South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-12
School Board Member Says
Finances Are Bar to Pro-
pOSal-AgainSt Sup
piled Uniforms.
CITY NEEDS MONEY FOR
BUILDINGS AND REPAIRS
Says Military Training is Job
For State and Nation
and Not For the
School City.

That the adoption Of the Wyom-
ing military training system in the
south Bend high school ought not
be undertaken in the present condi-
tion OF school finances, and that
even relief on the subject in the
matter OF uniforms, by outside con-
tributions is wrong in principle, is
the contention of Charles p. Drum
mOnd, member Of the board of edu-
cation. i'm "a letter received by the
editor OF The News-Times today.
The letter comes in reply to. or in
lire with an editorial published in
this paper Sunday, and being highly
comprehensive. is published here
with. with Mr.. Drummond's con-
sent. The communication follows:
Mr. John Henry zuver.
Editor of News-Times.
My Dear Sir:
/ thank you on behalf of the peo-
pie of south Bend for your editorial
of last Sunday On the proposed
adoption of the so-called Wyoming
plan of military training
The school board has been dill
gently and persistently bombarded
To adopt this system out Of hand.
and has been charged with being
slow and against progress"
Mr.. Editor, this is not a college
rush. Ii cannot be put over the line
10y the fellow who can yell the loud
est or push the hardest. Speaking
Tor myself alone as school trustee,
shall not be dragooned into the
adoption of this ideal plan" with
cut intelligent and careful investi-
cation II is not given 10 us 10 dis
burSe other peoples money ON the
resolution Of any organization how
ever well meaning.
Many Points Raised.
Passing the ideality of the plan.
let us took at II from the business
standpoint.
CD There is grave doubt as to
our ability under the law 10 eNpend
"a dollar Of the public funds for this
proposed plan. Mv own opinion is
that we have no authority. but we
lave asked our attorney for an
opinion and I have written 10 the
authorities at Indianapolis, 10 whom
we must account. for further
knowledge Many do not know that
the power of the school board 20
expend money is strictly fixed and
limited by law. and that our ac-
counts are periodically audited by
an officer of the state board Of ac-
countants. and il We exceed our
powers in the expenditure of money,
such expenditure is reported 20 the
attorney general, and we must make
good personally the amount or an
sSwer under our bonds You can
readily see that our expenditures
are not a matter Of idle or passing
sentiment. and that agitation and
hypnotic spells have no place in the
premises
Other Uses for Money.
(eO II we have the authority TO
eNpend money for this plan. know
ing our financial ability as We do.
and the enormous and diversified
demands upon US 10 meet all Of our
present expenses. would We be
justified i'm adopting this plan be the
same ever so meritorious? A great
many people believe that the pri-
mary aim and object OF schools is
10 educate the child. keep him COM
Portable during school hours; pro-
fect him from injury. teach him
cleanliness OF body and soul and
keep him Joyous and happy. Z am
one who so believes. I would spend
the money 20 reach most closely the
child. III anything was left. and
had the power. ] would aid deserN-
ing collateral matters I'm other
words. good buildings. good teach
.rs. good equipment first Under
the growing demands or collateral
matters we are called upon 90 eN-
mend q large sum OF money. We
need many new school buildings.
MANY need repairs The enumera-
ton increases rapidly. We have
many cheap nake-shift structures
called portable" 10 house the
children We are struggling alons
CONTINUED On PAGE THREE