Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-07-21

Louisville, KY. - Especially - Was
there ever a devils broth" brewed
that equaled what has been going on
in our rural schools?
We are paying by taxation over
three million dollars annually out OF
the State Treasury, to say nothing OF
local taxation and other contributions
for the support of our public schools
1t is a question If one-third of it is
not wasted by incompetence and in
difference not to mention possible
graft in one form or another.
As a sample of what has been going
on, very recently had occasion to
look over a batch of letters from sl
number of County superintendent OF
our State. ran across one reporting
some trouble in the sale of schools
Asking what on earth that meant, the
reply was. why haven't you heard Of
that before?" | said 'in Gods name
no; what does it mean?" Why" they
said, that has been complained of fol
years, but it is not as bad now as il
has been"
1t seems the trustees would sell IL,
privilege to teach his school to the
teacher who would agree to give him
the largest part of her salary. 1t is |
reported that in some cases trading in
schools has been quite a profitable |
side issue. Was there ever anything |
more infamous? A man that would |
do it ought to be sent to the peniten. |
tiary for a thousand years. Another
case of combine, three teachers were |
applicants for a school, the final agree |
ment was that each should teach a |
third of the time, thus giving the poor
children the benefit of rapid change |
in teachers.
Another case (and this was not in
the mountains, either, a vacancy &C.
CURED, two applicants presented them.
selves, one was a graduate of a Nor
NAL school with a full certificate, the
other a young girl scarcely through
the High school; the school was given
TO the young girl. Some Of the few
curious enough to investigate found |
the girls father owed the superintend. |
ent debt and had promised payment
out of the girls salary.
In one of our richest counties, where |
a bunch of trustees were gathered |
with some patrons to talk over condi
tions, one of the trustees arose and
pleaded for help, saying that he was
elected by one vote and he had TO go |
out and hunt up that man to vote for
him in order to get there at all.
When it is realized that these dis
trict trustees, of whom there are
about 5000 in the State, constitute the
most vital part of our educational ma
chine, is it any wonder that the State
is retarded in her growth and ad,
vancement.
| would not be understood as con.
demning all trustees; we have many |
good ones. who are honestly trying to
10 lltlI luli uuLgy Jul ulAAOl luudlcly |
these kind are not in the majority
Now whose fault is this? 1t belongs |
more or less to all of US, but primarily |
to the parents of the children who are
too indolent or Indifferent to even go |
to the polls and vote for the right kind |
of a trustee, and take enough active |
interest in the conduct of their schools |
to see that they are conducted on an
efficient basis.
When this office is filled with one |
of the best men in each district, then |
we shall see such a development Of
our schools and State as has not been
dreamed of. There will be about 1000 |
trustees elected in the first days of |
August next. Now will the people see
that good men are put in or will they
continue to neglect it and let it be
filled with ne'er do wells, the incompe- |
tent or those who have axes TO
grind?"
The wonder is not that We have
droughts, and other calamities but
that the God of Heaven does not smite
US from the face Of the earth.
John B. McFerran, Chairman Edu-
cational Committee, Louisville Com
merCial Club.