Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-01-16
PINE COUNTY RURAL
SCHOOL NEWS
The Rockwell Case.
A. E. GUSTAFSoN. County Supt.

AS State Commissioner of Educa-
ton, DR.. John Gunderson Rockwell
has stood for:
l. Extension and equalization of
educational opportunities to all. He
has often stated that rural children
should have the same chance as viii
lage and city children, and has
worked hard for legislation along this
line.
g. Constant improvement of the
quality of education. He has be-
ieved in more practical education and
less theory.
8. Stimulation of local initiative and
greater democracy in school planning.
4. Maintenance of academic free
dom.
S. Fair play and common sense in
solving educational problems.
6. Adherence to the civil service
rules and regulations where they ap-
ply.
On Mr.. Rockwelrs recommended
ton, DR.. e. D. Carstater was approved
by the Civil Service board and ap-
pointed by the State Board of Edu-
cation about two years ago to take
charge of the industrial and vocational
education departments.
In violation of the Civil Service
law, the State Board of Education
last summer attempted to dismiss DR..
Carstater and appoint Harry C.
Schmidt to take his place The Civil
Service Board reviewed the case last
fall and stood by DR.. Carstater and
has demanded his reinstatement
This case is still pending because
the State Board of Education still re-
fuses to obey the Civil Service rules
Upholds Rockwell,
DR.. Rockwell has defended MIR
Carstater throughout the case, and Sc
on November Both, last, the State
Board of Education voted to suspend
DR.. Rockwell on the grounds of Gin
efficiency and C ii o n s inconsistent
with the duties of his office in the
matter of the dismissal of E. D. Car
slater and the appointment of Harry
Schmidt" Rockwell opposed the dis
missal of Carstater and opposed the
appointment of Schmidt on Civil
Service grounds. The Civil Service
board has upheld Rockwell in this
and has ruled against the State Board
of Education.
Rockwell has been refused an i'm
partial hearing, and definite charges
so far have been withheld. The
State Board of Education at "hear-
ing" on December 26 refused to hear
DR.. Rockwell's reply.
There seems to be other factors in
the case not generally known by the
outside. Just how much has DR.
Rockwell's opposition to the COM
mercializing of certain copyrighted
school materials by Mr.. Flynn and
Mr.. Utne, who are heads of certain
high school supervisory departments
remains to be seen. He has several
times called attention to the State
Board of Education to this situation
This, and the possible pressure that
can be (and some think has been)
put on some high school superinten-
dents throughout the state, add other
factors to the situation.
Fair to Rural Schools.
AS high school superintendent in
this state during the period 1917 to
1885, / recall many cases where the
Utne- Calrow administration of GER
tain dep ar m emit S has been un-
reasonable and unfair. We have found
DR.. Rockwell, however, very fair and
anxious to interpret laws and rules
so as to help the schools instead OF
hindering them. He believes in con-
structive criticism and not destruc-
tive actions. One outstanding illus
tration of this was in the fall of 1885
when we found it impossible for us
to obtain attention from Mr.. Utne
regarding his wrong Interpretation OF
the 1885 Supplemental Aid laws. This
would have ru ined many of our
schools in Pine county and no doubt
would have caused loss of about
$25, 900 annually. Mr.. Amidon and
Mr.. Rockwell finally went over Mr..
Utne's head to help us get change
in the Interpretation of the 1885 laws
so as to save our schools. Perhaps
these as well as other events have
led to the present attempt to dis
miss DR.. Rockwell. Who knows?