The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-10-16
LOCAL DEMOCRACY
AND EDUCATION
FROM The OHIO TEACHER. OCT. TO-


It is natural that people who have
been bred on the spirit OF freedom
and independence should want as
much liberty as possible In the man
agement Of their own affairs. Former
ly we had in Ohio system OF local
independence in the administration OF
the schools that each local sub-dis-
trict was so Isolated from all other
school units that spirit OF local self
ishpess and independence was fos
tered. A good many years ago, when
1t was frnt proposed to have super
intendent TO organize and administer
the schools OF q whole township.
there was usually marked opposition
to this proposition. When law OF
that kind was finally enacted, very
few townships In the state availed
themselves of the advantages that
such q system would guarantee. Many
of the people In the small commune
ties comprised by the sub-dist.1ct
thought 1t absurd that one could si-
pervise the schools of whole town
ship. Besides, there was a feeling
that the people in the sub-district
would lose moro or less Of Identity
as q community. There was usually
more jealousy than rivalry between
adjacent sub-districts. Local inde-
pendence had fostered the idea Of iso'
lation.
Later, when 1t was suggested that
Ohio should have a law abolishing
the local board of directors in each
sub-district and providing township
board OF education consisting OF one
member from each sub-district, there
was tremendous howl from the
rural districts, where the claim was
made that tho people were being
robbed Of their democratic right TO
home rule. Finally. whom the law
providing a township board of educa-
ton of FIVE members elected at large
was enavted, the state legislature
was besieged by thousands Of peti-
TONERS to re-establish the three
director system for each sub-district.
Fortunately for education, there was
Just good sense enough In the state
legislature TO prevent such a retro
gression Three legislatures In sue
cession were urged to repeal the law,
and even q member Of the state legfs-
lature within the past year advocated
the return to the old system. But 1t
cannot be- Evolution Is forward and
not backward. The tendency Is to-
ward not more Capitalization based
upon the deprivation of the individual
OF his rights of suffrage, but based
upon the theory that that same indi-
vidual has always right to know to
whom his own rights as citizen have
been delegated. He wants to know
where to place responsibility and
whom to hold to account for the ex
ercise of an authority that has been
delegated by individual electors. When
1t comes to matter OF federal gov
ernment he does not expect to be con
suited every time the president of the
| United States decides not to declare
war or decides to appoint certain
| individual to represent hundred mil
lions OF people abroad, or concludes
that certain legislative measure Il
necessary for the good OF all the peo
pie. However, If the president fail
to represent us In these matters WI
know Just where to go to locate tn
responsibility.
Some people are trying to max
capital out of this ancient notion o
home rule In education. They sa
that the principles of local democrac
have been violated In the new schoo
legislation. When they are asked t
locate the particular spot at whlc
this violation has occurred they ar
at a loss to fiud an answer Som
Of them claim that the election OF tn
county superintendent Is too far n
moved from the ballot box. w
would reply by saying that every vot
for every member of board OF ed'
cation In villngo and rural district
ia lust az much a vote on the que
ton OF county superintendent q
any man can exercise In voting for
president Of the United States. IL tn
people take sufficient interest in the
local school affairs to see that onl
we'll qualified men are elected to IN
local boards OF education there Will
no bad men elected president OF Thu
board, hence no bad men electe
members Of tho county board OF ed
cation, and this would mean that
county superintendent OF schoo
would be the best expression OF ct
cheney these men could find. Att
all. It Is the voter at the ballot be
who elects the county superintendel
Of schools but he Is assisted In Il
analysis or this difiicult propositit
by the screening and sitting throul
which the election process must pas
Not only Is the local elector n
robbed OF any right in the matter, b
his right is intensified and his !
sponsibility magnihed
| No system devised by the combine
wisdom OF the legislative bodies
this country has succeeded quite
we'll In removing the administrati'
! OF the public schools from dOmiu