The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1914-07-15

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
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. / 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 for
years, but it is not as bad now as it
has 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 a school, the final agree
ment was that each should teach
third of the time, thus giving the poor
children the benefit of a rapid change
in teachers.
Another case (and this was not in
the mountains, ether, vacancy oc'
Cured, two applicants presented them.
selves, one was a graduate of a Nor.
NAL school with 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
bunch of trustees were gathered
with some patrons to talk over condi.
lions, 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 he understood as con.
demning all trustees; we have many
good ones, who are honestly trying to
do their full duty, but unfortunately
IuCoc hiuu diC NV III ehO hoJOAty'
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 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 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 1t and let 1t 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.