The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-03-05

"a vN-~Ay~SoSN
and at less money by bringing them
together. Wherever centralized schools
are tried out they prove all that is
claimed for or expected from them.
Praising Ohio's high standing edu-
cationally, Mr.. Jackson quoted the
head of one of the largest eastern col
leges or universities as stating that
the majority of the student body Of
that particular school was centered
between Cleveland and Toledo.
Jackson is a good-natured and flu
ent peaker, albeit forceful one. He
projects exactly what he has on his
mind and his sincerity is not to be
questioned. In profile he bears a
striking resemblance to President
Wilson, which fact was observed by
quite number Saturday,
! Great interest was evinced by what
the next speaker, Assistant State Sup
erintendent J. L. Clifton Of Columbus
| would have to say. The subject as
signed him was "The New School Law
Throughout Ohio" but when he came
to speak, he said that while he would
talk on the subject assigned him, he
felt that there were kindred subjects
of equal Importance and that in the
fifty minutes which he had before
leaving for his home he would touch
briefly upon them and also answer as
many questions as the time would al
low Following is practically the en-
tire address of Mr. Clifton:
"Mr. Chairman: I don't expect to
talk upon the subject that intended
to this morning because / take it for
granted that you have local questions
which you probably would rather have
answered. In the first place wish
to correct an error on the part of
some gentlemen in rural district
mentioned in talk this morning, that
is that the So per capita state aid was
removed by the last legislature. The
gentleman was evidently misinformed,
as the 81 state aid was, to my certain
knowledge, given to every county in
Ohio, and this particular district
should have received what was COM
ing to it. 1t is, however, a more equi-
| table method of distribution, in that
before last year the distribution was
made on the enumeration, and this
year it is based upon the number of
teachers and the school enrolment.
This prevents any aid being collect
ed for those who are of student age
and yet are not in school. The fact
is, my friends, that the State of Ohio
is giving you more state aid than it
ever gave you before. l took the
trouble to figure this out with good
friend of mine in Gallon county and
found that the county was securing
state aid to the amount of more than
so per cent. of it's total expenditure
for Schools"
I'm reply to a question at this
point relative to the keeping of two
systems of books where the county
treasury is the legal depository, Mr..
Clifton said, "I do not think it is nee
essary, but as your county auditor
says that two sets of books begun be-
fore the forms gotten out by the uni
forom Bureau of Accounting were re-
ceived, I would suggest that you con-
tinue this method until your books are
regularly closed.
"There is no reason for the bond;
the depository is now responsible for
the payment of all checks, so merely a
nominal bond would be sufficient. Some
criticism has been engendered by this
phrasing of the law and particularly
so by some school officers who had
plenty of time at their disposal and
who had been in the habit ofincreasing
their income, but serving on salary.
Some Of these officials quite naturally
object to the curtailment of their in
comes, but it permits a great deal
more money to find it's regular chan
nell that of paying for instruction
for boys and girls. E
81 look for some few changes to be
made in the school code this year, one
of which will make it possible for the
boards of education to pay $40 toward
the expense of the teacher attending
summer school, or $40 for attending
the institute, but not for both.
another provision which I think
should be taken care of is that it will
be possible for special districts to be
striken off from the district supervis-
ion district of which they are now a
part and to become amenable to the
county superintendent alone. Any who
do this, however, will eliminate them
selves from all state aid.
"Another change will probably be
that the county board of education
will be empowered to close all districts
wherein the average attendance has
been less than twelve the past year."
Following Mr.. Clifton, Gail Abbott
of Medina made a short address as
follows:
"Corn clubs. potato clubs, pig
clubs and canning clubs have become
numerous in many of the so'ithern
! cfotac ond m 1ascar avion+ IN covoa