The Cordova daily times., 1920-03-20
Why This Thus-ness?

 in the matter of national school lcgis- lation In the Smith-Hughes bill, which carries large appropriation for vocational training and the fitting of teachers for carrying on this work throughout the country, Alaska was completely overlooked, though the need for adequate vocational training .has long since been recognized and pointed out by Alaskan educators
 Now comes the Smith -Towner bill, with an appropriation of $1OO O,OOO,OOO, to be used in establishing federal bureau of education on par with other departments of our government, and directed by a secreary of educa- tion in the Presidents cabinet. The bill provides for the removal of lll1t- eracy, for the AmericaniZation of our large foreign element (and some of our native-born also, let us hope!), for physical education, for preparation of teachers, for equalization of educa- tional opportunities and the partial payment of teachers salaries. Each state is required to deposit with its state treasurer a sum equal to it's share of the money received from the federal government, and to take the Sinitiative in and exercise control of the administration of educational af- fairs within it's own boundaries. But Alask4is not to share in the benefits of this proposed legislation-just why, no one seems able to say.
 However, we have not been over- looked in one respect. The income tax law provides that all teachers in the States are exempt from payment of such tax, but expressly stipulates that Alaskan teachers are not subject to such exemption and must pay the tax. Some of us wish the powers that be would at least practice consistency in this little game of overlooking which they choose to play sometimes. If sulking in ones tent were ever justifable, surely Alaskans have good cause to indulge, but some vigorous protests to various congressman, espe- cially any with whom we have per- sonal acquaintance, would be much more to the point ..
 * * # s~>- The school has paid relatively more attention to the backward pupils than the superior ones, and yet the latter will be the ones who will contribute the most to the advancement of society as a whole. Give the bright child his chance Every class is composed of three grades of material-the very slow or even defective children, the mediocre, and the exceptional ones. Trying to handle all in one class is comparable to trying to drive work race-track-it requires more skill than the uninitiated would ever suspect in order that each may receive his full share of time and attention and none be neglected. And yet in some quar- ters it is still thought that anyone can teach school!
 * * *
 Naomi Robinson found the following poem and asks that we reprint it in ] our notes, which we are glad to do, because it is we'll chosen and carries a message for all:
 ~n.Courage! What if the snows are
 deep,
 And what if the slopes are long and
 steep,
 And the days are short and the nights
 are long,
 And the good are weak and the bad
 are strong?
 Courage! The snow is a field of play And the longest hill has a well-worn There are songs that shorten the
 longest night;
 There's a day when wrong shall be
 ruled by right.
 So courage, courage! Iris never far From plodded path to a shining
 star!"
 * * *
 Elaine and Don Bollinger have the sympathy of the entire school in their present sorrow. Mrs. Bollinger was one of the kindest and most loyal of school patrons, and she will be missed by all of us in many ways.
 * +
 The Angle of Repose
 A certain engineer, upon being asked when slides would cease to occur in