Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-11-13
STATE SCHOOLS
TO PRESS MORAY
WITH DEMANDS
Educational Funds Need One
of First Problems of New
Administration.

Warren T. McCray and the administra
tive officers who will assume control
Of the state government after the first
Of the year will be confronted with a
gigantic educational problem. In gen
eraI. the task before them is to bring
Indiana up from forty-second place In
school circles to a front row position.
Probably no other administration ever
faced such a task and that the Governor
elect realizes this is evident from the
fact he has instructed a junketing COM
mission to investigate educational laws
in other States.
The state institutions of higher learn
ing. Purdue University, Indiana Univer-
sity and the Indiana State Normal school
at Terre Haute are bankrupt and one
Of the first duties of the new officials
viii be to place them on an efficient
basis again.
The state Normal School does not have
3 enough money in its general fund now to
meet the monthly pay roll for the fac
ulty and Purdue is contemplating limit
ing attendance in order to meet the re-
strictions imposed by a parsimonious f.
nsncial policy.
The predicament at the State Normal
School is alarming the present officials
and several informal discussions have
been held in an effort to devise means
for overcoming the difficulty. The insti-
tuition is unable to borrow money and
the only course open seems TO be to
appeal to the State Auditor to advance
funds in anticipation OF the payment OF
fan taxes.
Tt is pointed out that the Legislature
has endeavored to operate the schools
for the same amount Of money that was
required before the war. Some time ago
the heads OF the three institutions united
In a demand for a higher tax levy, but
instead Of granting it the State Board
OF Tax Commissioners added another
cent to the general fund. The schools,
therefore, must wait until the next Leg
ielature can appropriate this money.
A conference OF people interested In
educational affairs will be held at a
dinner to be served In the ClaypoOl
Hotel on the evening of Nov. g. The
presidents Of the two universities and
the State Normal win be present and
It is expected that recommendations for
the guidance OF the Legislature will be
evolved.
1t is certain the General Assembly Will
- asked to deal more generously with
the schools than has been the custom
in the past and 1t is expected steps will
be taken to place the school finances on
a better business basis
Legislation affecting rural schools will
also come before the Legislature. For
extmple 1t is probable the Office Of State
superintendent OF public instruction viii
ask that the seven or more laws relative
to consolidated high schools and town
ship schools be re-enacted in a single
measure that will facilitate its appIlca-
ton
Another question that is expected to
arise will be that of placing attendance
officers on sufficient salary to make the
office attractive and to give them more
authority. At present the attendance
officers receive s. a day and are re-
quired to pay their own expenses and as
a result very few counties have active
agents and some have none at all The
officers authority is limited also. for he
has no power TO take a truant yOungster
back to school within a five day period
The lawmakers probably will receive
Dill raising the pay Of the attendance
officers and giving them authority to
force truants into the classroom at once
A conference on this subject viii be held
IN the State superintendent OF public In
structiOns office next Wednesday after
noon at o'clock. 1t is expected that an
agreement on the nature OF a bill to be
introduced at the next session Will be
reached.
The Legislature must also meet the
text book situation, which has seriously
embarrassed school officials for several
years. There are three courses open in
this respect. according to educators
granting a higher rate OF profit to school
book retailers; forcing the publishers to
take back unsOld supplies and free text
books. Already many States provide
free books along with school supplies
and it is likely this feature viii receive
serious consideration by the lawmakers.
Legislation In regards to teachers
salaries is not expected to come up this
winter, as IL IS believed the minimum
salary law enacted by the special session
last summer viii be allowed to stand
unchanged.
Recommendations concerning changes
in the teachers pension law will be
made by 4 special legislative committee
of the State Teachers Association. Chief
among the recommendations will be one
making the law compulsory on all teach
ers, and another lowering the age re-
quirements