New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-07-04
SYSTEM OF SCHOOL
AID CALLED WRONG
GOVERNOR BURNQUIST NAMES
COMMISSION TO REPORT A
BETTER PLAN.
EXECUTIVE SAYS THERE is TOO
MUCH FAvoRITIsM AND RED
TAPE.

AsAo>AA 4 AVIAN ASASA AMI NIL
TAPE.
= Governor J. A. A. Burnquist has de-
cided that the entire system of giving
aid to public schools is out of tune, and
needs a thoro overhauling, and has ap-
pointed a commission to look into the
matter.
The Governor says in the first place
there is entirely too much red tape and
the system should reorganize so as to
eliminate politics and favoritism, and
give aid to rural schools and to new COM
munities where it is most needed, rather
than to the older and Weather communi-
ties, where it is not needed. Governor
Burnquist Friday appointed a commission
composed of we'll known educators and
others who have had experience in school
affairs, to make thoro study of the
situation and develop plan to be pre-
sented at the next session of the legisla-
ture. ..
The Commission.
The following men and women, most
Of them we'll known to the educational
people of the state, were appointed:
" DR.. L. D. Coffman, dean of the college
of education, University of Minnesota;
DR.. Samuel F. Kerfoot, president Of
Hamline university; DR.. Frank A. Weld,
president of the Moorhead Normal
school; Mrs. Gertrude F. Skinner of
Austin, formerly superintendent of Mower
county schools; Mrs. H. H. Witherstine,
member of the board of education at
Rochester; J. F. Vaughn, superintendent
of schools, Chisholm; George Franklin,
superintendent of schools, Deer River;
s 8 B. Arp, superintendent OF the Jackson
1ountxe hools; b. G. Hail. president of
the 81 n federation of labor; Senators
P. II. McGarry Of Walker and Ole.
8. sageng Of Dalton; Representative James
SxE. Madison, Maple Lake; J. F. jacobson
Of Madison; W. H. Putnam, Red Wing,
and w. F. Schilling, Mortified. The
latter and Ole Sageng represent the
farmers of the state on the commission
The governor says that under the
present sustem there is too much red
ytape, too many petty requirements
4 upon which school boards must, act,
too much opportunity for political man
ipulation of funds, and too little pro-
vision for taking care of needy com-
munities.
Too Much Red Tape.
The governors statement follows in
part:
every one who has given this mat
ter serious consideration recognizes the
lack of scientific management in the
present distribution of state aid. There
is too much red tape in connection
with it. There are too many petty
requirements upon which school boards
must act. There is too much op-
portunity for political manipulation
of funds and too little provision for
taking care of needy communities. More
attention should be paid to rural schools,
ESPECIALLY W CIOIC lSSC1ISo III 1lCW OlS-
tricts. Biennial struggles Of the legis-
lature over state aid appropriations show
the lack of defniteness and permanency
in our present methods.
X tsThe school districts and the school
boards of the state should know what
to expect from year to- year, and not
be subject to continual changes or to
the deprivation of aid through failure
to put in some new device or through
technicaities of one kind or another.
The whole matter should be removed
from the realm of politics and the
possibility of political Vaccination. I
Can Pay Obligations.
'tMuch has been said of late as to
the deficits in the payment of aid,
and the veto of portion thereof, al
though as it now stands the appro-
priations for school aid for the next
two years are about $1,500,O0O more
than ever before, and it is still pos
sible for the state high school board
and the superintendent of education,
under the decision of the attorney
general, to pay all so-called past NOR
al obligations if said board and officials
should think it advisable to do so.
1sIf that were done, the amount of
future appropriations could be put up
to the next legislature, together with
Much recommend for changes as
~ ae commission may propose. Under
any circumstances, before additional
appropriations are made, the changes
,,,h;nh ara necessary to render the aid