Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-11-29


the members of the legislative commit
tees and of the membership Of the leg
tslature should not be questioned. It
must be assumed that each member act
ed in accordance with his sense Of pub
lie duty and as he conceived the public
interest required. One aim of the leg
fslature in revising this, as well as
other appropriations, was to restrict the
tax levy within certain specified limit
This Department must seek to reflect
the attitude and judgment of the pub
lie school constituency on this question
In dealing with the legislature. 1t de-
sires to work with local school author
tiles and to support their efforts. The
Department is seeking by this state
ment to bring the question squarely be-
fore you. 1t does seem legitimate that
you should discuss this with your leg
islattve members, since it is of vital
Importance to every public school in
our state.
The following questions bear direct
~ upon the situation:
First. Is your school district salts
fed, and are its needs met by a contin-
uance Of state aid which is short of the
full amount earned by your school, or
any department in the schools? Or
Second. Is it the conviction Of your
Board and your school community that
the appropriations made by the next
be SUFFICIENT In amount to pay the state
aid in full? Or
Third. Should the amount of aid for
each class Of schools. high, graded,
consolidated, rural, or for any special
department or activity Of those schools.
be reduced in amount, or any Of these
reduced by law? Or
public schools be increased by larger
grants to any or all Of the several
classes Of schools or to any or all of
the departments or activities in public
schools which are now aided by the
state? Or
Fifth. Would you favor a specific
tax In mills to take the place Of the BIZ
ennial appropriations? The purpose
of g. mill tax instead Of fixed appropri-
atoms would be to make the state aid
permanent and sufficient to Npay the
amounts in full. The increase in the
states valuation would in the main
keep pace with the school growth.
/ desire to urge upon administrative
school officers. upon school patrons,
and upon taxpayers. to discuss this
question frankly with their legislative
members 1t is Of the utmost import
ance that we should have a stable, pro-
gressive and expanding public school
policy in Minnesota 1t should look to-
wards the future development Of pub
lie education. 1t should recognize
the fact that public education is
not primarily a local obligation or q
local right. It should lay stress on the
question from the other side. that it is.
first. the states duty to provide educa-
tional opportunity for all children in
the state, and proper support of public
schools. Second. BY this: the state is
conceded the right to direct and ex-
ercise control in respect to public edu-
cation The equal right Of every child
to an education, not only Of elementary
grade. but leading through the high
school, must be recognized. Above all.
the legislative policy should reflect the
sentiment, the convictions, and the needs
OF the entire state. These facts can be
brought hone by definite expression
on the part Of each school community,
as represented by its school board and
the administrative and professional
head Of the school system,-city, WILL
age and county. -. D O. ,@Se'A~~ 8 -; &l@=#
shall be glad to have a. statement
from any school official or other person
receiving this circular as to his convic-
tions and his action on the question it
raises.
Respectfully submitted,
G. g. SCHULZ. s
uperintendent.
sSt. Paul. Nov. 60, lol