The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-09-17
CONSTRUCTIVE EDUCATIONAL EFFORT

- NE of the strongest planks in the platform adopted by the recent
republican state convention is that pedgng the party and the
~ members il NAV elect TO the next state legislature to provide
means for adequate support of the state educational system ana u
promote constructive educational effort. Very important advances
have been made in our public schools during recent years, and tins
is especially true of the rural schools. The state department OF edu-
cation has been in good hands and there has been u splendid advance
in the county school administration and the results thcreirom This
is reflected ia the improved character of superintendent and in the
aroused public interest which has brought about consolidation OF ds-
trict schools, modern school buildings and better standards OF teach
ing. Both political parties have pledged themselves to legislation 10
insure adequate salaries for school teachers and to remove limitations
of time upon efficient educational service. The republican pledge is
a definite assurance OF a minimum salary of 81 1000 for teachers hav'
ing first grade certificates. IL not only promises the teachers who
wish to remain in New Mexico educational service that they will he
adequately paid; but it also pledges itself to a reform that will speed
lily eliminate the second and the now nearly extinct third grade GER
tifcate. Since the next legislature is reasonably certain to be repu6-
lican this reform can be regarded as practically accomplished. II Is
n long step forward.
The republican platform, however, goes considerably farther on
;he road Of educational progress. 1t pledges is legislative candi.
dates to a program that must find the means ProperlSy, to equip and
support the states higher educational institutions. This is a fairly
large order, but it is an order that must be filed before our eduea-
tional equipment can be said to be complete. The Importance of com.
plotting that equipment is universally admitted. After all is said,
T. real and only way to sound government and sound citizenship is
in thorough education and equal educational opportunity for ALL
New Mexico has the framework of a system for complete educa-
tion. II has a state university, a agricultural college, a school of
the afflicted, the blind, the deaf and dumb. 1t has, also, a training
school for the morally defective youth, now called a reform school"
a name the republican platform pledges that party to change to some
Perhaps we provided too many of these institutions in too many
places, although the congress in admitting New Mexico to statehood,
did not appear to think SO, since it made substantial land endowmcnts
for each Of them. But because of the number and the large needs of
all, we have fallen into regarding the number and the needs not as a
spur to effort, hut a al excuse for not properly supporting any of
There is a pressing demand in New Mexico for the services of every
trained teacher our normal schools can produce. The crowded con
dnion Of both the state normal schools indicates that there il plenty
Of material waiting to be trained. Both normal school plants are
inadequate. Both are overcrowded as to students and undetermined
as TO faculties.
Our agricultural college faces a persistent deficit in its effort to
meet and keep up with available federal appropriations for work that
is of the utmost value to the states principal industries and to the
young men and women who we would keep interested in the all I'M
portant work of food production.
Right here at home we have the spectacle of our state university,
with every room filled, forced to the necessity of begging Albuquer-
que people TO open their homes 10 students. And that is not all.
The university not only lacks rooms for housing its available enroll.
ment it lacks also buildings and equipment and faculty for most FL
fective work.
Recently The Evening Herald published a list of Albuquerque
boys and girls who had left or were preparing to leave for schools
and colleges. east and west. The list occupied a complete newspaper
column. II included young men and young women who were seeking
every kind Of training from agriculture to theology. They were GO
ing outside of New Mexico TO get it. Great university names and
great college histories still attract some parents and some students.
But in this day and age the main reason impeling parent or student
to 20 to extra expense for education is because some extra advantage
is offered. Only a limited number of our people can afford to go
outside Of the home state for such advantages. They should have
those advantages in fullest measure here at home.
1t is not difficult to vision certain large taxpayers holding up
their hands in horror at the idea of increasing expenditures for edu-
cation by our state. But the increased expenditure must be made if
New Mexico boys and girls are to have a n equal chance for that
thorough education upon which alone we can count for sound gov
eminent and sound citizenship in the future. Providing it is a duty.
One way Of providing the money for this increased expenditure
is perfectly clear. 1t involves a more scientific and more thorough
assessment Of property for taxation, so that all property will bear is
share Of the burden, no matter whether that property belongs to rich
or poor; and a less expensive and more thorough collection of the
taxes assessed meaning a tax law with a simple penalty attached
that will produce the tax moneys when they arc due. This must be
supplemented, Of course, by economics in direction and operation of
the educational Institutions. IL is consistent that the republican
party should have pledged itself to bring about these reforms, since
they will make it possible for the party to carry out its other pledge Of
constructive educational effort.
In New Mexico the republican party, which has been in the ma
jorty in every legislature since statehood, is entitled to the credit its
platform claims for the notable advancement that has been achieved
In education in our state. The record entities it TO the fullest conf
deDce Of the people in its pledge of further educational advancement
along broad, sound, constructive lines
A MAN WHO HAS HELPED