Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-07-17
WlLLMAR SCHOOL
MATTERS AIRED

OO00DA0V0Oo1O 0NNHAo~
MATTERS AIRED
Secretary Forsberg Of Board d
Education Claims Taxes
Have Not Increased.
Wilmar, Mimi, July Is, 1912.
Editor Willmar Tribune:
AS certain parties seem determined
to blame the school board for the in
crease in taxation, I hope you will
give space for a statement of the
facts in the case. In the first place.
let me state, that there was no in
crease in taxation this year caused
by the schools, as the special tax levy
was the same as the year before. The
increase was in state and city taxes,
the latter made necessary by the big
improvements decided upon by the
people themselves, snd for which no
public official can be blamed.
The opposition seems to be entire
ly directed against the agricultural
department., and it would therefore
be well to state what the state does
for the establishment Of that depart
ment.
For an agricultural department, in
conjunction with either manual
training or domestic science depart
ment, $1,000 per year (Lee-Benson
act, applicable to all high or graded
schools.)
For agricultural department in
conjunction with both manual train
ing and domestic science, two-thirds
OF the expenses up to So, $50, making
the maximum direct state contribu-
tion $4,000; in addition to that, the
state pays $3.50 for each rural school
district associated with the central
school, and the associated districts
pay tax Of not less than two mills.
We have four districts associated
with us, making an extra state ap-
preparation Of 5000, and next yea1
there will be $3.50, as another dis
trict has joined US. The total aid
for maintaining the agricultural de.
partment therefore will be about
$4,000 for this year, and some ove1
$4,000 next year. The total expens-
es the past year were $2,573.2l (o1
which about $500 was for permanent
improvements that will not have t,
be duplicated next year, Thus j
will be seen that The state is actual
ly paying US bonus of about 81 ,2O(
for adding the agricultural depart
ment to the two industrial depart
ments we already had. That was tn,
reason why I for one voted to adj
this department. I do not yet know
whether it will be a success or not
tho I confidently expect it will shov
good results, but the state, not tn.
city, is paying for the experiment.
1t has been objected that the mon
ey comes out Of taxes anyway. True
but the entire state, including the BIZ
cities, which cannot get any benefi
from it, and the wealthy iron rang
country, is paying the taxes and W
are getting the benefit from it. L
We did not get it, some other plac'
would get it as the number of school.
that can get this aid is limited, an,
the applicants were about four time
as many as the places that could ge
it. 1t will be for the state to decide
after a thorough test, whether or no
the system is a success. If it shoul,
decide to drop it at some future time
We shall have enjoyed the bonus dur
ing the trial, and we can certainl,
dispose Of the agricultural land at
clear profit whenever, if ever, tha
change comes.
The state does not expect to ge
only the benefit direct from the in
struction given in the schools of thi
kind. Perhaps the most importan
part of the work of the instructor
as far as the country districts ar
concerned, is from the extensio
work done by means Of the work Q
the instructor in schoolhouse meet
ings and in private help and advis
given by the Instructor to any farm
er who will consult him. Mr.. Nc
Nelly has been busy organizing th
farmers Of this county for variou
purposes Of farm improvement, an
1 find that the farmers thoroly ar
preciate the value Of these service
| If the associated districts are viii
ing to pay a two mill tax for tt
maintenance Of the school, I see n
reason why the city should not |
willing to maintain It under the lii
eral provisions Of the Putnam act.
:. I believe that most Of the criticis
has been caused by misunderstant
ing, and not by mere desire to fir
fault, hence take this means /
placing the truth before the voters ,
the city for their consideration.
have always been proud Of the IA
that our citizens have been anxiol
to have their. schools as good as al
in the state, and I know the enti