The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-25
CITY SCHOOL sYsTEMs.

AL Lne TeCGDt I0eetlu& VI A<cd& uS Va
Kansas Municipalities one of the reso-
lutions adopted suggests that It WOULD
be wise to abolish the present system
for che administration OF thA AFFAIRS. Of
city schools by boards of education and
place 1t in the hands of city commits
sioner. Legislation along this line is
certain to be pressed with more or less
vigor at the present session OF the leg
islature. This is a most important sub
ject and one that should be discussed
and considered most carefully from all
of its angles. To take anything that
might SAVIOR of snap judgment on 1t
might prove disastrous to the schools.
to their proper maintenance and de-
velopment.
In the current issue Of The Kansas
Teacher. the official publication of the
State Teachers association. Professor
d. A. Ellsworth. the secretary of this
organization, INDUCES in a discussion
of THE Organization of Our City School
Systems" that seems to be worthy OF
widest publicity and closest attention
as touching on one side of this big
question. He writes:
zone of the most logical arguments
in favor of maintaining the relation of
city school systems to the state educa-
tional system is made by DR.. T. E.
Firnegan, assistant commissioner of
education for New York. He sketches
the origin and development of the Amer
ican public school system. and estab-
fishes the wisdom of the fathers in
making public education one Of the
domestic affairs of the several states.
hi, low
Public schools are state institutions.
Every branch from the highest to the
lowest recognizes this. No school is
local only, but must be included in the
system as a whole. The courts have
held in every instance that member
of board of education is not munich
pal officer. 1t is written into the con-
stitution of more than forty states that
the legislature shall make provisions
for the maintenance and support of a
system of free public schools. All this
has not been Gone. however, with the
object of centralizing the control of the
public schools or withdrawing from
localities any of the powers now ex-
ercised by them. But it has been es-
tablished that the schools shall be free
from the assaults of such forces as
would use them for selfish and inn
proper purposes. When one considers
the invidious attacks whether through
local partisanship. bigotry or reaction
airy considerations, to which the schools
have been exposed at times. the wis
dom of maintaining the. state control
of the schools. properly shared with
the local authorities, but never given
over to them wholly, the reason for
the two-fold relationship is established
and justified. To put it. as Mr.. Finne-
gan does. the men elected in each city
tive localities and the state in the
states general plan Of general public
education These officers have, in fact.
been independent Of the municipalities
in which they serve and have been the
corporate agents of the states own
creation.
IS The subject of compulsory educa-
tiOnw illustrates the point we'll. The
chief educational officer of the state
enforces this law while provisions are
made for local trtiant Officers. The
latter serve both the state and the mu-
nicipality. State aid, such as the nor
NAL training provision. the industrial
subsidy, and other provision which the
state makes, rest upon the states con-
troll of education. The course of events
indicates that the states are to pro-
vide more literally for the schools as
time goes by and it would be strange
it,. at the same time, the states au-
thority over the schools should be di-
minished. -
1T is generally admitted that it is
not wise to include in a charter the law
for the control of the local govern
ment OF the schools. This should be
placed in the education law. Condi-
tions change. Details are too many,
the revision of charter is apt to be
schools multiply with new demands.
Charters are apt to differ too largely
with various cities. and education
should be uniform through the state.
The experience of every city has shown
that it is best to keep the general man.
agement of a city school system under
board independent of the municipal
authority. The board of education is
the most vital element in the whole
construction of a city school system,
and like the fundaments of govern
ment. Should not be changed for light
and transient causes 1t is hoped, if
time will permit. that this subject may
be discussed fully at the educational
council at it's coming meeting
UNION FUNDS AND WAR RELIEF,