The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-11-22

operative organization It does not
proceed independent of other estab
lished agencies which are respon-
sible for the educational policies of
the state, or other volunteer groups
who seek to promote certain activi
ties, which have for their object
change and improvement in the
states educational work
"One prime object of the associa
ton is to give it's influence in support
of the state department of education
and the commissioner of education, as
the responsible leader and represen-
tative of all the public educational
activities in the state.
"We seek to supplement his efforts
in affecting such changes as he has
to propose. The association will pre-
sent its own program and urge this
for consideration and approval by the
legislature, hoping in turn to work
with the state board of education, the
commissioner and with other organ
lied groups whose aims and interest
in respect to the public schools, are
similar to ours"
Special committees of teachers al
ready have appeared before the legis
lature's interim committee, Mr..
Schulz said. This committee is
headed by W. l. Nolan of Minneapolis
and includes members of the senate
and five of the house.
"All the wealth of America should
be behind our country's education,
but at the present time it is not and
each state must handle its own prob
lem and provide the money for its
own education" Mr. Carlson said.
eff the legislature passes the law
for an additional mill tax levy,
which we are presenting at its next
session, it will be a decided step
toward the adequate education of the
children and illiterate adults of Min
nesota."
"Illiteracy among children or
adults anywhere in America is not
the affair of the local community
alone; it is also the affair of the state
and the country as whole, and will
not be entirely wiped out until the
federal, state and local governments
cooperate in the handling of educa-
tional problems.
"Adult illiteracy is being taken
care of to a certain extent in few
of the larger cities, but in the small
Ter towns and the rural districts
nothing has been done so far. In the
smaller towns night schools should
be started, and this probably could
be done in the rural districts also,
or schools for adults in several of the
winter months could probably be ar
ranged there"
Our idea," Mr.. Schulz said, "is
not to take the responsibility entirely
away from the local community. This
would tend to destroy the communi-
tvs sense of independence, and would
be a serious mistake. At present the
state bears about one-quarters of the
cost of education and the local COM
munity about three-quarters, which
works great hardship on some dis
tricts, as they are unable to provide
adequate school facilities for the
children and are absolutely unable to
do anything at all for the adults. If
the state and the local community
each bore about one half of the edu-
cation costs it would be a much fair
err ratio"
Mr.. Schulz said he believed the con-
troll of the schools still could be
kept in local hands, but that they
should be assured of sufficient money
to provide an adequate education for
everyone in their district.
''The state of Minnesota has high
percentage of illiteracy," Mr.. Schulz
stated, "but we want it to be 100 per
cent, and we will never have this I'M
til we make it possible for our adults
to become educated. We also make
it difficult for our foreign born pop
ulation to become good citizens if
we do not give them a chance to learn
our language"