Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-03
AMENDMENT TO CONSOLIDATED
SCHOOL SECTION HELD TO BE
BACKWARD STEP.
PRACTICALLY NULllFiES
SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT
State Superintendent Holds Too Many
Laws Are Hastily Enacted-comes
Out in Opposition to Military Train
ina in Schools Except For Physical
Betternent Of Young Men.
Special to Times Republican.

special 10 lllIleS-
Des Mones. Nov. 3.-'State Superin-
tendent Of Public instruction Albert
VI. Deyoe in his annual address to the
state teachers association today de-
clared that the amendment to the
school consolidation law passed by the
last general assembly has practically
null!f1ed the advancement OF the great
set movement for better schools where
most needed in the state
He discussed briefly proposed mill
tary training schools stating that IN
his judgment six months service under
strict army discipline would be good
schooling for young men past 10 or ~
years of age but If military training
would exalt militarism he was opposed
to 1t. He declared that the military
school should be a training school in
morals and no young man should De
subjected to temptations to acquire
habits that are a detriment 10 ply
steal cleanliness and we'll being. He
declared the cigarette habit had dead
ened the ambition Of more boys of hisn
school age to become masters OF noole
purposes in life than any one cause.
Hasty Legislation.
On the subject of legislation and
better schools Mr. Deyoe said:
From an experience gained from the
last sessions OF the legislature in
amending the school laws it will APP
pear that bills are sometimes introduc-
ed without careful consideration either
as possible interpretations OF the Ian
guage used or what the result will be
affecting educational advancement in
the state as whole. A little coopera-
ton on the part Of legislators with
the heads of departments might avoid
many of these mistakes.
Who Is more vitality interested IN
our schools or who has better knowl-
edge Of educational needs than those
experienced and actively engaged in
educational work? I am constrained
to recommend that no bills affecting
our schools should be proposed for
passage without the approval Of
committee, half Of whom shall be
active educators headed by the de-
partment Of public instruction.
Within my memory the schools OF
Iowa haev never suffered because OF
any legislation recommended and Sc
cured by the Department Of 1nstruc-
ton and the State Teachers Associa-
ton. The advancement has come
largely thru these sources.
7 am not urging that every measure
proposed by the educators Of the state
shall receive favorable considera-
ton by the general assembly. We want
TO recommend the legislature for many
splendid school laws enacted during
recent sessions. Many rural, village
and small town communities in Iowa
have been encouraged by recent legis-
Iation to establish advantages equal TO
those found in larger towns. The
schools in these districts are now pre-
pared TO serve as ceuters for COM
munity, educational and social activi-
ties.
Benefits Of Consolidation.
The following facts will refute the
argument advanced by the opponents
OF consolidation that the towns have
been the beneSciaries especially Of the
law:
u. Number Of consolidated school
districts prior to April, 1913, seventeen.
"'2. Total number Of consolidated
districts July l, 1917, 235.
"3. Number Of consolidated districts
established in the open country, TWEEN
ty-eight.
Il. Number Of consolidated districts
including towns OF over 1000 popula-
alton, four.
IS. Number Of Consolidated districts
including small towns with population
over 500 but less than 1000, thirty.
"S. Number Of consolidated districts
including small towns or villages with
population Of less than 500, 173.
only four towns having popula-
zion exceeding 1000 and only thirty
towns ayiug a population of moro
than 500 and less than 1000 are in
cIuded In consolidated districts.
Two hundred one districts are
formed in the open country or to In
clude villages and small towns Of less
than 500 inhabitants. Good schools are
as vital in the small towns and villages
as in any other communities and by
good Cooperation between the small
town and the surrounding country good
schools can be afforded and main
tained.
After stating that consolidation is a
success in all statese where 1t has been
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