The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-06-02
THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AND
KENTUCKY CHILDHOOD

at the November election, let us turn
10 the third and final matter relating
TO public education which will demand
their attention at that time. II Is Of
the matter Of securing the election
Of a Legislature which will be COM
mitted to the policy Of carrying out the
program Of school legislation started
during the 1920 session. and 10 be
completed next winter.
The County Reorganization law
enacted by the last Legislature was
one Of the most important changes IN
our school system that has taken
place for generations, and like any
radical change, II will require time
in which to become operative In
manner such as TO fully JUSTIFY IL
self. The final effect Of this law
will be to remove schools from poll
tics and other corrupting influences;
make the position Of county Superin-
tendent a professional one. enlist the
finest educational talent in this and
neiphborinp states for this work; and
nut the selection Of teachers upon
basis 81 training. fitness and service
rendered instead Of one Of "pull' and
favoritism. These results will not all be
attained within the first year, or for
many years. il may be, but they VIII
finally come in Kentucky, as they
come in other states where the form
Of county organization we now have
has been put into practice.
Three classes Of people within our
State will desire re-actionary Leg
islature next winter, committed to
the policy Of undoing what has been
done in educational reform, or at
least to stopping the forward-looking
program that is backed by the educa-
tional forces Of the State. These
three classes are the selfish. who
wish TO retain the public school sys-
tenn as a political plum; the uninfor-
med, who do not understand the ma
ture and purposes Of the new laws
and as a result want TO return to the
old way; and the impatient, who are
not willing to give a new machine
time TO come to it's best running. To
the first class I would say, IL is time
for YOU to learn that the people OF
Kentucky have reached that place
where il will not be safe for any per-
son or party TO trihe with the school
system for personal gain. We are
learning to see in it societies most
precious institutions, and are deter
mined TO say "Hands off, in no uncer-
tain tone to such as you. To the
second class I would suggest that
one Of two courses be followed
Either make careful study Of school
systems in the various states OF the
Union, and Of the system, past and
present, in our own, so as to be able
TO make your own independent de-
cision. or take upon faith the views
of the leading school men and wom'
en- in your State as being better upon
educational matters than your won
The third class will be benefited by
the council TO "Sit steady in the
boat" for at least four years, asking
nothing more than minor changes
which will strengthen the law, not
modify its essential nature.
A generation ago school business
was so simple, and so little Of a sci
ence, that the average citizen could
be expected to know 1t quite well
but such is not the case today. School
legislation requires the best thought
of the expert, and the average Leg
islator is not able TO frame wise leg
islation along this line. He should
accept the judgment Of the profession
al school man, as he accepts the Judg-
ment Of the lawyer upon legal mat
tiers, Of the physician upon matters
pertaining to medical practice, Of the
engineer upon problems Of road con-
struction, and the banker on finance
There is but one safe thing for the
average voter TO do this fall when
it comes to voting for member OF
the Legislature. He should ask
"Are you in favor of the Educational
Program recommended by the Schoo
Survey, supported by the Kentucky
Educational Association, and fearless
ly backed by our State Superintend'
ent and his staff Of specialists in ed
ucation." If he is in favor Of this
program, and is such a man as to
warrant your confidence, vote for him
II he is not, hunt a man who is, or
whatever ticket he may be running
and give him your support, feeling
sure that in so doing you will b
serving the best interests OF the
childhood of Kentucky.