Arizona republican., 1920-06-14
SCHOOL SYSTEM
 IF STATE RANKS
 THIRD IN NATION
interesting Story of Upward
 Struggle of Arizona's Schools Is Told A Now Among Best in Country

Arizona has been officially notified that her schools rank third highest in efficiency among the schools of inc 48| states of the Union
 This announcements 3s r,o4 e,--so+7,,I new for the news was received f-, press dispatches some days ago b79f me official recognition confirms the signal honor won by this state. The full import of this honor is not under stood by most of the people of Arf- zona, however, according to the Phoe- lnS chamber of commerce which has made public a vivid and interestfne account Of the growth and struggles of the schools of this state The account well worth reading. follows
 New YorS's system of school ranks low ana several other large population states of the East rank even lower than New York, which is thirteenth. These states are old as compared to Arizona, and for many years have had large population while Arizona with almost 74,000.000 acres area has less than 100000 school children. Arizona ls as large in area as several eastern states combined.
 The schools of Arizona. have seen their struggle. This struggle in the early days was one of extreme hard snip, but good seed was sown then and despite all difficulty the work of edu- cation has gone forward year after year In every period of advancement these schools have spoken for them selves, and the word was good.
 w hen the eastern states and coast states paid very low salaries to teach CTS Arizona paid big salaries. There were no teachers here and Arizona E standard of men and women demanded the best. regardless of the cost. This was a rOck-ribbed country and peopled by the strong and unSelfish. by those who appreciated in fact or memorS home life and the love of children Teachers were brought into the terri tory. from the coast and the east a1
 Mission Schools Were First
 The mission schools were estab- lished about 16S7 After the abandon ment of the missions in 1928 and tC the time of the Gadsden purchase this region was considered a place of say agery and ignorance. It was not unti the establishment of a legislature tha the subject of education again received attention The early days of the ter. ritory were marked by the long struS- gle between Indians and pioneers. II consequence there were few attempts at permanent settlement But educa- ton as it is now known in Arizona started with the creation of the terri tory in 1864 A few private school: were oFSned, but the time had not ar rived for public schools. From lS64 until 1869 the ApacheS waged con- stant warfare against the settlers, whc were without military aid in materia numbers. Mining and freighting b, white men and Mexicans and som' farming by Pima and SIaricopa In dians were the industries.
 '.J. N. Goodwin, the first governor o the territory, ins his first message | the assembly which met in September 1884, said an effort should be mad 10 establish common and high school and a university and that part of tn tax fund should be devoted to tha purpose The assembly committee re ported the limited population and un settled conditions of the territory di not justify the cost of such schoC system. However, on Governor Good wins suggestion, the assembly SC aside S250 for the San Xavier Missio school. as a fitting compliment to th first school in Arizona. The assembl also set aside $250 for each of Il four county seat towns and $500 addition for Tucson, provided the towns raised an equal amount TT towns failed to do SO Further legi lation provided that board of supe visors could establish schools in SC dement's of 100 population upon pet tion, and levy a tax to cover e penses- 4 law providing for a un versity came along as further legi lation.y These laws, however, reste Nothing was done for a number
 years to make them active For s months in 1869 a school was conduC cd in Tucson. It was considered public school. Fifty-five Mexic boys were enrolled.
 The second governor Anson r. Ss ford. caused the school laws to becoI more effective. He is honored in mel ory today as the father of the pub school system. It was Governor S. ford who first induced trained teac CTS to come to Arizona. In doing u service for the territory he used personal influence and gave prom of high salaries and long terms to teachers Governor Stafford, like Go ernor Goodwin, believed as a set p