The Washington herald., 1909-06-20

lAb GAAOAAG4 AOANE years III tho MA4ltAuCSS
and has brought its children into the
Canaan Of q new era. delivering them 10
riches and extended opportunities. The
smile Of a new educational dawn is
breaking over every portion Of our Com
monwealth. Its future is bright with pos
sibilities.
The signs Of the times seem TO indicate
that Kentucky's rank Of third-from the
bottom in matters educational-win soon
be changed; that it has but started in the
race for supremacy; and that an educa-
tional awakening has arrived, founded on
sane, progressive principles.
II is interesting to note the enthusi-
asm OF teachers and educators in the
movements which are now but in their
infancy This statement Is borne out by
the fact that they are rallying in increas-
ing numbers TO the State Educational AS
ISOLATION Three years ago. this associa-
ton had a membership Of l52 persons.
two years ago II was Increased 70 5S3
members. last year the enrolment was
80 members, and for this year the mem
bership viii be. at least, twice that OF
last year.
This Is the Foundation.
The Kentucky Educational Association
is the formation on which our whole
educational system is builded. Several
years ago the detritus was cleared away
and the foundation was established on
bed rock. Already the frame work for
beautiful strUctUre-an educational sys-
TEN for our State-has been erercted. and
trained workmen with sharp tools are
-fa
and precision. What has actually been
accomplished by the work Of this great
force is but a matter Of history 10 the
educators OF the state.
Every advance school movement has
had as its stanch supporter or as its
organizer, this association. Whatever
the advancement Of the schools Of Ken
lucky, we owe Il largely 70 the friends
Of the association. whatever has retard-
ed our growth, educationally, is largely
due 20 a lack Of interest in this organi-
zation- The history Of the experience OF
the Kentucky Educational Association is
dishearte2ing IN parts. but taken to-
gether il is a mighty stimulant 10 all
teachers and school officers TO do their
duty.
Public Sentiment Ayvakens.
What seems to argue most for Ken
AANh1 = NAAAAeAADlAo4 ~ ADeAE11s - TIT pAD4AC
sentiment that is everywhere in the Com
monwealth demanding better conditions.
The colleges and higher institutions Of
learning throughout Kentucky have be
come Jealous advocates Of improved
rural school conditions. Men and women
in every walk and condition OF life are
clamoring for better schools In rural
Kentucky. Business men. who heretofore
have failed 20 connect material progress
with educational progress, have opened
their eyes 10 the fact that these 20 hand
in hand. and so are urging much broader
and more liberal education for all the
children in Kentucky. This aroused pub
lie sentiment bOces we'll for our educa-
tional progress; for the schools Of any
Commonwealth can be made as good as
the people want them. Public interest
is the life of the public schools.
Schools on Business Basis.
An act was signed by the governor Of
Kentucky, in March. 1908 which places
the rural schools Of this State on a busi-
ness basis. The discarded system, which
was anuquated years ago, We viii not
discuss. This is the idea OF the new sys-
tenn. and it is big with possibilities. The
county Is the unit-one school district.
The county Is divided into either four.
six. or eight educational divisions. and
these educational divisions are divided
into school subdistricts The people
elect a local subdistrict trustee, to lool,
after the immediate needs OF his particu-
lar school. These local trustees sitting to- |
gether make up a division board. and the
chairman Of the division board is a men,
Der Of the county board OF education The
county superintendent is ex-oficio chair |
81 be.
Politics Have Little Force.
The selection Of all these school on
cials is removed, as far as may be, from
political influence. The county is the
unit for taxation. and school taxes are
collected as other taxes are collected and
by the same officials. The county board |
Of education has power 10 consolidate /
with reference to the needs Of pupils /
two or more contiguous school sub-dis- /
tricts. These are called consolidated
schools. The county board Of education 1
has charge Of salaries, the finances. and
Of the distribution Of funds.
The division board OF education selects /
the teachers for the schools In it's di- /
vision. Il Is also the duty Of this board /
10 prepare detailed Information describing I
the needs and conditions Of each sub 4
district in It's division and 10 present this |
information to the county board Of edu- /
cation.
VIII Establish High schools.
Before January. 1910. there must be es-
tablished in each county in the State at /
least one county high school, to which 4
aIl common school graduates Of the coun- /
" shall be admitted without charge. /
These high schools are to be classified 4
as first, second, and third class. main /
tanning a four-year, a three-year. and a 1
two-year course of study. The course Of
study is prepared by the State board Of /
education
The recent general assembly, popularity |
called THE educational legislature % /
did mpch for the schools. "A half nil I
lion for higher education in Kentucky 4
was the slogan IN 1908. II was received 4
not grudgingly The State College. 10 ]
Gated AT Lexington, was converted into 4
the State University and received a spe-
eial appropriation from the State
amounting to 100000 to be used for build I
ing Improvements. Our two State normal /
schools. although still in their infancy. /
are spreading a gospel Of better educa-
ton 70 every county in the Common 4
wealth Many Of the rural schools Of the /
State are being taught by teachers who 4
have received this professional training. 4
Our last general assembly also apPropri- /
ated 70 each Of our two normal schools \
$4,000 10 be used for buildings and /
equipment and an added annual appro-
priation for maintenance.
Laws Need Amendment.
There are details In the school laws
which we're passed by the last general
assembly which need to be corrected.