Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-19
SCHOOLS AIDED
BY STATELAWS
JUST ENACTED
Though Legislative Mills Grind
Slowly, Many Beneficial Meas
ures We're Passed.
BY G. Z. PLATT.

County Superintendent OF Schools
"The mills OF the gods grind
slowly but they grind exceedingly
small" Legislative mills have the
same slow movement and the
grist especially in educational mat
ters. has been most exceedingly
small The miller looked with
more favor upon educational Eri5t
during the last session OF the legts-
lature and while some good bills
failed OF enactment, much bene-
fetal legislation was passed.
The requirements for teachers
certificates were made higher and
this in the face OF an apparent
shortage OF teachers The COM
munity high school was recn2cted
without the clauses which had
made the other law unconstitution-
al. There is good reason to be
lieve that several communities IN
Mercer county will take advantage
OF this law in the near future. Pro
vision was made for consolidation
Of rural districts by the enactment
OF a consolidation law that is as
good as, il not better than, the
similar laws in any other state.
Action has been already under
taken i'm one community in Mer-
Ger county 10 take advantage Of
the provisions Of this law. II this
law meets with the favor in Hi
nois that similar laws have in 9TH
er state the school wagon VIII
soon be a familiar sight on our
country roads. After many trials
law prohibiting school fraterni-
ties has been placed upon the stat
ute books The teachers pension
fund was made securely solvent by
doubling the amount of state mon
ey applied to this fund Tho state
distributive fund was increased bT
one-half Mercer county should
receive approximately $4,000 or
an increase OF $4,000 from tbis
{ source. Provision was made for
free text books upon a referendum
vote,
Enact Strict Truant Law.
4 stringent truancy law was en-
acted which should make attend
ance at school more regular. To
enforce this law provision is made
that a truant officer for the coun-
~ be appointed by the county SUI
pcrintendent of schools The re-
quirements for this Office are so
high under the law that some dill
Guilty was experienced in finding 81
suitable officer Harold X Whit
tier has been appointed for Mer-
Ger county and will enter upon his
duties as soon as necessary sup
plies can be secured Provision
for the expense Of the above office
was made by the board OF super
visors in their September meeting.
Amid other pleas for means 10
meet the high cost OF living the
county superintendent asked for
consideration as a relief from liv-
ing on a salary based upon condi-
tions in 1910. Some superiutend-
ents received a raise of $1,000 per
year, but most of them $60O 70
$3.50. As the salary is based upon
the population OF the county, the
increase in Mercer county was but
$500. which is an increase above
the salary of 10 years ago Of one
sixth In the meantime teachers
salaries have doubled. Last year
marked an increase OF 10 per cent
over the year before and apparent
ly the increase for this year over
last will he at least % per cent.
Rural Schools Supplied.
All the rural schools are sup
piled with teachers without the ex-
pedient OF issuing emergency GER
tifcates. In some counties OF the
state II has been necessary TO ia
sue as high as 30 emergency Ger
, tidcates to fiji all positions
An estimated enrolment judged
from teachers reports so far re-
ceived. puts the figures for Mercer
county at 1000. OF which $500 are
in the grades and 500 in the high
schools OF the county