Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-03-11

ceased to exist 1t discovered also
plan of taxation, inherited from
territorial days, that admits of gross
inequalities not alone from the
standpoint of taxpayers, but from
the standpoint of the boys and girls,
who, by the provision of the organic
law of the state, are guaranteed
equal educational opportunities. For
more than a generation the people
Of this state have sidestepped a SOL
emn obligation and have imposed
upon the small districts the duty of
providing adequate educational ia
cilities. The burden has been too
great, and many school districts to-
day are insolvent.
Several relief bills for individual
school districts are now pending in
the legislature. They are the strong
est possible argument in favor of the
adoption of the code. Even though
they are passed, the relief will be
only temporary. No provision is be-
ing made to prevent q recurrence of
the evil. Hundreds of other school
districts are in the same condition,
and succeeding legislatures will be
flooded with similar relief bills if
an obsolete, useless system does not
give way to a businesslike plan of
administration. The only effective
means of wiping out an epidemic Is
through the adoption of adequate
measures of prevention,
Inequalities exist not only be-
tween counties, but between districts
within the counties, Many districts
are paying ten times as much for
poor schools as others are paying
for good schools Such conditions
are intolerable Six hundred and
forty-four school districts in the
state are today financially embar-
raised, while 279 are virtually bank
rupt, levying up to and over 20 mills.
And this condition obtains with the
POLO plan of taxation in full opera
ton. a greater assumption of the
burden of taxation on the part of
the state is inevitable
These many instances of financial
distress, with the responsibility of
administration so widely scattered,
have resulted in inequality of OPP
portunity, uncertainty of tenure and
little or no supervision. Poor dis
tricts are forced to employ unframed
teachers, and the results are any
thing but desirable Rural school
administration in Washington is no
farther advanced today than it was
80 years ago.
From its inception the school code
commission has met opposition from
the sources which should have been
most friendly. Nevertheless, it has
completed its task in the spirit OF
fairness to the people of the state
1t believes that it has located the de-
fects of the present school system
and in it's published report the COM
mission offers a workable plan that
will insure equitable taxation, fair
distribution, efficient administration
and equal educational opportunities
Such a plan, it believes, is the very
essence of representative democracy
and the foundation upon which all
American institutions are built. If
eventually enacted into law it will
constitute the Magma Charta" of
the boys and girls of Washington.
The principles worked out by the
commission are so fundamentally
necessary to educational fair deal
ing, and so fundamentally correct in
administrative policy that the whole
matter will probably be brought to
the people through an initiative
measure in 1922.
W. J. SUTTON.
Chairman.