The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-11-30
SEN. CAMPBELL
is ADVOCATE OR
SCHOOL REFORMS
viii Favor Change in Manner
of Securing Text Books so
as to Remove Bane Of Pract-
zeal Monopoly in kentucky
and Inferior Books.
OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS

state senator j. Wheeler Camp
bell has one hobby-the public
SCHOOLS. and he confessed that II he
has one legitimate program. for
which he Will stand sponsor. II he
can secure the cooperation OF his CO.
laborers In the legislature. 1t is a
general scheme OF reform In the pub
lie school system of Kentucky.
There are a number OF important
questions this general assembly
should SETTLE" said Senator Camp
bell. "and / hope that there will be
less pickering and partisan politics
than l anticipate. and tha, all parties
win cooperate In passing wise and
beneficial laws.
II am going TO Frankfort with one
hobby-if you wish to call Il that
the state school system. and II all the
talk | have heard on the subject
crystalizes into some sort OF action,
! shall propose a drastic amendment
TO our state school book law.
81 was pleased at the state de-
velopment convention to hear so
much discussion Of the schools. Il
indicates that the people are awaken
ing 10 the distressing condition ex-
isting. but l did not hear one per-
son propose a practical remedy.
Il know what is wrong with the
schools. and II I secure cooperation,
/ shall set about TO correct the evil.
We are tied MP by a school law that
puts the state az the mercy OF one
book concern. and Kentucky is using
antiquated text books. that have
been discarded by other states for
years Our present law requires
book concern. that intends TO bid for
the contract TO supply books. TO furn-
ish the county judge. the county at
torney and the county school super
intendent. the officials empowered 70
select the books In each county. with
n set OF the books offered for use;
also TO furnish a set TO certain state
officers. You readily see that the
concern must furnish three sets OF
books for every county in the state,
and then multiply that by two. Then.
OF course. each concern must have a
representative TO lay It's proposition
before each board. The result Is
that only one company bids on the
book contract That company holds
the state. as far as text books are
concerned. in the hollow OF its hand.
No other book concern is coming in
10 the state TO spend $50 900 or $780,
600 to get the merits OF its text
books before these various officials
and then be turned down, as they
well know they will be. for there is
more politics In the school book
business than. perhaps, the average
person realizes.
"It is this pernlcious system that Is
at the bottom of Kentucky's back
wardness in school matters. The
state expends liberal per capita
on her school system, but II Isl
squandered. when antiquated text
books are prescribed.
| think, too, the per capita of the
state should be supplemented by 10
cal taxation. People should not be
educated to depend entirely on state
support of local schools.
"Wealthy counties. OF course. pay
relatively larger proportion OF this
school fund than the poor counties.
But n a poor county has a larger
juvenile population than the wealth
Ter county. the poor county receives
more OF the per capita distribution.
That distributes the benefits of ed
ucation somewhat; but when COM
munity is able and willing to support
better and longer schools, they should
be encouraged to do so.
81 intend to advise with Governor
elect Wilson and ascertain what
support we may expect from him in
the matter OF school reforms.
"Insurance laws, taxation and sew
eral other matters OF equal import
ance to the whole state will interest
the legislature after the organization
and the senatorial election are out
of tho way"