Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-08
ASPLUND TELLS
Of LEGISLATION
FOR SCHOOL
Many Excellent Laws Have
Been Passed for the I'M
prOvement of the States
Educational System.

SPECIAL eoRResFoHotNeS TO MORNING JOURNAL
Santa Fe, March Chief Clerk II.
+. Asplund of the department of edu-
cation and editor of the New Mexico
Educational Journal. said today:
"The citizens of New Mexico have
always encouraged educational en-
deayors and the stage was fully set
with the machinery of school admin
isration in good working order, when
the constitution became effective
making five months the minimum
school term. The law passed in
1912 to provide the means necessary
for this advance was chapter 81, laws
of 1912, known as the llfeld school
revenue law Under this law the
average school term has increased
from 100 to l40 days per year in the
short period of two years. The same
session enacted Senator Laughren's
measure for system of industrial
education which has taken its place
so firmly in our schools
In 1913, Senator Champion Sc
cured the passage of chapter "A, laws
of 1913. which created a school build
ing fund by means of which 1876
school houses have been built or
completed and furnished in less than
two years.
The Seven Months Bill.
early in the present session the
HELD school revenue law was
amended SO as TO make seven months
the minimum term. This was made
possible by Senator Ilfelds foresight
in providing for a good reserve fund.
10 which is also due the fact that
school building fund could be pro-
lided.
"And now "a new school revenue
measure has been prepared to make
it possible for any county desiring
TO do so to make the minimum term
eight or even nine months. This bill
has the powerful support Of Senators
llfeld, HinlSle and of Speaker Secun-
dino Romero who introduced the bill
in the house Thus there have been
provided a good school term, and the
means for securing good school
house. But one-fourth of our teach
ers are third grade teachers and it
is proposed in several bills now be-
fore the legislature to provide for the
training of these 400 third grade
teachers in our normal schools dur
ing the next four or five years. No
matter how long the term or how
good the school results will fail if
the teacher is not trained. 1t Is the
plan to provide for the training of
these teachers out Of funds to be set
aside out of the school building fund
in which there is now $4,000 This
will, therefore, not involve any addi-
tional burden upon the state. In a
state aid bill under consideration,
senate bill No. ISL, it is provided that
equipment for teaching Industrial
IN fgr uTbnA1 IfhraF-
les may be secured under proper re-
strictions
other Desirable Bills.
"Many other bills are before the
egslature-almost all good and de-
sirable. In the house, No $780, con-
corning the distribution of delinquent
taxes. No. 344, relating to poll tax
collection: No. 287, providing for an
industrial school: No. 224 perfect
ing the present law governing the
creation of school districts; No. As,
providing for Joint school districts;
No ia, raising the maximum COM
pulsory school age to sixteen years,
are all measures which should pass.
In addition to senate bill No. IS and
senate bill No. 1871, which have been
mentioned, several other bills have
been considered by the senate some
tavorably, No S. relating to the is
suance of school bonds; No. 40, re-
curing budgets for counties, cities
and school districts; No. 1913, per
fecting our system of certification of
teachers: No. 54, concerning the com
puIsory education of blind children;
No. 28. providing for refunding bond
ed indebtedness in school districts
No. 10S. providing for mileage and
per diem expenses Of members of the
state board of education and No. l39,
conceruing the duties of county SUI
perintendents and providing travelling
expenses for school supervision. All
these bills should become laws.
The foregoing is not "a complete
list of all educational bills which have
been introduced and there are other
excellent measures which should be
enacted. Conspicuous among these
is a house bill introduced by Hon
Nestor Montoya Of Albuquerque Tor
the compilation Of the school laws
ana providing for printing all school
laws i'm English and Spanish with
definite instructions, forms, and helps
for school directors. so that the ad-
ministration of the public schools
may be uniform and effective
Constructive Legislation.
"a study Of the bills enumerated
above will reveal that definite pur-