The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-02-06
EDUCATIONAL.
lBY G. W. MEIsNEsT.l

Few people are aware OF the fact that
two years ago our state legislature
created State Board of Public Affairs
| This board is to 90 more or less work
in most of the departments of the state
Part of their work was to investigate
our country schools. A number of men
were engaged to do this work. These
men were paid by the Bureau oil
Municipal Research OF New York city,
but their expenses were paid by the
state and $4,000 was appropriated for
this purpose. About six men were en-
gagged in this work and few months
ago published their report. In this re-
port they painted the most extreme and
isolated cases in such way as to make
one who has not given the matter much
attention believe. that our conditions
are terrible. For the purpose of en-
lightenment it would be well for the
public to know that none of these men
were school men, none has ever taught
a country school, and probably has
never been in one, While it is true
there are some poor conditions, it is
certainly true that the report they pub
lished and are distributing all over the
country is not true condition of our
country schools. These men were
accountants, book keepers, or statis-
ticians but knew nothing about schools
and especially our schools in Wiscon-
sin, as they come from distant New
York. State Supt. Cary has appointed,
two years ago, a committee of fifteen
of our own men and women to study
this problem of country schools This
committee has made report which it
seems to me is more nearly true.
| The Board OF Public affairs hits par
ticularly hard the school officers and
also the town officers. They refer to
their rotten and incorrect reports and
also as grafters and corrupters, While
there may be such cases am sure that
they are not typical or usual in the
state of Wisconsin. For our own coun-
ty can say that although reports come
to the superintendent that are not in
the best of shape, can also say that
every report is made with an earnest
ehIaavor to have it correct and in as
good shape as their ability will permit.
The following resolutions passed at
our recent county superintendents'
association express more clearly the
sentiments of the superintendents re-
garding this report:
We, your committee, appointed to
report upon the preliminary report Of
the results of field study reported to
the state board of public affairs by the
training schools for public service, after
careful examination of this prelimin-
ary report and of information gathered
from exact conversation with those
superintendent whose superintendent
cy districts were investigated, do report
upon the preliminary report in gener-
al but more particularly upon the coun-
ty superintendency phase, as follows:
FIRST-The school men of Wiscon-
sin welcome at any time a thorough
and comprehensive investigation of
the state of affairs in their public
schools directed toward raising the
efficiency of said schools.
SECOND-Wisconsin is well aware
of the many educational problems OF a
serious and perplexing nature These
problems have not been ignored but
have been frankly faced, intelligently
studied and solutions proposed by our
own people. The school system is con-
stantly changing because social condi-
tions are changing, hence we shall al
ways have educational problems.
| THIRD-Investigation of school
problems, to be of value, should, we
feel, be conducted by men OF national
reputation as educators, men of bal
ance and judgement and experience,
who would give us comprehensive
and properly balanced judgment OF
our educational system.
| FOURTH-It should be born in
mind that aside from the head of the
Investigating committee and his as
sistant statisticians who are expert ac-
countants, the members of this com
mittee are men who are young in the
business OF education, and are novices
in this sort of investigation, and are
students, If we are properly informed,
in the bureau Of research, on their
first piece Of practice work. The worl.
OF this committee shows their unfamil.
iarity with country schools and count
ry school Jnditions.
FIFTH-Thls work of investigation
was carried on in fewer than one hall
of the counties Of the state. In mum
Der OF the counties visited visits were
extremely brief, sometimes scarcely
more than the period between trains
We submit to !air-minded people thai
an attempt to attach any serious weigh
to the results Of such investigation /.
to over dignity it.
A. The most thorough investigation
made was in relation to financial affairs
! particularly in three centers in tn,
: north, namely, in the regions wher,
, the township system was just going on
OF existence through change in tn,
/ law.
. b. In majority OF cases where tn,
| .aado.. of thia rar,ont .uo,.ld Io laa 4.