The Harrison times., 1917-01-20

annual state apportonment of school FUNDS.
The present basis of making this appor-
tionment is the enumeration or the num-
ber of educabe children-this is faulty.
There have been from time to time in the
State suggestions and charges OF padding
the school enumeration.
whether these things are true or not, the
present plan is weak for the following rea-
sons:
Let the State apportionment be made on
the basis Of daily school attendance-this
will put a premium on school attendance 4;
it will stimulate teachers, school directors
and patrons to secure better school attend
Rrce; it will greatly enhance the value Of
school work over the State.
20. Law to properly safeguard the Is
suance Of district school bonds in the state
"6 Law to change the time OF holding
county teacher Institutes, with view to
making these Institutes more practical and
OF more worth to the teachers Of the state
az. Law Creating County Boards Of Edu-
cation-These county boards to consist Of
seven or nine members elected by the vot-
ers at the annual school election, the mem
bers Of these boards TO serve without pay.
Duties Of boards in general to look after
and direct the educational work Of the
county.
49, State Illiteracy Comnisslon-To con-
sist Of IL members of whom the State su-
perintendent Of education should be eE-
offloio chairman, who shall serve without
pay. appointed by the governor. The duties
Of the commission shall be to devise plans
for eliminating iliteracy in our state.
9. Statewide uniformity or general coun-
ty uniformity Of text books
Uniform Text Books.
Regulations for uniform text books for
public schools are in force in "a States:
Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas,
Kentucky Louisiana, Mississippi Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina Ok
lahoma Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
In these states a state board selects the
basis text books for the public schools
In II Of these states this board Is the state
board of education in three the state board
o: education Or a part Of the board to-
gether with additional appointed members;
In one the state board of control OF institu-
tions Of higher learning; and in the nine
other special text book boards, I believe the
best results would be accom- plished by the
appointment OF a special text book board.
10. Statewide county superintendency
law.
"rwenty-six counties in Arkansas have
greatly improved their educational systems
by the adoption of the county superintend-
ency system, which means better super
ful audit of the finances Of each school, and
more effective control OF teachers and pu-
pills. The general assembly can afford to
consider seriously the question of making
the adoptions OF this system mandatory upon
every county in the state. In my humble
opinion, 1t IS simply a question of time
Until county superintendency will be uni
versally adopted by the counties Of Arkansas
voluntarily, so why postpone giving them
the benefits which both theory and practice
demonstrate will flow from 1t.
Control Of Charitable Institutions.
"Of all tho institutions Of the state, mono
lies nearer the hearts Of the whole people
than the so-cRlled charitable Institutions
those for the care Of the blind the deaf
and dumb and the insane. | have purpose
ly omitted the care Of the feeble and needy
soldiers, because they should
not be treated as objects of charity They
are entitled to the gratitude and liberal
support Of the rising generation who ad-
mire the herolsm of the men who placed
their bodies as living walls between their
honest convictions as to the great doctrine
OF states rights and those who were equal
ly as honestly opposed to them In another
part of my message | shall dlscuss thu sep
arate control Of the Confederate Home All
OF these institutions should ever be held
high above all partisan and political influ-
once and should never become spoils In the
hands OF any man or set OF men ana snoulu
be dealt with and considered solely with
view to the proper care Of those who come
within their walls Patriotism, pure and
simple, and humanity In it's tenderest phases.
believing strongly In the merit and eff
cheney OF the honorary board system, / re-
spectfully recommend to the general assem-
bly, that the present salariod charity board
be abolished and, In lieu thereof there be
created an honorary board Of seven MEM
bers, two Of whom shall always be females,
one from each Congressional district who
shall receive a per diem OF 81 and actual
travelinA expenses, these members to be APP
pointed by the governor for a term Of six
years, beginning April I after their ap-
polntmenti provided that OF tho first board
two shall serve two yoars two four years
and three for six years, their appointments
to be confirmed by the Joint assembly OF
tho two houses. The board should elect
paid secretary, not q member OF the board
pt n salary not exceeding 81 per annum.
who Bhould have no other employment dur
ing his term Of service, superintendent for
terms not exceeding -FOUR years his salary
TO be fixed by tho board, who, with tho
board should have supervision over the
steward as TO tho kind quality and quantity
OF the supplies to be purchased, and who
is 10 be held to a strict accountability for
the administration OF tho Institution,
Confederate Veterans.
81 heartily endorse the present mills
Confederate penGon tax and wish that the
financial condition Of tho state was such
49,. .Ai. tav onnid - Increased nv ona-