Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-12-29
BENEFIT Of
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Enabling Act and Constitu-
ton Take Good Care of
Education
LONGER TERM EACH YEAR
Poor Districts VIII Be Greatly
Benefited by Income From
Land Donations.

County School Superintendent
John V. Conway has addressed the
following letter to the teachers and
directors OF public schools in Santa
Fe county:
Gentlemen: AS | know that you
are friends of education, and working
for the betterment of our public
school, I feel it incumbent npon me
to call your attention to a subject
in which we are all interested.
The constitution recently framed
contains some excellent provisions in
favor of our rural public school dis
tricts, and is deserving of the hearty
support of every educator and friend
of education in the Territory. I'm
fortunately in the past, our rural pub
lie schools have suffered from the
insufHciency OF funds to run the
schools profitable length of time
and We are practically in the same
condition today Something must
be done 10 relieve this condition, as
it cannot be done by inc ased taxa
ton. Under statehood we are as
sured and guaranteed at least a five
months term of school in each school
district of the new state The mo-
ney for this is TO be derived from a
special fund creased by setting aside
certain school lands, the proceeds of
which shall go towards the defraying
of any deficit that may exist in any
school district fund.
We are also assured qualified
teachers, with adequate salaries,
which will go far toward improving
the present situation. In the past
the rural school districts have suf-
fered from the lack of funds with
which to carry on the schools, and
try as they may our legislators are
unable to improve the condition.
Now, the way toward our relief seems
to have been opened and a most ex-
cellent opportunity to improve our
educational facilities has been offer
ed, through our acceptance of the
boon OF statehood, for aside from the
many benefits that viii accrue there
from the National government
donates nearly nine millions OF
acres of public land for educational
purposes, which will greatly contri-
butte towards the advancement of
the cause.
The acceptance of statehood, at
this time, means better schools,
longer terms, qualified teachers, de-
cent salaries, better system, and in
fact freedom of public schools from
political influence. This alone
ought to stir the hearts of the
friends Of education, and awaken in
them desire to see to it that the
present constitution is accepted. We
must carry the constitution, and it
cannot be done through Indifference,
! it needs your aid, and the assistance
of every educator in the Territory.
Never were we confronted with a
more vital issue, than statehood is
today for the educational provisions
are such, as to tend to place us on an
equal footing with the most pro-
gressive states of the Union. State
hood at this time, also means, the
abandonment of the antiquated sys-
TEN and habits under which we
have unwillingly existed, and the es-
tablishment of up-to-date methods in
Il Q management of school affairs.
From an educational standpoint,
the present constitution is commend
able. and we should put our should
ers to the wheel and help carry it
| by an Overwhelming majority. Not
withstanding the fact that the pre-
| sent constitution is an educational
| life saver there are some selfish
| interests plotting its defeat, and it be-
hooVes US to endeavor to save the
day for the poor school children of
our future state
Hoping that you will use your ut
most efforts in behalf of the constitu-
tion, and that our fight for education
will be successful
l have the honor to remain,
Very sincerely yours,
JOHN V. CONWAY,
County School Superintendent San
ia Fe County, New Mexico.