The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-11-15
State Supt. Wilson in Annual
Report Argues in Favor Of
System Of Scattering
the Schools
QUOTES OPINIONS OF
LEADING EDUCATORS
Declares Centralized System is
More Costly and Turns Gut
Fewer Teachers-Argu-
ments are Presented

Oklahoma City Nov lg In his
forthcoming annual report State supt.
r. If Wilson will say.
Exclusive Of the six elemosynary In
stitutions, Oklahoma maintains nine.
teen state schools. Their courses
cover a wide range Of educational en-
deavor and their plants are located in
I various parts OF The state. Some Of
our good citizens contend that We
should have established a more cen
tralized system Of state schools; that
few schools with larger equipment
would serve the state more efficiently
and at less expense. and that, there
fore, we should set about to reorgan-
ize our system to conform ID our
needs and reduce our taxes. On
question like this there IS room for a
difference Of opinion, even among
school men. II we could agree re-
garding our educational needs we
might still differ on the means Of at
tanning them The average man, in
forming his opinion concerning the
needs Of a growing state, is apt 10
overesnmate those institutions that
give promise of great commercial re-
turns, and to underestimate the value
of those that make for a better citi-
zenshlp. If, therefore. at times, our
burdens are heavy and the expense Of
maintaining our schools seems too
great. we should remember thar eduea-
tion is the best possible investment
that can be made Of our public funds.
The Rt. Hon James Bryce, the great
English statesman and author in dis
cussing the educational problems Of
some Of our middle western states,
says "A diversity Of schools, though
lacking in Capitalization and econo-
my provides widespread educa-
tional stimuli to all the people" The
superintendent OF public instruction
of the state of Maine has this to say.
| Our experience tends to show that
the placing Of Institutions in various
parts Of the state has a tendency not
only to increase considerably the total
4 enrolment, but likewise has a large
/ influence in upholding the educationai
standards in the various sections Of
the state Dr. Howerth OF Chicago
university makes the following obser-
yation oklahoma. 7 observe, has,
on the one hand, an unusually large
number Of state educational institu-
tions, though it is surpassed in that
respect by some of the older states,
notably Pennsylvania and New
York. On the other hand. it has rela-
lively few privately endowed schools
and colleges; very few in comparison,
say, with Kansas and Missouri, each
+ with about a score, not to speak Of
Iowt with 90, or Ohio with sS Theo-
reticalIy, this would be an advantage
for it should be easier to systematize
the educational work Of state ia
which provision for education is made
J almost wholly by the state. And sys
tenn if not obtained at the expense Of
vitality is in education, as in business
essential to the highest economy ant
! efficiency.
y If prominent educators IKE these
S and hundreds Of others, outside oui
e own borders. are inclined to speak il
such optimistic terms OF cur educa
a tional beginnings in Oklahoma, 4
n would seem that there Is little oecas
IS ion to be seriously disturbed about th
a ultimate outcome Of the diversified
a. plan we have chosen Il we are tol
it young 10 have iced Of so many stat
schools just now perhaps we bav
z built for the future or If for any rel
S. son we are not getting returns con
c. mensurate with our expenditure, 81
se problem, after all, may be only on
Of some little adjustments here an
4. there; and no school should be abai
d. doned SO long as there is a possibllil
30 Of adjusting it to the present or futui
IN needs OF the state.
ae 1t has been said that we have 70
n many normal schools We have 81
IS Perhaps the greatest single educ
(contlnuea On Page 81