Newark post., 1919-07-02
Patrons Request
School Board to
Adopt Code
Representative Audience
Attends Public Meeting
Henry Ridgely and Superintendent
Jump Explain Provisions
for District

present dl lue IOWu uetIluS uclu
Thursday evening in the Fire
House. requested the Board of
Education to adopt the School
Code.
This action was taken at the con-
clusion of conference called by
committee of citizens of which
A. L. Beals was chairman, and to
which the School Board had been
specially invited. Henry Ridgely
of Dover, and County Superintend-
pnt Wilbur H. Jump were present
to clarity. the provisions of the
Code with respect to special dis
tricts and to it's bearing on the
local situation.
A representative gathering of
citizens and taxpayers crowded the
hall and were interested listeners
to the exposition and the replies to
the arguments of the opposition OF
which Mr.. Harvey Hoffecker was
spokesman.
Mr. Beals appointed George w.
Griffin chairman. He introduced
Mr.. Ridgely who disucessed first the
objection voiced by some lawyers
with regard to it's constitutionality.
He could readily see, he said,
how this opinion could be reached,
for the ordinary attorney has little
or no occasion to study educational
subjects or legislation affecting
them. He has little desire to do SO
because usually no compensation is
received for such work. He ex-
nIainpd his own enforced personal
contact with this class Of legislation
extending over a number of years.
The chief objection is voiced be-
cause the Code passed by a major
itv vote which lawyers have claim
ed is unconstitutional according to
Article 9 which specifies a two
thirds majority in acts affecting
corporations. The average lawyer
and the average layman would
naturally conclude that this ma
ioritv was necessary to pass the
Code since it deals with so-callec
corporate boards.
That a special district is not {
corporation in the legal sense o.
the term he explained by stains
that an act of incorporation IN tn
commercial and legal sense create
4 separate entity having absolute
control of it's own affairs. Thl
tould not be true Of public school
: which according to the Amerlcal
tloctrine are a part of the stat
ystem and just as much the busl
ness of the state as the building o
roads, of jails and Of public I'm
provements. The American polio
rom the beginning, has been t
make public education functlo
bf the State government.
SCHOOLS NOT MERELY LOCAL
CONCERN
The matter of educating futu1
kitizens is more than a merely loci
(oncern, he declared. 1t IS Sta'
responsibility. To make this clea
e compared the matter OF tow
government with that OF scho'
Eovernment. 1t is of no partlcuif
oncern to the State how the tow
Nanages it's municipal affair
whether it has an efficient lightir
ystem, paved streets, or other II
rovements. The State would new
orce a town to provide the
hings. That is strictly local co
-rn, The schools are not locf
|he material and moral welfare
he State depends on the intelil
nce of it's voters and the State n
ways assumed the responslblli
4 providing certain amount
ducation at public expense al
| very school is a part Of the Sta
c gstem.
The general assembly has Sc
I to allow local control in scht
fairs not because it is right b
Pcause it affords better manae
lent in State administration
!. Zeal affairs. The schools are n
y Tned by the local authorities, t
u xes are not local except IN a g
faphic sense. When taxes
WED the local school manageme
acting as an agent of the sta
locality has the right to dec'
neither children shall be ignora
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