The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-11-04
GIVE THE CHILDREN
OF TEXAS A CHANGE
VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT
PROVIDED ny HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 10.

THAT many OF the iaffcF Giles
aud towns OF Texas are maintain
ing splendid school Systems is nd
mittcd hy all who arc conveTSaat
wlth educational conditions in the
state. That the schools in the small
er towns aud IN the rarsi dlatsicis
are fas from ideal Is universally
conceded In many places where
adequate buildings have been pfovi-
dcd there "a no educational equip
ment. and an insufficient number OF
teachers employed. With the en-
forcement OF the compulsory attend
ance law conditions are even worse
than they were before. before school
rooms were often crowded and
teachers oyerworked. Now teachers
are in many cases overwhelmed With
the increased attendance. Many
towns of medium size ought to be
doiag work that would entitlc them
TO utilization with colleges and uni
yersities. Lack OF funds makes IL
impossible for them to provide the
necessary apparatus and to employ
sufficient teaching force to measure
up to the requirements for affilia-
ton. They can not attain the STAN
aards they earnestly desire to reach
because of the constitutional limita-
tion OF taxation for school pnr-
poses
Texas as state ranks low edu-
eationally when compared with 9th
er states of our country. II even
suffers In comparison with Arkan-
ses. and is Inundated when compar-
ed with oklahoma The state OF
Arkansas has a constitutional limit
of seven mills for local school pur-
poses, and there is demand on the
part OF the people that the limit be
raised TO twelve mills. The state
OF Oklahoma has already provided
for a tax OF fifteen mills. Our own
great state of Texas has constitu-
tionai limit OF five mills for local
| taxation. Should we not loosen the
shackles that are restraining our
children from attaining the highest
TYPE OF manhood and womanhood9
Should the children OF Texas not
have as large educational ndvan-
tages az the children OF Arkansas,
Oklahoma. Massachusetts or Cali
| lornia? Should We not realize that
the greatest resources that Texas
has h her children? Should we not
realize that the greatest asset that
! any commonwealth can boast is a
| splendid type of efficient man
hood? Shall we not raise the con-
stitutional limit OF taxation for
lschool purposes and give the children
OF Texas a chance to compete, on
equal terms, with children OF othe,
states?
The thirty-fourth legislature pass
ed House Joint Resolution 80, which
provided for the submission of al
amendment to the state constitution
| to be voted on by the people OF
| November 18th. This amendmen
provided "rhat the legislature may
enact a law permitting common ant
independent school districts to levy
a local tax not to exceed one dollar
on the one hundred dollars OF as
sessed property valuation by mo
jority vote OF the qualified proper
ty taxpaying voters OF the district
and also permitting counties to lev,
a county school tax OF fifty cent
on the one hundred dollars OF as
sessed property valuation to uppie
ment the county school funds II ;
majority of qualified property tax
paying voters of the county desire
to do so"
This amendment is based upon tn
principle of local self government
and should meet with universal ap
! prevail. 1t should be carefully KEEP
in mind that the adoption of tn,
amendment does not impose a tax
II simply gives the voters Of :
school district or q county as uni
the privilege OF determining TO
themselves whether they shall hav'
an efficient system of public schools
In closing allow ME to say. vot'
for the amendment and give th'
children Of Texas chance.
s. l.. HoRNBEAK.
President of Trinity University