The Washington herald., 1909-05-30
LONE STAR STATE
IMPROVES SCHOOLS
People Awake TO Necessity of
Better Methods.
ABANDON FORMER IDEALS
Raising Money by Local Taxation
SuPPIants the Old System Of Land
Endowment superintendent and
Normal instruction Benefits All
Educational Efforts.

austin. Tex. May 2s.-The general edu-
eationsl awakening throughout the South
IS felt in Texas The State through its
organized agencies has responded 10 the
improved sentiment in each progressive
locality. and in turn. the States efforts
have awakened and stimulated activity
II the backward communities.
The educational interests OF the state
have suffered. hitherto. from an over-es-
innate. and political abuse OF large
land endowment Politicians and iIl-ad-
viSed writer's and speakers upon current
events have misled the people into the
belief that the public school endowment
IS sufficient 10 produce all the revenue
necessary TO maintain an efficient system
Of schools The leaders Of true education
have succeeded in removing this delusion
and informing the people that they must
depend en- local support 10 maintain
schools that VIII furnish such education
as the times demand.
Increase Revenues by Tax.
Through the taxation OF properties that
have hitherto escaped taxation. nearly
$. 90, so have been added 10 the school
fund for the last current year. while the
ad valorem State tax has been greatly
reduced This Increase IN money has
heightened the school term throughout
the state nearly two months. charging
at the same time the compensation Of
teachers and improving the school prop
erty
Permanent school improvements nave
increased in value several million dollars
In los 49,. a.EA H. H-.-H
high school buildings IN the State has
been built in Dallas. now nearing com
pletion costing $4,000 There IS scarce
" a county IN the State IN which there
IS not in course Of construction from one
10 dozen modern school buildings
The recent legislature passed "a whole
some law concerning the issuance Of Ger
JIlCates by universities and colleges Of
the first class. under state requirements
and Instructors This law viii have the
effect Of increasing the supply Of teach
ers trained for high school work
Instruction in Agriculture.
The thirty-frst legislature. JUST ad-
journed. provided fo- giving instruction
IN agriculture and allied sciences in all
the State colleges. and offered a subsidy
10 all high schools that viii offer a good
quality OF instruction in agriculture. upon
the plan OF the secondary school This
work Is greatly needed because the pre-
viOus legislature required instruction In
agriculture in all the eIeneHIa6y. schools
OF the State having fewer than So ste-
dents in each but made no provision for
training teachers 70 do this work This
is a step IN the direction OF giving the
school children proper Instruction IN a
very important subject. which is now al
most universally demanded
The most important legislation affecting
the common schools in recent years in
Texas, IS The law requiring better super
vision Of the Country schools Such
schools everywhere are HELPLESS and
hopeless without adequate professional
supervision Texas has started II the
direction Of furnishing this BY requiring
every county having 2-g79 pupils 20 en-
plov man Of prescribed professional
qualifications 70 give E.S whole time 20
The improvement OF the country schools
school Terms Lengthened.
Definite Improvement has been made
In Texas IN a year in the following i'm
portant particulars:
In increased school terms by nearly
two months. and in improved school IA
c!llties
In improved facilities for training teach
ers in the State colleges. and in estab-
fishing an additional normal school 10
be opened II the fan o. 1910
In improved organization. and super
vision OF the country schools
a significant and vital agency for i'm
proving all the schools Of the state OF
every grade and class. = Tho Conference
for Educ@tion n Texas This IS a volrIn-
tary organization Of al citizens interest
ed in the general subject OF education.
This organization has an executive board
that directs its energies The board en-
pioys wen-equipped man upon a good
salary. who devotes his whole time 10 de-
VeiOping school sentiment throughout The
state and 10 assisting every community
by furnishing information upon school
matters 10 build better houses and en-
plOy better teachers This organization
IS supported By voluntary contributions
Of patriotic citizens who believe in i'm
proving the people along with the i'm
prOvement OF crops and cattle
2. 2 COUSINS
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