The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-10-08
PRAISES CHANGE
IN SCHOOL BOARD
Mrs. Bradford Writes to
Congratulate Kenosha
On Change.
GIVES REASONS WHY
Former Superintendent Cites
Experience Here to Show
of Change in Board.

Change in the school board of Ke-
nosha from eighteen members to
seven members as voted in the refer
endum election in Kenosha on last
Tuesday, was endorsed by Mrs. Mary
D. Bradford. former superintendent
of schools of Kenosha, in an open
Theleen, president of the Kenosha
Civic council, the organization of
various civic, industrial, patriotic and
fraternal organizations represent
atives, which sponsored the proposed
change. In the letter, which Mrs.
Bradford stated might be released for
publication, she congratulated the
city upon making the change in or
ganization in the board and cited her
own experiences here to show the
value to the school system of the
change.
The letter is self-explanatory. 1t
reads as follows:
"Since arriving home after an abb
sence of eight months, / have been
very much interested in the question
of the seven-menber SCHOOL board for
Kenosha, which / learn from Wednes-
days Evening News was successfully
carried in the referendum on Tuesday
last.
81 am writing this to extend con-
graduation to yourself and the Keno
sha Civic council of which, l see, you
are the president. The people of Ke-
nosha have won a more important VIC
tori for the public schools, than
many now realize, and cannot for
bear saying that, like tbs new high
school, it is another Of my dreams
for the advancement of my native
city that has come true
gOnly those who have experienced
the disadvantage of large board as
/ did fof eleven years, .and as Mr..
Zimmers did before me, can appreci-
ate the Importance of their decision
of the people. Fortunately for my
successor, some changes in organiza-
ti6n and operation of the administra-
tion factors, relieved the situation to
considerable degree.
"During my term of eleven years /
was obliged to work under the direc-
ton of twelve successive boards and
with over seventy different school
board members, some of whom knew
at the start little or nothing of public
school purposes, or of modern policies.
Fortunately fo- the schools, few ex-
perienced and able members stood by
tho cause.
"Much of my energy was necessarily
expended in effort to establish work
ing relations with new members. The
committee meetings furnished valu-
able opportunities to that end; but
the work was hard, since the distribu-
tion of duties among committees
made it necessary sometimes for me
to give several evenings {. week to
these meetings.
Further rehearsal of my trials is
not needed. Ny purpose in saying this
much has been merely to show by
contrast the advantages of a small
board as an operating body. When
the people see both, next, that the
people elected the fill these seven i'm
portant Offices a. those bst qualifid
for them, another important advan-
tage will be realized.
81 have read with interest the
articles in the Evening News of
Sept. "a, School Board plays an I'm
portant Role in Municipal Administra-
ton and Sept. 25, on he reasons for
smaller school board, both strong,
clear, up-to-date articles. Please let
me know who wrote them.
"May the Kenosha Civic council
continue its activities.
MARY D. Bradford"