Show n 1 OUR SCHOOLS SIn S. S In In thinking over oyer the condition of our public schools school it seems to me that they do not receive the the attention in some parts of our Territory at least least that the importance of the subject will vill warrant Some perhaps all have observed that denominational schools as a general thing outrank their class of public schools in our Territory outside of our larger cities in point of efficiency of instruction and supply of apparatus and those same denominational schools some of them are under the care of individuals who are also intimately connected with our public schools or at least should be beby beby beby by reason of the trust reposed in them by their constituents But that they are not so intimately intimate intimate- ly connected with our public schools seems evident from the fact that the above denominational denominational denominational schools excel our public schools in the ability for imparting an ordinary education There are several Instances of the above character which have been brought to the notice of the writer and such conditions are truly to be deplored To know that men in whom the people of a district have placed confidence confidence confidence con con- and placed in their hands the care of the children of the district will use their ability to build up denominational schools and neglect the public schools calls loudly to the People eople to be more thoughtful in their choice of school men Men who do this have betrayed betray betray- ed the trust reposed in them and should learn at the earliest opportunity of the people that such conduct in a public official is not to be tolerated Not that we would have hav denominational schools worse butt but public schools better and in order to raise the standard of our public schools we must not allow denominational interests to conflict with the Public The School Commissioner has the care so soto soto to speak of our public schools Would it not be well for him to seek out the difficulties which retard the advancement of the schools find what remedies are necessary acquaint the people of the district with the condition and the proposed remedy and if the conditions are remediable the people will Avill will adjust adjust matters There is at least one district in the Territory where persons having charge of a denominational denominational ional school and a district school at the same time who if iI they do not say it let it go without without with with- with with- without out contradiction that the higher branches of an ordinary English education i. i e. e ele elementary nt ry I 1 alg algebra bra book book- keeping book etc could not be be- taught in our district schools They seem to tobe tobe be Ignorant of the fact or it would not serve serve- their purpose one or the other other other-or or both that both that the district boasting fifteen hundred inhabitants inhabit ants can organize a high school j or if there be be- two districts wishing a high school neither of which is able to boast the necessary number of inhabitants the two or more may join their interests and then we are in a condition as far as what we may lawfully do is concern concerned concern ed to have the higher branches of an ordinary education taught in our district schools as thoroughly as they can be taught in denominational denominational denom denom- l schools schools' Evidently it would not serve their purpose purpose- for they were vere booming booming- a denominational school at the same time acting in or rath rather rout r- r out of the capacity of trustees for the public schools Such a state of things things' should not exist and andI I doubt not will not exist after the people are are- awakened to the necessity of having trustees trustees- who are free to act and are untrammelled by preference for or denominational supremacy We should have our public schools of such a character that the children of all and of no denominations for that matter will be eager to attend and their parents parents parents par par- an and guardians anxious for their advancement advancement advancement advance advance- ment willing to support the district schools cho There is no other place where where-so so much good for our future State can be done as in our our- public schools There the lamps of industry and economy can be lit j there love lov for our fellow men can be imbibed j and there love for our country and its institutions will germinate 1 and grow until it will be said if it is not said to-day to that Utah boasts the greatest proportion proportion proportion tion of right Loyal Sons of any star in that peaceful constellation But for us to keep pace with the older commonwealths we must have school officers wholly untrammelled with political or religious prejudices that will prevent pre pre- vent Tent them doing their very best in their power for our public nurseries If we have not got the very bes best t man procurable for tor commissioner commissioner commiss commiss- ioner of public schools schoos let us knock at the sanctuary from which all offices flow in respect to Utah until we get the proper individual at atthe atthe atthe the head i and so on down through the different different different differ differ- ent positions till the trustee of our meanest hamlet ham ham- let is a broad person who stoops not t to any political ring or other society when such humility means unfitness for an American citizen and an American trustee j If our commissioner trustees boards of examination examination ex ex- etc think th they y can sit in their offices and conduct their business properly they are mistaken and if they think the eyes of the public are not on them they are again mistaken When our laws say it is the duty 4 of an officer to make so many visits to schools counties etc and hold so many meetings sumI summer er institutes and give certain instructions instructions instructions j and those officers fail to do so sowe we all of ofus ofus ofus us are going to inquire What is the matter matted School men wake wale up |