The log cabin Democrat., 1920-11-26
AMENDMENT IS
 BEING INITIATED FOR RELIEF OF SCHOOLS Twenty Thousand Expected to Petition Change in Constitution Lift.
 ing Tax Limit.
By Clio Harper.


 paign was started last week for tn, initiation of proposed amendment tt the constitution which has for it! purpose the improvement of our edu cational institutions. The amendment was endorsed by the recent conven ton of Arkansas Educational Asso citation, which was in many respects the most remarkable demonstration of statewide interest ever witnessed in Arkansas. This amendment provides that there shall be three administra- tive and taxing units for school pur- poses-state, county and district. It provides that the general assembly shall arrange for the maintenance of all the common schools of the state for period of at least six months an- nually. The most striking change in 1 the present law on the subject is that the limit is taken off the amount of taxes that may be levied by a district. It will be recalled that sev- eral years ago, five mills was the maximum. This was increased to sev- en, then to twelve and now it is pro- posed that the limit be removed en- tirely and that each district be auth orized to levy any amount that it may deem necessary.
 It is recognized by everybody that the schools of Arkansas never before faced so critical a period in their ex- istence as they do now. The entire state has been aroused as never be- fore. Our public schools, from the state University down to the humble one room rural school, are threatened with disaster unless some means is found whereby they may be continued. In many districts the patrons have been forced to resort to the subter- fuge of voluntarily agreeing to an ad- ditional tax. Insome districts amount ing to as much as 20 mills. The Llt- tie Rock district is endeavoring to secure the consent of the tax payers for tax of IS mills, or 6 mills above the maximum prescribed by law. It l is realiZer that this is a subterfuge which should not be necessary and | that the law should be sufficiently flexible to permit any district to car ry out it's program without resort to | personal pledges of support When conditions are such as now exist in certain localities, that a tuition fee of $1.00 to 5000 per month must be charged the pupils of public school, 1t ceases to be free school and should be classified among the educa- t:onal institutions which charge tuition for all pupils.
 Many schools, including some of the largest and most populous of the state, announce that they will be un- able to continue for the full term un- less they have relief. All costs of administration have been advanced and the largest item in the increase is that of the increase in salaries paid the teachers. This had to be done if the teachers were to be re- tained in the profession. Hundreds of the best teachers, both men and women, have been deserting the school room for other vacations, because teaching offered less compensation for
 
 any other calling It has not, how ever, been wholly question of sal ary with the teachers, for the true teacher is devoted to the ministry of the school room and many of them prefer to follow this profession rather than to go into another which offers greater emoluments.
 During the next few weeks an eff fort will be made to secure at least 10000 signatures to the petition which is now being circulated for the new amendment. It is believed there will be little or no opposition, for it is recognized by all that unless the taxes are increased for school pur. poses, the public school system if doomed to failure. The petitions are being circulated under the direction of the county superintendents end il IS hoped that every teacher and every citizen will assist in securing sigma lures.