The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-12-14
THE Law Is UNJUST.
Prank Nelson, state superintendent %
Public destruction, Does Not Like
the Present school Tax Law.


the Present school Tax Law.
Frank Nelson, state superintendent
OF public instruction, desires to equal
lie the length Of terms of schools held
in the various districts. He hopes to
Be able TO regulate this by changing
the method Of raising funds for school
purposes. He proposes that state
tax be levied and distributed among
the districts according to the school
population. In his report to Gov.
Stanley, submitted lately, be took up
the matter exaustiveIy.
aOne of the drawbacks" says Mr.
Nelson, sin the work Of our public
schools is that Of inequality in the
length Of school term and the conse-
quent inequality OF wages paid teach
ers- This inequality produces a cor
responding ineficiency in the teach
ing force for the smaller districts.
Many Of our rural schools are able to
maintain only three or four months of
school during the year and, unfortu-
nately, the children Of these schools
are often taught by a poorly paid and
an inefficient teacher.
''This condition is not due to any in
difference on the part of the people.
The people Of these districts are just
as anxious to give their children the
very best educational advantages.
Their inability to do so is due to the
small assessed valuation Of property
in the district and not to the parsimo-
ny. Of those who make the tax levy and
pay the taxes. AS q general rule, dis
tricts having the shortest terms and
employing teachers at the lowest
wages levy the greatest percentage of
taxes. With a short term and poorly
paid and inefficient teachers in many
Of the districts Of the state, the educa- !
tiOnsl advantages are very unequal
"There must be a remedy for this I
unjust system. The burdens Of edu- /
cation should be more evenly distrib-
uted. It is believed that a decided /
improvement would be inaugurated if 4
We could secure a two mills state tax
to be distributed in each district on /
the basis Of the number Of teachers |
employed in such district. The num- /
Der Of teachers to each district to be \
determined on a basis Of so OF 60 child
red Of school age, or fraction thereof j
not less than ten. Said tax to be dis
tributed at the time of the distribution
OF the semi annual school fund We \
also ought to secure a county levy of
not les than three mills nor more than
five mills
Mr.. Nelson also advocates that bet
ter school books be adopted by the
state. He is dissatisfied with those
now in use,and thinks it would be eco
nomy to secure a better grade and be-
lieves it can be done without any
added expense.
Other recommendations which Mr..
Nelson makes are:
Uniform requirements for cOufer-
ring Of bachelor degrees; the extern
sion Of the travelling library system;
needed care in sanitation and beautify-
ing Of school buildings and grounds;
appointment of a state school archi-
tect to assist township boards in plan
ming buildings; more liberal apprOpri-
atoms by counties for normal institL-
tes; the consolidation of rural schools,
advising adoption of uniform course
Of study for high schools; and urging /
the passing of a compulsory attend
ance law. I