Evening journal., 1920-04-28
til gift VIEWS
OF PUBLIC ON
SCHOOL CODE
LConllnned from Flrst Page

anyone who has some suggestion TO
make cannot attend any Of these three
meetings the commission asks that the
suggestion be sent 10 the commission
at Dover IN writing and it VIII be
given consideration.
This program would indicate that
the commission will not be ready to
make its final report with recOmmen-
datiOns as to proposed amendments
when The Legislature recOnvenes next
"Wednesday. but may have the report
ready few days later.
Several important features OF the
code were considered at yesterday aft
ernOOn's session OF the commission.
The compulsory attendance feature.
which has caused criticism on the
part OF farmers who desire TO have the
assistance Of their sons on the farms
more time than the law allows, was
1 discussed. II seemed to be the con-
senus Of opinion that some change
/ should be made TO meet this objection
and give the farmer the opportunity
OF keeping his sons home from school
during the busiest periods. 10 is likely
that this portion OF the code will be
amended TO allow the parent to file an
excuse or explanation with the county
board when he desires to keep his son
home 10 help him on the farm for a
reasonable time.
More home rule, or in other words
more authority, for the local district
/ boards WAS another feature discussed
at some length. IL was the general
opinion among the commissioners that
/ the code does not give the local boards
/ sufficient authority and should be
amended in that respect. To remedy
/ this alleged defect the commission ten
/ tatiVely agreed on amendments that
will give the county board authority
1 TO make the first nomination OF a
teacher but IL this is not satisfactory
/ to the local board the teacher can be
refused and the local board can then
{ go out and hire its own teacher but OF
/ course the teacher would have to be
/ properly qualified
II was also tentatively agreed that
I the code should be amended TO give
I the local boards authority TO make re-
pairs, buy coal and furniture II pro-
vision has been made for those items
[ in the budget.
lt was also thought that the lOca
I board should have power TO dismiss
teacher for cause but that she should
have an appeal to the county board
and II that board is not unanimous In
its decision a further appeal to the
state Board.
These PROPOSED amendments, Il
made. il is thought would remove OBJ
jections that have been made by hun
dreds OF taxpayers to the code.
In its work this morning, the com
mission tentatively eliminated some o
] The centralized power The present cod
places in the State Board of Educa
tiOn and the State Commissioner o
Education.
One Of the proposed changes take:
away from the State Board all auth.
Orily TO remove elective educationa
officers The State Board, however
will retain authority to remove Its
appOintive officers.
Fifteen sections OF the Code wer'
discussed at this mornings session.
One Of the tentative changes agreed
upon today was that prescribing ele
mental studies, the section beln
changed so IL reads such studies
shall be taught in English
Another change was that the stat
Board OF Education shall prescribe
list OF text books. The code at preser
provides the State Board shall furnisl
the books.
II was also decided to suggest al
amendment decreasing the term Of tn
bullllui00iuiiti VI ihuNut tl'il' Nhy'' "f
poiniment is made by the state Board
10 one year instead Of two years a
prOdVided at present.
10 was brought out al t0day's ses
sion that the salary Of The Stale Com
missioner. which Is supposed To b
fixed by the State Board OF Educa
tiOn, is in reality, passed upon b
The legislature as 10 has TO approx
the budget submitted by the boart
The commission decided 10 susges
an amendment, 20 remove the neces
sity of The commissioners endorse
ment of plans for new school build
ngs or the altering Of old build
inUs