Morris tribune., 1916-12-22
SCHOOLS SHOULD GET THEIR MONEY

State Superintendent of Public ms tructon C. G.
Schultz is out with statement asking school officers
define their attitude state aid to the members of the
Legislature from their Districts State aid in the support
of public schools is we'll recognized policy in Min
since the early SOS, and from time to time the
Legislature has amended the schedule and defined the
conditions under which state aid is granted At the last
session the department of education reported to the eg
lature estimate of 81 778 718 necessary pay the
aid for the past two years and it has now been
Mr. Schultz within per cent of the COR
amount required The legislature arbitrarily cut
this amount to So 600 OOO The department paid in full
the aid provided for teacher training transportation
building tuition supplemental account of local tax
levy and for supervision and administration
all other aid cut to 80 per cent for 1915 70 per
for 1916. If the school districts satisfied Mr.
Shcultz would like to know it, if the districts would like
to have the aid paid in full he would like to know that
whether anyone thinks aid should be reduced IN
whether specific in mills should take the
place of the biennial appropriations.
Mr.. Schultz says.
81 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 Importance that should have stable pro-
gessve and expanding public school policy Minnesota
1t should look towards the future development Uf public
education. 1t should recognize the fact that public
cation is not primarily local obligation local right
1t should lay stress the question from the her side
that is first the states duty provide educational
opportunity fr all children in the state and proper sup
port of public schools. Secord; by this the state is
conceded the right direct and exercise in respect
to public educaton The equal right of every child an
educaton not only of ementary grade but leading thru
the Ugh school, must be recognized Above ALL the legis
lave policy should reflect the sentiment the conviction
needs of the entire state. These can be
brought home by definite expression the part of each
school community represented by its school board and
the administrative and professional head of the school
systent,-cty, village and county,
Mr.. Schultz is to be commended on the calm but
effective which he has put the question tu the
school officers. The politicians of last legislature de-
prved the schools of the state of million dollars
of state aid, and then braged about how they had
''saved the taxpayers million dollars, but of them
had sorry experience trying to explain.
We trust the legislature will hear from the
school officers in unmisakabe terms and that there
will be attempt to play politics with the money
of the state again.
Ard, by the way, Theodore Crhistianson, of Dawson
candidate for speaker, the who made
successful fight in the house overtunng the action the
appropriations committee in cutting down the aid
If he does not win the peakershp he should at least be
given the craftsmanship of the committee education for
no in the house is better friend of the public
schools.