The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-11-02

Il N"""""""HH"HHEAA
all Incentive for the teacher holdinp
third grade certificate 70 work for
second or q FIRST grade certificate
because the school district where
she works as a third grade teacher
'annot possibly pay the increased
salary Of si5 month. Such an in
crease would be practically 80 ia
per cent whereas the law allows an
Increase Of the school district ex-
penses, for oil purposes, Of but 9
per cent.
The amendment, Il Is contended,
will operate 10 80 limit the possible
revenues Of school districts, as 70
prevent, al least for years 10 come,
any increases in teachers salaries,
lr any material improvement In
school buildings and equipment. In
,ifect II prohibits growth OF schools
beyond rate Of 5 per cent a year.
This would mean in application that
, per cent would be the rate Of
Improvement not only In rurol
schools but In towns and even In
cities like Albuquerque. whore, no
matter what the growth OF popula-
ton and school population might be.
the school authorities could only
increase operating out lay 5 per
'ent without a special permit Of the
state tax commission. The din
Guilty OF obtaining such n permit
has been fully illustrated Il is
stated, during the past two years Of
operation under the i0i5 law which
this amendment would write into
he constitution.
Tho voters Of Now Mexico will
defeat this proposed tax amend
inert II they understand lie effects
upon our schools" states State
Superintendent Wagner, "ordinar-
i!y this department would take no
part In question 10 be determined
by the voters We have refrained
strictly from any participation in
election activities. but this qnes-
tion has 10 do not only with school
revenues. but will determine wheih-
or our schools shall grow and be-
come more effective, or whether
ihey shall stand still and slagnate.
'Fof that reason we have felt II 10
he our duty TO tell the peaple just
what this tax amendment means
and what II will do TO the schools
Of this state.
Il do not believe that the inter-
ests fostering this proposed tax
amendment deliberately sought 10
ripple the school system. ! do be-
lieve thot in their eagerness 10 limit
axes Of all kinds, regardless OF re-
suits, that they entirely missed
thinking OF the schools or the well
fare Of our children. Either that
or these interests take the attitude
hut they will ride rough shod over
he schools and children, u they
stand In the way Of the ends those
interests sock.
No man at all familiar with thr
needs Of our country schools will
deny that this law. as law. has
operated 10 hold back school adj
vancement. II follows Of course that
10 II has temporarily held back our
schools as a law, II will permanent
ly hold back advancement " written
into the state constitutional
"Wo who have studied the law
rnd Who know the effect Of the pro-
posed amendment feel that we are
not only Justified, but that IL Is our
duty 10 urge fathers and mothers Of
this siate,and upon all those who
stand for better schools, that they
defeat this proposed YAK amend
ment. Those who would wipe out
illiteracy IN New Mexico, and eradi-
eate'our so-called 'dark-spols' must
defeat this amendment, for II II Is
enacted into the constitution many
years will pass before these greatly
desired educational achievements
,an come Ia pass"