The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-11-03
TEACHERSOFS STATE
HEARD MCCONNELL
Closing Session Of Eduea-
tional Association
LABORS IN MINNESOTA
Commissioner of Education Dis
cussed System AS Carried
Out In Counties
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch. ]

aesota Education NasSociaticn, u
was announced today. Mabel 6. ..
Pierce of Faribault, is vice.
president, and peter Macmillan
Of st. Paul, and Miss Sadie
Brotherton OF saltwater were
elected directors for two years.
The election occupied all day
announced at the closing session
Of the convention today.
The association today adopted
a resolution expressing "most
emphatic disaPprevai of sry leg
islation tending to stif!e educs-
tionai freedom or to limit the
teachers as citizens" The reso-
luton was based on preamble
setting forth that sucn action
had been taken in soma states.
st. Paul Mimi, October 2S.-Min-
nesota in providing its educational
system has recognized the right Of
tho local community. to spend its
money as it believed best III its own
interest, and as a result the entire
system is built on the theory OF a
large local autonomy, J. NJ. McCon-
nell, state commissioner OF educa-
ton told teachers gathered in st.
Paul today at the closing session of
the annual convention of the Mime
sofa Education association.
Throughout the commissioner
said, the state has recognized the
proprietorship of each community in
/ its own schools. 1t has sought
through It's method of state support
and direction TO capitalize local in
Eerest in education and build up the
school as community institution.
The state has set up standards and
objectives toward which 1t has di-
rected the efforts of the schools by
the offer of special state aid.
1T has assisted districts unable
to carry the full burden of school
support" the commissioner contin-
ued.< ct has encouraged consolida-
tion of rural schools by liberal as
sistance;, has provided high schooi
education for children unable to Sc.
cure it in their home districts; aided
in building up school Libraries; train
ed its teachers; provided for higher
education at state expense; proyia :
ed special classes for the blind, deaf
crippled and otherwise handicapped
children; aided In the education OF
adults and re- educated persons who
have suffered physical injury"
Foundations Nicely Laid
Minnesota's educational founda-
tons were wisely laid by its found
ers. Mr.. Mcconnell declared when
they made 1t the function Of the
state to establish schools in the
various parts to provide for their
support. The founders were wise be-
yond most the land grant states, he
contiuGed in conversing the states
federal land inheritance for educa-
ton SO that the fund accruing from
it will grow with the development OF
the state and thus constitute a per-
enue. o. u.. 80! -rs-
1.-THE endowment fund so Great
ed" he pointed out, "for the benefit
of the elementary and high schools,
exclusive of that for the University
with still fifth of the land unsold
amounts to almost $34,000,00. This
fund for the erection of school build
fund for the erection of school build
ings can never be spent and will
grow as land continues to be sold at
constantly higher prices. The an
nual income distributed to all schools
ON a per capital basis Is more than
s., 100000. To this, the state has adj
ded for similar distribution The So
called current school fund the
income from a statewire of mill tax
amounting or the last year to ap-
proximaely $1,900,000. These funds
are distributed on the basis OF
school population for purposes Of
maintenance.
| Doubtless the feature of Mime
sofas system of state support which
is most distinctive is that found In
the provisions for the special state
aid which is paid from the general
revenue for specific purposes which
are defined by law. This aid for the
last year, the first under the new
law, will amount TO approximately
$4,000, 00o."
The legislature at its 1921 session,
in harmony with the recommends
lions OF the department of education
defined the purposes of this state
support, the commissioners explain
ed, which he summarized briefly in
the following five divisions: =
! One. To assist la providing equal
educational opportunity for all the
school children In the state:
| Two. To assis. in establishing
certain generally accepted minimum
standards for all lie pablo schools
Of tie state. g..s.L
| Three. TO assist scncoi districts
when tax levies for maintenance arc
exceptionally high.
Four. TO stimulate educational
progress by aid for superior eff
iciency and high standards and to
encourage desirable educational IN
;dertakings not yet generally astab-
| lished
Five to provide teacher raining.
| "To assist In providing equal I'd
EDUCATIONAL opportunity" mcconnell
said in dwelling Upon each of these
FIVE divisions, ":hcrc il, provided as
follows:
zone. The cost OF transportation
for pupils il consolidated school
districts
Two. Aid for the erection Of
school buildings in consolidated
school districts.
Three. Tuition Of non -rMiGeni
IrHr:ls in high schools. Under the pr
vision auy high school in The state
|! is open to any pupil from distrir
(which does not maintain in higl
school, at the expenses of the state.
-Four. For assisting in providing
for school attendance o; isolated
pupils.
zone OF the most progressive fea
lures of .ne rev law is that for as
isisting school districts with higl
tax levy. 1t recognizes unequal dis
triuution of Wealth and is based OIL
the tkeary taat the education Of CT
cry child, whcie ever he may live il