The Pulaskian., 1917-01-12
Governor and Mrs. c. H. BrOugh.

annual State apportionment of school funds. "The present basis of making this appor- tionment Is the enumeration, the num- Der of educable children-this is faulty There have been from time to time i'll the State suggestions and charges of padding the school enumeration.
 'sWhether these things are true or not. the present plan is weak for the following req sons:
 Let the State apportionment be made the basis of daily school attendance-this will put premium on school attendance; 1t will stimulate teachers, school directors and patrons to secure better school attend ance; 1t will greatly enhance the value of school work tho State.
 "5. 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 a view to making these institutes more practical and Of more worth to the teachers of the state.
 "7. Law Creating County Boards of Edu- cation-These county boards to consist of seven or nine members elected by the yot- CTS 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.
 "8. State Illiteracy Commission-To con sist of 12 members of whom the State perfntendent of education should be ex officio chairman, who shall serve without of the commission shall be to devise plans for eliminating illiteracy in our state.
 g. Statewide uniformity general coun- ty uniformity of text books
 Uniform Text Books
 Negotiations for uniform text books for public schools in force in 24 States: Alabama Arizona, California. Delaware. Florida, Georgia. Idaho Indiana. Kansas, Kentucky. Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana. Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ok lakoma Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas Utah. Virginia and West Virginia. In these states state board selects the basis text books for the public schools. Tn II of these states this board Is the state beard of education; in three the state board o: education Or a part of the board to- gether with additional appointed members; In 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 accomplished by the appointrn ent of special text book board.
 TO. Statewide county superintendency law.
 Twenty six counties in Arkansas have greatly improved their educational systems by the adoption of the county supeflntehd- ency system. which means better super vision. greater uniformity of courses. care ful audit Of the finances of each school and more effective control of teachers and pu- pills. The general assembly afford to consider seriously the question of making the adoptons of this system mandatory upon every county in the state. In my humble opinion, 1t Is simply question of time until county superintendency will be uni versally adopted by the counties of Arkansas voluntarily, so why postpone giving the"l the benefits which both theory and practice demonstrate will flow from it.
 Control of Charitable Institutions.
 "Of all the institutions of the State. none lies nearer the hearts of the whole people than the so-called charitable institutions those for the of the blind, the deaf and dumb and the insane. l have purpose ly omitted the of the feeble and needy Confederate soldiers. because they should not be treated as objects of charity. They | Anff Had ha support of the rising generation who ad- mire the heroism of the men who placed their bodies living walls between their honest convictions as to the great iUGsfine of states rights and those who were sgaal- | ly honestly opposed to them In another part of my message l shall discuss tn sei arate control of tho Confederate Home. All of these institutions should ever be held l high above all partisan and political influ- ence and should never become spoils In the hands of any set of men and should | be dealt with and considered solely with a l view to the proper of those who come 1 within their walls. Patriotism, pure and simple and humanity in its tenderest phases. 'tBelieving strongly in the merit and eff l ciency of the honorary board system, l re- l spectfully recommend to the general assem- bly that the present saiaried charity board 1 be abolished and. in lieu thereof, there be created an honorary board of seven mem I bers, two of whom shall always be femaleS, one from each Congressional district who | shall receive per diem of s and actual 1 travelling expenses. these members to be sp- pointed by the governor for term of six 1 years. beginning April after their ap- pointment provided that of the first board l two shall serve two years, two four years and three for six years. their appointments l to be confirmed by the joint assembly of l the two houses. The board should elect a 1 paid secretary, not member of the board. | at . salary not exceeding S2.200 per annum. | who should have other employment dur i ing his term of service; superintendent for l terms not exceeding four years, his salary l to be fixed by the board, who, with tho board, should have supervision over tho steward as to the kind, quality and quantity 1 of the supplies to be purchased, and who Is to be held to a strict accountability for the administration of the institution.
 Confederate Veterans.
 .T heartily endorse the present mills
 Confederate pension tax and wish that ths
 financial condition of the state such
 that this tax could bs increased by one