Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-10
WILSON SEEKING
SCHOOL CHANGES
State Superintendent Plans to
Ask Legislature for I'M
portant Measures.
URGES A BOOK COMMISSION
Thinks Board of Education
Should Be Relieved of This
Branch of Work.
URGES A BOOK COMMISSION
Special to The World.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 9.--Mate-
rial changes in the supervision OF
<Some of the state institutions, which
have heretofore been under the control
of the state board of education, or
ganization of the school districts
under the county unit system. and a
textbook commission separate from
the board of education are some
things being recommended to the
legislature by II. II. Wilson, state su-
perintendent. Some of the changes
he suggests in the present laws may
be done by legislative act, while one
or two subjects cannot be changed
without constitutional amendment.
The county unit plan is similar to a
hill prepared by Mr.. Wilson for intro
duction in the last regular session Of
the legislature. But il was not passed.
The unit plan authorizes n majority
of the school electors in a district
(other than an Independent district
TO elect a board of education which is
given control of the schOls in that
county The board may then appoint
a superintendent for a term not to
exceed five years. The board has con-
troll of the school affairs in that coun-
ty. The county superintendent is not
elected, but must be appointed on his
merits as a school man.
Health Census urged.
In school districts where there are
no high school facilities it is suggested
that it would be fair and right for that
district to defray the tuition expense
of pupils who had gone as far as they
could, in these schools, to the high
school in another district Plans
should he prepared and executed look
ing to the securing of data relative to
the health of children in ali the
schools, both rural and city, says the
superintendent. Too much aid in any
way cannot be given the rural schools.
lie recommends law which would
permit school district boards employ
ing teachers for terms not to exceed
the life of the certificate held by the
teacher. Trained teachers are mo-
cessity and he recommends the ap-
pointment of rural school supervisor.
More Taxes Needed.
4 constitutional amendment should
be adopted, suggests the superintcnd-
ent that would permit the limit OIL
taxation to be raised from 5 to mills
for schools that maintain fully ac-
credited four-year high school, and Of
fer courses with approved equipment
in agriculture, domestic science ana
manual training. The levy would, OF
course, he subject to the approval OF
the county excise board.
l
Of education be relieved of its duties
as n text-boo commission. A law
should be passed, he believes, for a
textbook commission to be composed
OF the state superintendent, as chair
man, and six persons actually engaged
in school work, to be appointed by the
governor from list of fifteen names
submitted by the state superintendent.
The commission should meet within
thirty days after the appointment ana
make the adoption Of books. 1t is sug-
gested that the term Of the commits
sion should expire with the adoption
of the books. A central depository foi
these books should be established,
rather than two places.
Would Censor Pictures.
A strict censorship of moving pic
lures. especially those used in the
sChoolrooms, should be established,
thinks the superintendent.
Relative to the supervision of the
state institutions. Mr.. Wilson suggests
that the deaf school and the school for
the blind should be placed under su-
pervision Of the state superintendent
and two others appointed by the gov
ernor, one to be physician. The boys
training school, the orphans home,
the institute for the feeble minded and
the colored orphans home at TAFT be
placed under the supervision OF
board, with the commissioner Of char
tiles and corrections chairman OF the
board. Then the colored agriculturai
school at I.angston should be placed
under a board composed Of the state
superintendent and two negro MEM
bers TO be appointed by the governor.
This board should hold all its meetings
at Langston. "