The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-11

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All rights Of republication OF all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Schools and the Taxpayer
Bismarck has been visited recent
~ by delegations Of citizens from
so-called school towns" in the state.
intent on protecting the interests Of
institutions threatened with adverse
action at the hands Of the legisla-
lature.
Thus there Is again placed in issue
the whole question Of our system Of
higher education. Next to the op-
Grafton Of the common schools this
is the most important function Of
the state government, for upon the
success OF our schools and colleges
we stake q great deal Of the future.
Whatever tendency may exist to
approach the question in q belligerent
mood should be discounted. There
is no need for fighting in consider
ing this issue. It can be solved prop.
erly only by an open-minded approach
on the part Of all persons interested.
First Of all, 1t should be definitely
determined just what the various
interests are and ascertain II they
really are conflicting. Qualification
OF that matter viii do much to take
the heat out Of the entire issue.
Whatever opposition there may be
to continued operation Of our state
teachers colleges IS based upon the
idea that they constitute too heavy
. burden for the taxpayer. that the
path to financial salvation leads to
curtailment Of expenses and tho axe
has to be applied somewhere.
Bolstering this is the condition at
the state hospital for the insane,
damned to the windows with inmates
who are handicapped because Of
crowded conditions. Either this institu-
ton must be further expanded or
some other place for certain types Of
patients must b found. There Is
logic In the suggestion that, II one
or more institutions serve no good
purpose on the present basis, their
buildings might properly be used for
other purposes than those Of edu-
cation.
Opposed to this movement in all
OF its ramifica.ions are two import
ant classes Of people.
First among these are the parents
of children who wish to attend these
institutions as they now are being
operated. The presence Of q school
nearby has made it possible for more
than one boy or girl to obtain in
struction above high school grades
which would have been denied them
had they been forced to 60 farther
away from home. They insist-and
quite properly-that educational op-
portunity is guaranteed by the con-
stitution and that it would be back
ward step to reduce our educational
facilities at a time when a trained
and intelligent citizenry Is the great
est need Of the state and nation.
OF secondary interest is the po-
sition Of businessmen who would
find themselves disconnected il not
damaged by the closing OF an In
stitution or any major change In
the character Il Its activities. They
are entitled to consideration but
their interests pale into insignificance
when compared with those OF the
young man or woman who feels the
need for additional information and
a broader outlook and is denied them.
The need for . sympathetic ap-
proach is demonstrated when one
considers the fact that the parents
OF children very frequently are tax
payers, too. So are the business In.
terests which Else in defense Of the
present system.
It is rather obvious that there is
small reason for continuing our sys-
tenn Of higher education on exactly
the same basis as at present. Changes
are in order and have long been
overdue. We must train our young
folks not only to be teachers but
to take other positions in life. In
fact. It would seem reasonable to
change the character Of some Of our
Institutions. Their usefulness should
be enhanced. rather than reduced.
Each one Of them should offer .
junior college course which would 1T
> student for entrance into the jun
ior year at either Of our two major
institutions. Some Of them might
properly b abandoned - teachers
colleges. devoted to Junior college
work exclusively. II the financial
stress just!fies further curtailment Of
appropriations, provisions might b
made for charging tuition or Of IN.
ducing local governments. whose resi-
dents are especially benefited. to
toin n their support.
There = nothing sacrosauct about
the institutions Is such, but the
principle Of educational opportunity Is
e.