The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-06-22

ers Of County Examiners in such
| Cities.
! IAN Act Requiring the Filing OF
| Copies Of Teachers Contracts with
the County Treasurer.
An Act Appropriating Money for
the Equipment and Maintenance OF
The Four Agricultural Schools OF
the State.
An Act for the Formation OF
School Districts Across County
Lines.
Besides these a bill was consid-
cred by the committee and passed
by the House providing for state
Uniformity of Text Books, but for
some reason unknown TO me, was
never called up for consideration in
the Senate. There were also nuns
Der of measures Of minor import
lance considered, some of which fin
ally passed both houses and some
few died upon the calendar for lack
of time an opportunity upon the
part OF their authors to call them
up for final action.
or the important measures above
referred to, two of them the bill for
State Aid to High Schools, and that
rendering effective the organization
of Rural Special School Districts,
were introduced by me.
State Aid for High Schools.
The bill for State Aid TO High
Schools was one Of the three inn
portant recommendation of the Ar
kansas Education Commission. This
act provides an apportionment out
of the general school fund of $i0,-
600 for aid TO high schools and Si0,-
600 to be distributed TO one school
in each county for q normal school
department. The aid to high schools
is limited TO towns below $500 pop
ulation and is designed to aid rural
as we'll as town schools. Tuition in
schools receiving high school aid
is free TO all the children of the
county who are qualified to receive
high school instruction, and tuition
in normal training schools is free to
all teachers of the county regard
less of grade or age. The amount to
be apportioned to any one county is
limited 10 20 per cent Of the entire
apportionment for the state and is
so small as not to shorten the school
term of any school district for SO
much as day.
The act for the Consolidation OF
Rural School Districts provides that
upon a majority vote Of the cleo
tors of each of two or more rural
school districts such districts may
consolidate and may, upon the vote
Vt a majority levy q building tax
for the purpose Of borrowing money
to build school house, and pro-
yides that the tax once voted shall
be levied annually until the indeht-
edness of The district is fully paid
Provision is also made that direc-
tors in such districts may contract
COR the transportation of children
living at remote distances from the
school and for high school instruc-
lion. Perhaps the peculiar topog-
Apply of Polk county will render
his measure OF but little or no con-
sequence to us, but there are sec
ions OF the state where it is thought
hat this provision will become a
cry important factor in the devel-
,pment of the rural schools.
State Board of Education.
The act creating a State Board OF
EDUCATION provides for the appoint
neni by the Governor of one mem
Ter lfrom each Congressional dis
,ricd of the state. for a term of sew
en- Years each, who, together with
the State Superintendent Of Public
instruction, shall constitute the
state Board of Education, which
shall have the management and in
vestment of the state school funds
general supervision of the public
schools and shall act in an adj
visory capacity to the State Super
intendent, etc. The appointments
are TO be SO made that the term OF
only one member shall expire each
year. The design of this arrange
ment is to secure uniformity in the
ADMINISTRATION of school affairs
This act also provides that teach
ers holding first grade county licen-
SEES granted by county examiners
or county superintendent may
have their examination papers for
warded to the State Superintendent
and graded by him, and if the State
Superintendent finds from the ex-
animation of such papers that the
teacher is worthy and qualified to
hold such certificate, he shall grant
to such teacher certificate of the
same grade good for the entire
state. Provision is also made for
issuing state licenses based upon
state licenses from other states and
upon normal school diplomas.
The act to Render Effective the
Organization of Rural Special
School Districts was necessary in
order to provide for legal elections
in such districts, the act of two
years ago failing to make any pro-
vision for elections in such districts
after their formation, and also that
they might be given a legal desig-
nation. Under this act the direct
ors are to hold the election and
The district is to be designated as
Rural School District No., the
number being in the order of for
nation. The same provision for
borrowing money is Incorporated in
this act as is contained in the Con-
solidation act.