The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-03-16
. AAAAAAAHAH AAA 4
VOX POPULI.
INTELLIGENT INTEREST OF
THE PARENTS 10 NECESSARY


| In your editorial Of March 18th.
Education Awakening in Pensacola, !"
| you strike the keynote In the state
ment we have the vision and its full
fiIlrnent viii come In time"
| The time may be hastened or re.
tardsd depending upon the Intelligent
interest Of the parents. Nothing is Of
such paramount Importance as the
bringing mp Of the boys and girls to
whcrn we must surrender every earth
~ interest after a few fleeting years.
and the public schools form an essen
| tial part Of their education. Thought
| ful parents will not make their home
Ia community where the schools are
being neglected. hence the money spent
In bringing the schools 70 the highest
efficiency II an investment from
which the present and the future men
and women derive the best returns.
| II seems 20 me that o former con-
tributor to the Vox Populi column
when stating that the hands of the
members Of the school board had been
tied had not In mind that the hands
had been tied by ths parents OF the
community. but referred TO the letters
made by an antiquated constitution.
! Still 1t remains true. as you state, that
/ ShS 4AALJ AAhS tA0Sl OC 0OtAS 0y Tue pGL~
rents, the voters. II we want ad-
vancement the vision must be trans
lated into concrete acts, and knowl-
edge is the prerequisite.
The law vests the control of the
schools In q county board of education
The members are elected from the
three school districts. There is only
one school board for all the schools
in the county. 1t may often be that
q majority OF the members are in har-
nony with the best interest of the city
/ schools and neglect the country schools
or vice versa. The environment, at
tendance and aim Of country and city
| schools vary greatly. Besides tn.
board Of education there is the county
superintendent. chosen at the general
election He Is the official head or
the public school system in the county
and should ba its brains. He may be
Q schoolxnan or anything else. My OBJ
| Bervation extending over three-fourths
| OF the counties of Florida for nine
years is that the county superinten-
dents are and have been incompetent
to q degree. a few notable excep
lions proving the rule Whenever
highly specialized knowledge and
ability is required experience has
taught us to appoint men for such
person or body. The, county superin-
tendent should be appointed by thf
school board OF the county. A big step
forward would be taken if there were
two school boards in Escambia coun-
ty, one for the country schools and
one for Pensacola, each having a SUI
perintendeut chosen by the board for
his fitness. knowledge, experience and
ability, who Is In harmony with the
board. understands the many vexing
school problems. can give competent
advice, 10 leader. and can give help
and inspiration to teachers and pu-
pdls.
The law provides further In effect
chat no person can be employed as
principal or superintendent OF schools
who has not taught two years in the
state Of Florida under q first grade
county certificate. a restriction on edu.
cAtional progress that is amazing. A
John Lock, Froeoel, DR.. Elliott, or Mrs
Young could not secure supervisory
position In the public schools OF this
state unless he first submitted to an
examination for q first grade certifi-
cate. having obtained this all impor-
tant document he would be allowed
to teach. and then he might be trust
ed to be principal or superintendent.
44A8 Jaw 40 CSxOGsA419 c0tkC<1SlOA1aI PIO8~
ress. II virtually creates a monopoly
for the teachers In the state. at the
expense Of the future weTl-being Of its
citizens.
Every county school board has felt
the need OF more school funds The
county commissioners control the
amount Of the school money by low
ering or raising the valuation Of tax
able property. Often the commission
era have no conception OF the needs
OF the schools and have little inter
est. Yet about two thirds Of the taxes
so toward thu maintenance Of the
schoolB- The highest important at
tachs to the office OF county COM
missioner. Has acts, az an official.
affects you and me and our children
more vitality than the acts OF your Uni
ted States senator. no matter how
much ponap and glory and Swapping
and wire pulling may 60 with the lat
ter office. The humble county com
missioner has your immediate welfare
and that OF your children In his hand
How important then that he share the
vision OF the best people in Escartbia
county and have the intelligence and
strength to translate IL into facts. III
submit that the county school board
or boards should prepare for the board
OF commissioners each year an item
lied estimate Of the expenditures for
the ensuing scholastic year. that at
stated public hearings the estimates
be considered. be approved. eliminated.
lowered or raised as the commission
ers may decide, and that the neces-
sary money be then raised by increas-
ing or lowering the assessment or the
valuation OF taxable property.
II does seem that hands OF the
~ $Sa1 and IN