Weekly journal-miner., 1921-01-19
AMERICANIZATION STRESSED
 BY GOVERNOR IN MESSAGE
(Continued from page two)

to assume any financial responsibility for high school education, although state and county contribute 10 ele- uentary school education, and the state bears the entire burden of nor nal schools and university.
 Modern conditions demand high CT grade of preparation than former ly, and every child has q right to the equipment of at least a high school education. Because it is. relatively much more expensive than element arv education. and the individual dis tricts are left to bear the burden alone. many children, especially in rural communities, are being denied this right As part of our rural school problem, this condition must be remedied by legislative action. ln- creaSing and equahzing the dlstrIbu- ton of state school funds; and at the same time, i'll return for increas- ed taxation, assuring high school op- portunities where there IS a flgn school need.
 Another phase of this question ot providing sufficient high school facil- ities relates to the law creating union high school districts. The present one has proved vexatious and has caused much friction and dissension in operation. In many instances t creates two district school systems, with duplicated administration and expense; and stands squarely in the way of the development of unified school system from kindergarten through high school.
 This whole question of finance IS tied up with that of the reorganiza- ton or the state and county school administration. There is no escape from the necessity for increasing en- larged expenditures for school pur- poses, but unless there is a centrali- cation of authority and responsibility for that expenditure, there will be a natural reluctance, if not downright refusal on the part of the legislature, to accede 10 such demands.
 There are certain other defects i'll our present school code that need remedying, but whose importance does not approach that Of the fore going measures. Our compulsory school law needs amending since, ad- mirable in intent, it is weak in ex- ecution.
 Our present institute law causes the annual expenditure of thousands Of dollars without adequate return. It should be repealed, and the insti- ute placed under the direction of the State Board
 The present law governing teach CTS pensions in this state is unscier- tific and in the near future will en- tail a considerable burden unless ad- justed. In general. pension laws have not been found satisfactory or equitable as those benefiting do not contribute towards the maintenance of the fund.
 The law, where necessary, should be amended to make the State Board oi Education responsible for the cer- tification of teachers, the direction Of vocational education, and the expen- diture therefor, and greater economy, flexibility and efficiency of our state text books system.
 A survey made III 1918 by the Russell Sage Foundation, Depart ment of Education, ranked Arizona s school system third in line of excel lence, using certain educational and financial components to arrive at this conclusion. It is significant, however, to note in said report that while Arizona ranks second in finan- eial components, we were placed twenty-third in educational compon- ents, and while we should be justly proud of our average standing among the other states of the union, 1t is my hope and aim that, assisted by your honorable body, our position educationally shall be placed more on a parity with the rank given as reflected by the moneys expended.
 In order to discuss intelligently this department of state and county government, it will be necessary to briefly refer to some of the statis- tics contained in the last biennial report of the State Superintendent ol Public Instruction:
 The school census for the year 1920 is as follows:
 School children between the
 ages of and 2l years S5,213 School children between the
 ages Of 6 and 10 years-~.-------. 5, ,lS6 Enrolled in public schools 70,2S8 Enrolled in high schools 5,597 Attending private schools 2,696 Average daily attendance in
 common schools ----..-----.--.--. 41,9S3 Average daily attendance ill
 high schools .--------..-.----.-.--. 4,437 Percentage of school popula-
 ton enrolled ---.-----.-------- 89ft Percentage of enrolment i'll
 daily attendance --.----- 6lfa Percentage of total population
 i'll daily attendance ----.-----.~5 54.29ft
 Financial Table
 The amount of money expended during the fiscal year ending June 50, 1920, IS as follows:
 Public schools -. $4, 4,S36, ,599. 43 High schools --------..-----. 7S9,75447 High schools, vocational
 state aid -.-.---...-.-.--- 66,S23O7 High school military
 training, state aid S,0l3.33 Vocational training, state
 appropriation ..-.--..-.- 46,48485
 Total .--.-..-.-.-.-.--.-.--.-$6, 147, ,67515 Expended for buildings l,502, 00
 Total .--..--.-.----.-..-----.----$ $7, ,65C, ,364l5
 The amount of funds derived from