeply
The Recommendations.

The Better Iowa Schools commits
sion will recommend to the State
Teachers association some excellent
and important changes in Iowa S
school affairs, and as they are to the
point they will without doubt be ac-
cepted by the association which will
more than the usual formality. The
recommendation will be reported
direct to the association at Its No
vember meeting. The commission,
it will be remembered, was appoint
ed by Prof. A. NJ. Deyoe, state SUI
perintendent, upon recommendation
of the Iowa State Teachers associa-
tien.
The commission, in an investiga-
tion going on for several months, has
made an unusually close inycstiga-
tion of the school affairs of this and
other states, especially states of the
midland country Serious considera-
tion was given to those things that
are practical and possible. The tax
payers side, as well as that of the
patron and school man, was given
consideration, for the commission is
composed of broad minded men who
are familiar with the business as well
as the professional side of life and
are able to dig to the bottom of
things. In all probability never be-
fore has the side of the tax payer
and the method of spending his
money been scrutinized more dill
gently. The recommendations OF the
commission will be unanimous, and
will include the following:
1. Voluntary consolidation Of
schools for a minimum area of 16
sections. State aid to consolidated
schools for a period of years, the
amount depending ON the number of
departments, grade of teachers en-
ployed, course of study, kind of
building and equipment. Plans sug-
gested for raising funds for such
schools include small graduated tax
on direct inheritances exceeding
$4,000, a mileage tax, etc. The plan
recently adopted in Minnesota. known
as the Holmburg law, encouraged
the organization of so consolidated
districts since April 81, last year.
g State aid for the encourage
ment of rural high schools, to the
end that they shall follow courses of
study that will meet the needs OF the
community, while the quality OF the
n, ~ho h. 70 ho cfo rI
of any high school, That every high
school which meets the requirements
for the normal training course shall
receive $500 annually. This method
OF training teachers for the rural
schools should be especially encour-
aged.
g. Four additional state normal
schools to be established within the
next five years, these schools limited
to the preparation of teachers for
the elementary schools.
a. Applicants for teachers certi-
ficates after July /, 1915, shall have
had at least twelve weeks OF normal
training.
D. Discontinuance of the present
method of holding normal institutes.
Short inspirational teachers meet
ings held during the school year and
compulsory attendance of teachers
without loss of pay.
6. Increase the powers and efli-
cheney of the Department of Public
instruction. Provide an adequate
contingent and travelling expense
fund. Fix the salary of the super
intendent of public instruction AT not
less than $4,000 and make the term
four years. The duties of the deputy
superintendent are barely less inn
important than those of the head of
the department and his compensa-
tion should be fixed commensurate
with his responsibilities.
Z. The employment of a rural
school inspector, grade inspector
and a high school inspector under
the Department of Public Instruc-
tion. States that are taking the lead
in educational matters employ inspec-
tors, including nearly all the sur
rounding states
g. Magnify the Importance of the
county superintendency by fixing the
salary of the incumbent as high at
least as that of any other county
official, raising the standard of quail
ification for the Office and increasing
the facilities for the supervision of
the schools. The term of office
should be four years.
8. Enforcement of the compulsory
attendance law should be placed in
the hands Of the county superintend-
ent.
10. Office of superintendent of
public instruction and OF county SUI
perintendent be made non-partisan,
elective or appointive.
II. Adjustment Of the rural in
dependent districts and the estab-
lishment OF the township as the unit
of organization in rural districts to
be governed by board elected at
large to consist of not 20 exceed five
members
IL. All school officers be required
to attend an annual conference TO be
called by the county superintendent,
at such time as the superintendent