The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-22
ALLEGED JOKER IN THE
PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL
LEGISLATION PLANN Ed

From present indications there is
going ITO be one lively little SCRAP
when the state legislature meets and
attempts to put over the county unit
plan Of government for rural schools.
This neat little joker among others
in lot Of proposed legislation endors-
ed by county superintendents who met
in convention at Oklahoma City De-
cember II is going to have one op-
ponent at least, and that woman who
says she Is absolutely against the plan
proposed fought it at the recent meet
ing and will fight 1t when it goes
before the legislature If necessary.
Under the county unit plan proposed
the district school boards are elm
mated altogether and the affairs of
every district is administered by a
central school board, the members of
which hold office by virtue Of appoint
ment. This is nice little scheme
rhaE would not prohibit an avericious
minded person with the power of ap-
pointment to build for himself a beau
tiful little political machine that he
could take apart any time and see
what made the wheels 60 round.
Under this plan the county super
intendents would also be appointed in
stead Of elected by the people, another
cute little thing for the man who had
the power of appointment in Ms
grasp.
Following Is text Of the resolutions
passed by the county superintendent
also O preface by the state superin-
tendent calling to the proposed pro-
gram to be presented to the state
IL:
Superintendents Of oklahoma:
In response to my call for confer
ence in Oklahoma City Saturday. De-
cember IL, more than 200 school men
and women, with q large number Of
board members, met ait the state capi-
tol and agreed on the following pro-
gram to be presented TO the legislature
which meets in January, 1921.
WHEREAS, there is an emergency
In education in this state caused by
an unprecedented shortage of compe-
nent teachers and by deficiency in
the school funds of the various educa-
tional departments, and
WHEREAS, the state Of Oklahoma,
in the recent report of the Russell
Sage Foundation, ranks 36th; we, the
representatives OF the state teachers
association recommend that the legis-
lature take such steps as are necessary
to enable the governor to provide for
survey of all public educational in
stitutions to be based upon q Thorough
and scientific study and investigation;
and that the report Of said survey be
used as basis for The revision Of our
school code by the legislature Of 1928,
and,
WHEREAS, there are approximately
one thousand school districts in Okla
homa unable to maintain a fun school
term after making the maximum levy
OF IS mills permitted by the law, and
WHEREAS, there are in the said
districts approximately 10000 children
OF scholastic age who are about to
be deprived OF proper school facilities
during the current year,
We recommend that the legisla-
ture appropriate such sums OF money
as are necessary for the purpose OF
maintaining such districts and re-
lieving this unwholesome Condition, and
We further recommend in order to
prevent recurrence of like condl-
tons, that Hhe legislature take such
steps us are necessary to amend the
state constitution so that the boards
cf education may make O local tax
levy of Is mills without conducting
special election, and that the present
constitutional limit Of 10 mills be re-
moved.
We further recommend that in Keep
ing with q program Of battering the
school conditions in Oklahoma and
properly supporting and maintaining
the educational system Of this state
that the department of education and
the higher educational institutions re-
ceive such appropriations as will bet
ter enable them TO carry out their
various functions.
We endorse the county unit plan
OF government LOT rufal schoois' Tue
liberal support of the rural consoli-
dated schools: O department Of physi-
cal education; and the Smith-Town-
er BIZ now pending in the United
States congress.
Every one agreed that the school
situation demands immediate considern-
ton. We believe that the united ef-
fort of those who are interested In
the schools Of the state viii. be ne
cessary 10 secure this much needed
legislation. therefore request you
10 see those who will represent you
In the next legislature and call these
matters 10 their aatentin before the
legislature assemblies in Janaary.
Most respectfully
r. II. WILSON,
state Sup. Pub. Ins.Yuction.