The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-12-30

creased outlay for education and increased taxes
to meet The outlay will awaken that interest.
We have actually spent on public education ia
this state. since statehood, only about as much as
Colorado spent IN 1917 alone and Of our total out
lay. about oncthird came from the revenues of the
state lands. On the other hand Colorado's school
enrolment in 1917 was 1929 as against our
llOg6o in New Mexico. In other words. with
about 10000 more school enrolment in 1917 Colo.
RADIO spen, ~. 5000 more on her educational work
than did New Mexico.
Where are we getting with our cducation9 We
have the framework Of a fine system. We have
town and city and county high schools, normal col.
leges aud q university. We have an agricultural
college. Cities point to the ~pitifully small enroll.
mcnt of these institutions, as compared with the
school population.
As y matter Of fact these institutions are only
half equipped and hall financed; with the possible
exception of the Agricultural College, which has
the advantage Of extensive federal aid. II all of
these institutions are TO be continued, they should
have the buildings, the equipment, the libraries.
the teaching forces they need, actually TO put them
on a par with similar institutions maintained by
other states. Why should a young man or woman
attend n half-equipped institution when it is posi-
bic for the same money, or a very little more, TO at
tend one that Is equipped 20 the last notch of cffic.
ieneyP New Mexico boys and girls will continue to
go out of New Mexico for their college and special
training work until we put our equipment for that
work up 90 the standard the intelligent high school
graduate demands.
But the real reason for scant enrolment at our
higher educational institutions lies deeper than
that. Our people are not going 10 the higher edu-
cational institutions because there is not sufficient
driving power behind the primary and the grade
schools to force our young people through the high
schools and into college or special training courses.
This lack of driving power is not due 10 lack
of enthusiasm and effort and skill in the educa-
tional management of the state. The skill aud
devotion of that management has been amply dem
onstratcd. But management without material does
not get far, aud material in this instance means
teaching forces.
Now how are we 10 get adcquaicly trained
teaching tovccs in this state; men and women who
will cndL he unuucsiionablc hardships of many
of our rthc. districts-for The pitiful salaries We
payf
Under our law-Statutes Of 1915 a ruraI
school teacher with u 3D. grade certificate can only
be- paid $50 n month 2nd grade, S75 a month, ano
first grade, 500 a month INCLUDING ALI EX
PENSES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN AM
OPERATE \ SCHOOL. BY the time fuel, %janitol
and school supplies have been paid for these sal
aries shrink TO fifty, sixty and about scventy-Gv,
dollars for the respective grades of certitication
Are such salaries likely 10 attract young men ant
young women, or old ones either, with the vim
and vigor, the training aud skill to inject inspira
ton into the young idea ia this stateg Not much
They can make more behind n ribbon counter. 81
driving a truck, at about onc-lifth of the effort il
preparation and execution.
What we need in New Mexico is one big
sustained, generous, intensive educational effort
starting NJ the bottom, the foundation, where al
permanent works must start, and that is in th'
primary and grade schools. especially in our rira
districts. Such AN effort we believe to be III,
, states greatest need ia 1919. II will rcquir
I money n lot more money than We have beer
\ spending. If we will make the effort and spent
\ HE mo.icy for a few years even the crlisticst tax
Y payer among ms will have retired from the rank
vi the kickcrs al the high cost of education.