Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-12-21
DETER SCHOOL
LAWS, THEME At
ROTARY LUNCH
Speakers Point Out Need
OF State For Better Edu-
cation And Explain Legis-
lation That Is Proposed

(
lation That Is Proposed |
The status of the public schools of
Arizona and proposed school legisla-
ton was the theme of the Rotary club
program at the luncheon of the club
yesterday. John d. Lopez, principal of
the schools, presided.
The chairman explained the purpose
of the program and introduced Profess
sor Payne of the Tempe Normal school
who, he said, would present the edu-
Gators views on the subject Professor
Payne explained how the national bu-
reau of education sent experts from
Washington to make a school survey in
this state. He also explained the weak
nesses of the schools of Arizona and
the recommendations made by this
national board whose Investigations
brought out the same facts as did the
survey made two years ago by the Ari
IONA State Teachers association and
that of the County School Teachers
association several years ago.
Professor Payne said that since is
suance of that report there had been
frequent publicity given, designating
the report as showing an unsatisfac-
tory condition in the state of Arizona.
The recommendations deal mainly with
three points in the school work of the
state. First illiteracy; second, admin
istration; third, supervision.
llliteracy Problem
While it is true that the large tran
silent Mexican population increases the
illiteracy of the state, the speaker said,
it is also true that the illiteracy among
the white population is greater than in
most other states. This, he said, was
due to the large white transient popu-
| latiOn, but that Arizona has a splendid
record in a low per cent of illiteracy in
the native white population. There are
problems, therefore, of handling the il
| literacy question, the speaker said, of
handling the education of both tran
sient and foreign element and the
floating White population.
| Poor administration is due to de-
| fective state school laws. he stated.
| The same thing is true of poor super
vision. The unfavorable conditions
regarding supervision are due to the
| fact that the laws do not provide due
authority for proper supervision, par
/ ticularly in the rural school districts.
/ Some system is necessary for general
I supervision and direction of other work
in all the school districts, particularly
in the rural settlements These facts
were plainly stated by the Washington
bureau of education. 1t is only by
these Investigations that unfavorable
elements may be eliminated the speak
| er declared. Arizona leads all states
in the union, except two, as to the
qualifications of its teachers, that is
the per cent of university and normal
trained teachers, was the interesting
information given.
Col. McClntock Talks
| Professor Lopez, before introducing
the next speaker, referred to the fact
that the school laws of the state was {
patched thing. This is illustrated by
the fact that when kindergartens were
provided, the cost of operation had tt
be taken out of the manual training
department funds. Another statemen
of interest was that 80 per cent of the
school children of the city here las
year are not here this year.
Professor Lopez then introduced Col
James II. McClintock as one who woult
discuss the school question from a lay.
mans point of view.
Colonel McClintock explained how h,
was one of a committee of five who il
behalf of the organization working fo
better school laws is preparing data fol
presentation to the legislature mex
month H9said that this was matte
of interest more to the taxpayers ant
citizens than to the school teachers
themselves, and that the school law
were very inadequate and that it wa!
believed fundamental that new laws b,
established for the best interests of tn,
school situation of the state. The fig
ures he gave were that 40 per cent o
the school population in Arizona wa
born in the United States; "A per cen
was born outside of the United States
the rest being Indians. There is u pc
cent illiterate in the state and 60 pc
cent illterate among the white popu
latpn. Colonel McClintock spoke YER
faEorably of the vocational school law
and outlined a plan wherein a more eff
ficient law might be had for the prope
supervision and the handling of tn
| schools.
To Introduce Bills
Chairman Lopez in closing the pro
| gram said that there were bills to b
| introduced as a result of the schoC
! survey and analyzation, one, a consti
tutional amendment, giving moder
| economical and effective laws for tn
| handling and supervision of the school
of the state. The other bill is tn
| county unit plan. These. explained tn
| chairman, were two fundamental fact
ors or helping the schools of the stat
| at the present time.
| Yesterday the Rotary club was agai
| served by the Red Cross and a larc
attendance was present. Early in tn
meeting President Lewis conducted tn
introducing of new members roll ca
4 and called upon Lieutenant Charlie
| Macarthur who recently returned
| civil life fer a talk to which he cleverl
responded. Rotarian Walter Switze
presented to the Red Cross women
charge of the luncheon a large box ,
chocolates, President Lewis making tt
presentation speech. Mr.. Switzer ais
was responsible for passing the cigar
after the luncheon in celebration ,
the birth of a son one week ago.
Before the close of the meeting.
E. Cook, formerly a Phoenix Rotaria
now a resident of Long Beach. made a
interesting talk. calling particular al
tention to the desirability that all Ar
IONA should get behind the good Law
enacted in the state.
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