The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-07-24
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 Aueust-See
To II That the Best Men Only Ar
Named at This EIection-All Par
ents Should Vote.

Louisville, KY. - Especially - Wa
there ever a devils broth" brewe,
that equaled what has been going OF
in our rural schools?
We are paying by taxation owe
three million dollars annually out O
the State Treasury, to say nothing O
local taxation and other contribution.
for the support of our public schools
II is a question If one.third of it /,
not wasted by incompetence and in
difference not to mention possible
graft in one form or another.
: AS a sample of what has been goinf
on, very recently had occasion tc
look over a batch of letters from /;
number of County Superintendents O.
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 O.
that before?" | said "in Gods name
no; what does it mean?" Why" they
said, that has been complained of fol-
years, but 1t is not as bad now as II
has been"
1t seems the trustees would sell the
privilege to teach his school to tn,
teacher who would agree to give hin
the largest part of her salary. It is
reported that in some cases trading ir
schools has been quite a profitable
side issue. Was there ever anything
more Infamous? A man that would
do 1t ought to be sent to the peniten
tiary for thousand years. Another
case Of 9 combine, three teachers were
applicants for school, the final agree
ment was that each should teach oil
third Of the time, thus giving the poor
children the benefit Of rapid change
In teachers.
Another case land this was not ir
the mountains. either, a vacancy oc
CURED, two applicants presented them |
selves, one was graduate of Nor
NAL school with full certificate, the
other a young girl scarcely through
the High school; the school was giveI
to the young girl. Some of the few
curious enough to investigate found
the girls father owed the superintend
emit debt and had promised payment
out Of the girls salary.
In one of our richest counties, whex |
q bunch OF trustees were gathered
with some patrons to talk over condi |
tons, one OF the trustees arose ant
pleaded for help. saying that he was
elected by one vote ana 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
would not be understood as con
demning all trustees: We have many
good ones, who are honestly trying to
DO their full duty, but unfortunately
these kind are not in the majority.
Now whose fault is this? 1t belongs
more or less to all of us, but primarily
10 the parents of the children who are
ioo incident or Indifferent to even &C
10 the polls and vote for the right kind
Of trustee, and take enough active
interest in the conduct of their schools
% see that they are conducted on ar
efficient basis.
When this Office is filled with one
If the best men In each district, then
We shall see such a development OF
,ur schools and State as has not been
lreamed Of There will be about 1000
rustees elected in the first days OF
August next. Now will the people see
hat good men are put in or will they
continue to neglect 1t and let 1t be
illed with ne'er do wells, the incompe
ent or those who have "axes to
,rind?"
The wonder IL not that We have
thoughts, and other calamities but
hat the God of Heaven does not smits
Is from the face of the earth.
John b. McFsrran. Chairman Edu
ational Committee. Louisville Com
nArcial Climb |