The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-10-31
To The Voters of Missouri

! Recognizing the importance of de-
veloping the entire educational sys-
tenn of the State, and bringing the
best possible education within reach
Of every Missouri boy and girl, the
undersigned regardless of political
opinions, join in this appeal to the
voters to adopt the proposed Consti-
tutional Amendment number nine,
providing for the creation of a per-
manent support for the entire school
system of the State.
1t is the business of the State to as
sure the education of all her children.
Birthplace or residence should not de-
prive one of an education, nor should
it entitle him to greater educational
advantages than another. AS far as
possible every Missouri child should
have equal preparation for life.
The proposed amendment will add
to the annual appropriation of one
third of the revenues of the State for
the common schools. 1t will make it
possible for the State to aid more
weak country school districts. 1t will
increase the efficiency of those now
giving excellent service. 1t will al
low the General Assembly to encour-
age Improvement and to stimulate
local endeavor.
High schools are truly the peoples
colleges. :" By them is brought to an
increasing number of Missouri youth
the advantages which bring to them
greater opportunity. Of the PSI dis
tricts maintaining classified high
schools in Missouri, three-fourths of
them are taxing themselves to the
limit under the Constitution. Yet the
State renders no special aid. Twenty
eight states in the Union are today
giving state aid to high schools. Ar
kansas last year appropriated $4O,-
600, which brought high school adj
vantages to $500 children who would
otherwise have been without them.
This is in addition to the number of
children benefited by the increased
facilities who would otherwise have
had some advantages. In practically
the whole state no high school tuition
is required of country pupils. Kan
sas gives $75, 900 annually to her high |
schools. Iowa $4,000 other states
from $3.50 to 50, 500 to each school in
proportion to its needs and to the
work that is done. This amendment
would allow Missouri to do for her
children what other states do for
theirs. And Missouri's children are
worthy of the best that can be given
them.
The amendment would allow the
legislature to make appropriations
for special instruction in agriculture,
and in industrial work, in both town
and country. 1t could provide for
Kindergarten and night schools in the
larger towns and cities.
The Normal Schools train the teach
ers who 90 out into the common
school system. The increasing de-
mands upon the teaching profession
require additional training which
Normal Schools alone can give. AT
the present time the Missouri Normal
Schools are taxed to the limit of their
capacity. During the summer of
1912, 5000 teachers were in attend
ance fitting themselves for work in
the common schools of the State.
The attendance at the University is
constantly increasing, and it is rend-
ering each year more service to the
State. Its Teachers College has
trained more than $500 teachers dur
ing the past eight years. The agri-
cultural college is foremost in helping
to increase the yield Of the farm lands
of the State, and makes and saves the
farmer of the State annually as much
as the entire University costs Missouri