The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-21
STATE RETARDED
in SCHOOL GROWTH
PAYING DEBTS BY APPOINTMENT
OF TEACHERS = TRUSTEES
ELECTED BY ONE VOTE.
SELLING SCHOOLS FOR Cash
Four Thousand Trustees Will Be Elect
ed Throughout State in August-See
To 1t That the Best Men Only Are
Named at This Election-AII Par
ents Should Vote.

Louisville, Ky. Especially = Was
there ever 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 a
number of County Superintendent of
our State. I 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?" l said lin God namet
no; what does it mea1?" "V ay," they
said, that has been cornpla. Aea of for
years, but it is not as bad now as it
mas BEEN
1t seems the trustees would sell the
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 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, vacancy oc-
CURED, two applicants presented them
selves, one was graduate of 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 a debt and had promised payment
out of the girls salary
In one of our richest counties, where
bunch of trustees were gathered
with some patrons to talk over condi
tons, one of the trustees arose and
pleaded for help, saying that he was
elected by one vote and he had to &C
out and hunt up that man to vote fol
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.
1 would not be understood as con
demning all trustees; we have man!
good ones, who are honestly trying t.
do their full duty, but unfortunatel!
these kind are not in the majority.
Now whose fault is this? It belong
more or less to all of us, but primaril.
! to the parents of the children who ar
too indolent or Indifferent to even g
to the polls and vote for the right kin,
of a trustee, and take enough activ
interest in the conduct of their school
to see that they are conducted on a.
efficient basis.
When this Office is filed with on
of the best men in each district, the
we shall see such a development O
our schools and State as has not bee
, dreamed of. There will be about 400
trustees elected in the first days @
August next. Now will the people Sc
that good men are put in or will the
continue to neglect it and let 1t
filed with ne'er do wells, the incompt
7 tent or those who have lakes t
( grind?"
The wonder is not that we hav
droughts, and other calamities bu
) that the God of Heaven does not smit
us from the face of the earth.
John B. McFerran. Chairman Ed
cational Committee, Louisville Con
mercial Club.
TIP to Transgressors.
.sEf, ez dey say" observed Bre
Williams. de devil invented de tang
dance, sinners should practice
night an day, Eaze it'll be lffe-save
ter 'um wen dey hits de hot pave
Q ment down below ter know how te
hop high. atlanta Constitution.