The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-10-18
AN AMENDMENT
IS PROPOSED

~ al 1upSlAuNcnuGlltss ElluCipdlSs
Teachers. School Boards, and
Friends of Education in Oklahoma:
At the November election, you will
have the opportunity to adopt an
amendment to the state constitution
that will place a common school edu-
cation within reach of every boy and
girl in he state; that will make Okla
homa one of the most attractice states
in the Union to the substantial far
mer, laborer and business man with a
family, and will redeem the pledges of
both the democratic and republican
parties made in the last campaign
namely:
(Democratic) "To lend sufficient
state aid to enable every common
school to run five months in each
year" and (RepubIican) "To place
common school education within reach
of every child in Oklahoma.
We request your most careful and
earnest consideration of House Joint
Resolution No. ., which provides for
the following amendment to the con-
stitution:
The legislature shall have power to
levy taxes in aid of apportionment and
distribution thereof Whenever the
amount realized from five mill ad-
valorem levy and all other sources
shall be insufficient to maintain the
common schools in any district five
months in any year, the remaining
sum necessary to maintain such school
shall be apportioned and paid out OF
such state levy"
1t will be seen that this amendment
proposes to help those who will help
themselves and that it guarantees to
every child in the state at least FIVE
months free school, but leaves each
district free TO maintain its schools
as much longer as it chooses. The
necessity for such an amendment is
apparent to every one who has invest
igated the school conditions. In many
districts 1t is impossible to maintain
la five months free school with the
maximum levy permitted under the
constitution, and the children in such
districts are deprived OF the oppor-
tunity to get even a common school
education-a condition for which
neither they nor their parents are in
any way responsible On account of
the recent decision of the supreme
court regarding taxing Indian lands
this condition is more serious than
when the amendment was proposed
On district can maintain nine
months school on one mill levy
while another in the same community
cannot run five months on fifteen
mill levy. The children in the weak,
districts should be educated-it Is the
solemn duty Of the state to place the
opportunity for common school edu-
cation within their reach and the pro
posed amendment renders it possible
for the legislature to extend relief to
such districts. Missouri, Illinois, Ohio,
South Carolina and number of other
states extends state aid to weak dis
tricts. Are we less I>atri0tic than
they? We cannot afford ia be-
The children throughout the United
States attend school an average of 10
days in each year. The children of
Oklahoma attend school an average Of
only II days. Throughout the United
States an average Of $15.52 is spent for
each child between 5 and Is years of
age. Oklahoma spends a measley
S7.04. What are we doing? We are
neglecting our boys and girls. Let us
awake to the responsibility that rests
upon u.s.
Many of the leading educators of
the state are awake and are actively
interested themselves in the proposed
amendment. While the measure was
pending in the Legislature we had the
active support Of the administration,
many prominent school men of the
state, the state teachers association,
county associations. county superin-
tendents and other friends, by their
hearty endorsement of the proposed
measure, greatly aided In arousing pop.
ular interest in the resolution which
passed the house in its present form
without a dissenting vote. feeling
of security is always source of dan
ger and every friend of education is
urged to see that every votes votes
Yes" on this proposition, as every
silent vote counts against It. Begin
work now and keep it up until the
polls close.
The responsibility is upon you to
help the Oklahoma boys and girls get
an even chance In life with those Of
0fbar e,fafor yNr;I1 x-n,, 1,~ 80 w A.