The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1915-10-29

son, Junius Jordan, John H. Hinemon
J. j. Doyne and the present incum-
bent, George B. Cook.
But with all their faithful work and
interest, the illiteracy of our beloved
state is enough to bring the blush
of shame to the cheek of every loyal
son and daughter of the state. We
have $4,000 voters who cannot read
per cent of the white population
over ten years of age (56,000) can
not read; only about vne half of the
children of school age attend school
at all, and the average attendance
of those who do go is only 130 days
in the year; it is estimated that only
% per cent attend school the full
term, Al per cent one half and 81 per
cent one fourth.
rs per cent of those who teach
school have no other training than
that given by the common schools.
The average annual salary for
teachers is only S315.00. By a sur
vey in 1914 it was found that 67
per cent of the teachers were teach
ing their first terms; 18 per cent their
second term and less than seven per
cent their third term. Only eight per
cent had taught three or more terms
at the same place. The school has a
new teacher nearly every year. The
general average service of the rural
teacher is about four terms. We
have practically no professional teach
ers in the country. We rarely ever
see a teacher who declares it to be
life purslit to teach the rural schols.
The training of our youth should
be for efficient service and for such
rhN,4I1 b,,ro thapCi,orblxy
educated men and women who are
willing to dedicate their lives to teach
ing To get such teachers they must
be paid adequate salaries.
Poverty and humble birth, two dread
iailors of the human heart have pre-
vented the development of many of
our brightest minds. We must give
all the poor a chance by opening our
schools to them. One third Of our popu-
iation is under sixteen years OF age.
These constitute the states most val
liable asset. They will be citizens of the
next generation. The United States
Bureau of Education shows that the
average earning capacity of an un-
educated laboror is S500.00 while that
of a High School graduate is 81 900
In forty years the gain to the latter
would be $20,000.00. To get this High
School training it will require 2,160
days, so every day in school is worth
5000. When all of our children are in
school, taught by capable teachers,
then we may expect greater colleges
and greater university. The Uni
lversity will never be what we would
have it until we improve the rural free
= schools. If elected governor, it will
{ be my desire and purpose to promote
;,+a IF tho 1I,i,,nrci4N- -,
cry way possible.
Women of Arkansas! | appeal to
/ you to aid in this great work. We
, cannot succeed without you. No peo-
pie can educate beyond their mother
hood and the cause of education in
Arkansas will not fail if we can get
the support, prayers and work of the
women of the state.
School Bonds.
:. Under the Act of May 8th, 1899 all
of the money belonging to the perma-
nent and Sixteenth Section Fund, ag-
: used by the state and thirty year state
bonds bearing only three per centum
per annum interest were given at
par
The state needed this money and
uScu IL. IL was 81 u uSbtC LOI llC SNilOOi
schildren of the state. Except for mis-
: management on part of the state the
fund would have been several times
larger than is was. 1t was of doubt
full propriety for the state to use Trust
5 money, principally the proceeds of land
donated for educational purposes by
the government, but to say the least
of it, she should not pay to the trust
fund a less rate of interest than she
had been paying heretofore. She re-
, tired six per cent bonds with those
bearing only three per cent. This, ]
believe, was an injustice to the school
fund and unfair to the children of the
= state; the interest should have been
: six per cent.
That Act should be amended and the
bonds changed to require the payment
by the state of six per cent interest.
The difference between three and six
per cent interest since 1899 until July
, lst, 1917 would be 612,630.00 which
should be added to the face of the
existing bonds and a new issue of
: bonds authorized, making total of
) $1,747, 10000 to bear six per cent in
, terest from that date.
If this transaction in which the state
makes herself both borrower and lend
er OF trust money committed TO her
hands is permitted to stand, it means
loss in 80 years to the permanent
: school fund of 81 ,021 ,050.00.
Agriculture.
The soil is the source of all our
wealth. Much of the accumulated
| wealth of Europe is being wasted by
the war. 1t must be restored in time
from the soil. The farmers of Amer
. lea today occupy the most advanta-
geous position since the organization
of our government. This country is
fast becoming the financial center of
the world. This is due TO the fact
that the products of the farm have
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