New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1916-10-27

census, were passed by Republican
legislatures.
Read further into the educationa,
history of the state, written by Re
publicans:
The 1907 (Republican) Legislature
passed an act known as chapter 81 Of
the session laws of 1907, making il
possible for the public schools system
to be rapidly enlarged and to be in.
creased in efficiency. This act and
other existing school laws were i'm.
proved by amendments made by the
1909 (Republican) Legislature, the
most notable amendment being that
requiring all children living within
three miles Of a school house to at.
tend school for the whole term.
Republicans waged the successful
contest that secured statehood for the
territory of New Mexico. Statehood
was secured during the administration
of a Republican President, from a Re
publican Congress.
The blessings OF statehood brought
with them concessions from the fed.
eral government in the way Of public
school lands which will provide a new.
er-ending source of income for the
states school system: a boon to the
children of today and a heritage to
the children of tomorrow.
Do Governor Mcdonald and his Dem.
ocratic politicians claim the credit for
that?
The constitutional convention, which
met in 1910, and of which a majority
was Republican, wrote into the con-
stitution of the state the declaration
that there should be established and
always maintained in the state of New
Mexico a uniform system OF public
schools sufficient for and open to all
he children of school age.
In other words, the Republican party
saw TO it that it should be the consti-
tutional right o! every boy and every
girl in Ne" Mexico to have d free edu
cation.
The constitution framed by the
tRepublican) constitutional nye
ton further provided that no term of
school should be held for less than
five months. 1t provided for a per-
manent school fund, which now
amounts to 5000, 900; it provided for a
current school fund which now
amounts to $400, 600 annually, and for
a reserve fund to assist the poorer
school districts in keeping open for
the minimum term. 1t provided that
only trained educators could be eligi-
Bile to the office Of state superintend-
ent of schools; it provided for non.
partisan boards of education and that
women might vote in school elections,
serve on school boards and as county
superintendent.
Do Mcdonald and his Democratic
politicians claim the credit for that?
The first state Legislature, which
was Republican, adopted the constitu-
ton and built upon the foundation for
the advancement of free and better
schools.
The first state Legislature (Repub-
lican) passed a law introducing in
struction in agriculture, manual train
ing and domestic science in the public
schools and STIMULATING that proper
teaching of these branches should be
supervised by an expert state indus
trial director.
This law is of ~incalculable benefit to
the children of the state, insuring
them a practical as well as f%undamen-
tally classical education in the public
schools. The credit for it must go to
the Republican party.
The first state Legislature (Repub-
lican) passed a law permitting each
county to establish county high
schools, open to all children who had
completed the elem c ntary course and
without cost for tuition. The idea of
practical or industrial education is car
ried out in these schools, instruction
in agriculture, domestic science. man.
ual training and commercial branches
being part OF the prescribed course of
study. Fourteen county high schools
have now been established and they
are setting a high mark for the fifty
other high schools Of the state.
The first state Legislature Repub-
lican) enacted laws for the teaching Of
hygiene and clean living, to warn the
children against the evil effects OF al
cohol and narcotics on the human sys-
TEN. 1t enacted a law requiring the
teaching of United states history and
civics, with special reference to the
history and civics of New Mexico.
The first state Legislature (Repub-
lican) carried into effect the consti-
tutional provisions for a minimum
school term, and made it possible even
in the poorest districts by state aid
to such districts. This Legislature put
into effect the budget system for
school expenditures, requiring school
authorities to certify their school
needs to county commissioners and re.
quiring commissioners to make their
tax levies in accordance Herewith.
The economy of this system made It
possible for every district in the state
to hold terms of school varying from
five months-the minimum under the
law-to ten months. This law was
later amplified by a Republican Legis-
lature into a still greater educational
step for the state. More of that law
in a moment. -
The 1913 Legislature, which was
passed the law regulating
business colleges and correspondence
schools. thereby preventing the people
educational quacks.
The 1913 ~(Republican) Legislature
also passed a law which made it pos
sible for more than 300 country school
to build the kind of school,
housese needed for the housing of lit
tie children-anG this law, designed to
carry better educational facilities to {
the remote districts where the chill |
dren had none of the advantages. OF a
city, was vigorously opposed by Gov. {