Show FOR ION some of cf the th e R afons in brief why I 1 supported this important measure since the quest queston lon of consol consolidation mation of our schools throughout the county has been agitated several citizens have asked me to eap exp express ress my views upon tile the question and to state why I 1 supported the measure while it in tile hie making it possible for county commissioners in counties having a school population of or more to unite or consolidate them school of the into a county first class I 1 supported this measure because lie causo it seemed the only possible chance we had for the present at least to bring our cur schools together under one educational board all citizens of box elder county who are in the habit ot or keeping tab on their official servants are well aware that 1 I luring during my illy first term as box elder representative lid did all that countes Coun tys I 1 could to have enacted into law a bill which had it passed would have consolidated consoli the schools in all the counties of the state slate that is each county would Vo ull li haie inc been made but one school district so go you see I 1 have been converted con veiled to the proposition for many years and at the present time it is not selfishness as sonic home have intimated that prompts me to urge our county commissioners to consolidate the schools of box elder county because I 1 feel so certain that it if tile the consolidation was nas made that inside of two keais time the giester gi eater number of those who feel to oppose it now would be some of the staunchest supporters of the new system because by that time they would be able to see the benefits of the change EN example ample furnishes tile the strongest a loument in all places where schools have been consolidated they yai ii f gal t zd a ah ani an it unusual sual aate oi brogi p ess salt aau aly hy salt lake ake county lire are both striking examples the legislature in 1890 passed the free school law commonly designated as the new school law I baw this same law established by means of consolidation districts to lie be known as cities of the fust alist and secnah class of there are four in the state kramell namely kr fr amely salt lake city ogden logan and provo the first named being the only one of the first class here then one stroke of the legislature converted salt sail lake city into a single school district with boundaries c corresponding to those of the corporate city where previously 22 school districts presided over by as is many boards each consisting of three members were to be found was brought into ex istance bl a si single agle school board with a constituency of only 10 members in other words in the commendable work of consolidation a single stroke decapitated GG officials and replaced them with only 10 thus simplifying the administrative machinery and it at the same time giving it added power and what have bee been the results why today the public schools of salt lake la ke city are the jirine ji ride not only of all utah but of the west and today her school system is cnown to be one of the ery cry best and I 1 say that this was all made possible by consolidation corresponding advancement has been made in the hie schools of ogden logan provo as also in salt lake county and weber county then in the light of this experience are we too optimistic when we assert that a union of the school districts of the several counties would bring to them many ot of the same benefits though perhaps in a smaller I 1 would summarize the advantages of consolidation as follows I 1 it gives to all children of the districts affected equal and improved opportunities opportune ties by a fair and equitable distribution of school funds the small and sp arcely settled section gets of course the greater gain but experience shows that the giving of 0 the larger districts list lets comes as the quality of mercy it bles blessett blesse seth lh him that gives and him that takes 2 property is uniformly taxed for the support ort of education 3 it increases ilie efficiency of school blaids A small blaid is selected from a 1 larger population and consequently the probability or of getling better belter school boards is increased As added authority comes to the board in the consolidation gloater responsibility and dignity attach in the minds of the people to a school |