The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-01-07

continued and advanced. recon-
mend enactment Of q Minnesota
youth act which should include
creation Of a state youth commits
sion with power to determine the
actual needs and conditions Of
youth. and formation Of social. re-
creational and employment CEN
tiers, particularly In the rural
areas.
Necessary funds should be appro-
priated to create works projects Of
such a nature as to make contri-
buttons to the vocational and edu-
cational training Of youth. The De-
partment Of Education could CO
operate in formulating such a pro-
gram. We should aid needy stud
ents to pursue their education.
Some form Of joint federal-state
action is desirable, and funds
should be jointly provided by the
state and federal governments. The
National Youth Administration
forms a basis for cooperation.
Education for our youth is one
concrete way Of demonstrating to
young men and women our faith in
them. We need an expanded col
lege aid program and adequate
means to assist in the general pro-
gram of youth planning. Minneso-
Ia must not standardize living, par.
ticularly for its young, on poverty
basis. It must find the means to Of
fer to youth something better than
naupar existence
Education
Our national, as well as our in
dividual welfare, depends upon an
informed people. We must ever
seek to attain a higher level Of pub
lie education.
recommend payment Of all state
aids in full. Minnesota in the past
enacted desirable educational laws
designed to equalize educational
opportunity for children through
furnishing a minimum program.
But insufficient appropriations nee
essitate the pro-rating of the spec
ial aids to education and thereby
prevent the attainment Of the min
imum program fixed by law.
I urge consideration Of expan-
sion Of educational facilities for un-
fortunate people suffering from
any type of handicap. Likewise ]
believe the Department of Educa-
ton should effect much closer
cooperation than exists at the pre-
sent time with the Board of Com
troll in the matter Of an education
al program for the wards in our
various state institutions.
urge the passage Of a bill, to-
gether with such appropriations as
may be needed, to furnish free
transportation to all rural high
school pupils. Urban centers Of
population and of wealth owe a
great educational debt to the rural
territories of this state. And vet
the sad fact exists that the rural
child today has fewer and poorer
educational facilities than other
children in the state. Forty-four
percent of rural children Of high
school age in Minnesota are not
now in high school because their
parents, in many cases, cannot af-
ford to pay the cost of transporta-
ton.
Appropriations in the general
field of health and recreational
services sufficient to enable the
Department of Education adequate
ly to carry out a real program
should be made. There is great need
for health programs and instruc-
tions in the field Of health. A pro-
per health program must proceed
through a thorough going educa-
tional program in health instruc-
ton, which can be carefully coor-
dinated with statewide program
Ia the field Of recreation. If the
youth of this state can be made in
to healthier and better citizens
through this, the little that the
state may expend will represent
money well spent.
Adult education should become
an integral part of our state educa-
tional program. In those countries
which have undertaken 1t on q
large scale adult education has
clearly contributed to higher
standard of living.
These educational recommends
lions will, of course, require more
money. But If you proceed upon
the broad principle of equalization
of educational opportunity and
provide the means to effectively
accomplish that ideal, you can
make no mistake.
However, need not point out to
you that state aids to education act
as a replacement tax, thereby re-
lieving the tax burden Of the local
community.
I recommend that. an interim
committee be appointed to codify
the school law and make such sug-
gested recommendations in school
law revision as will insure better
and more effective educational
planning in the future.
Teachers Tenure
The members Of the teaching pro-
fession must undergo in prepara-
ton for their work one of the
most rigorous trainings Of any Of
the professions; yet they are pub
lie employees with no occupational
tenure.
I urge you to enact some measure
designed to give a greater degree
OF security to the teaching profess
sion in the pursuit Of its work. I
suggest for your consideration
enactment Of law which will
place teachers under continuous
contract, subject to dismissal for
cause only, and after the reasons
for dismissal are stated in writing