Arizona republican., 1921-01-12


 bridge is practically complete over the Agua Fria at Marinette, and timber trestie highway bridges have been built over the Agua Fria at ColdWater and over the Hassayampa at Arlington A settling pier on the Tempe bridge has been successfully underplnnea anu numerous broken parts replaced concrete bridge has been punt over Cne Verde at Cottonwood. The bridge across the Gina in Graham county is nearing completion and the bridge across the Gila between Solomonville and Chfton has been finished Also bridge across Cieneaa Creek between Vail and Ben son and a bridge across Mescal Wash on tbe Benson Vail highway, and one across Railroad Wash in Greenlee county are nearing completion.
 No federal aid has been Iost, nor win be lost, by the state of Arizona. Sufficient project agreements are ex- ecuted to date to safeguard all funds which otherwise would revert July 1st, this year. so we are six months ahead of this danger. In order to avoid the loss of federal aid it was necessary for the state to have project agreements with the federal government totalling Is1.O96,124.61 on July 1st, 1920; S2,297, 7O74O on July 1st 1921; and $9.767,- 794.55 on July 1st, 1922, which is the total federal appropriations to date. At the present time $3,244. .720.49 in project statements has been approved by the secretary of agriculture. Con- tracts have been executed totalling 2.435, ,795.26. Vouchers have been sub mitted to the federal government to- talling $919,2151S. Cash received by the state treasurer from this source amounts to $66S,s75.O5.
 Education
 i l believe that the highest duty the state has to perform is to educate It's citizens. I believe that education is
 national question, and should be so directed, but, in the absence of national legislation, feel 1t the duty of the state
 to direct and support the education of every school child within it's borders,
 providing whenever and wherever possible, the same educational oppor- tunities. I further believe that the end can be accomplished with less expen- allure of public funds than at present, and l earnestly request your honorable body give earnest consideration and
 positive action upon the necessary leg
 islation to come before you on this
 most vital matter.
 The first step in proposing educa-
 tional improvement is a survey of ex-
 isting conditions. There are two fea- ] lures that appear to be of paramount
 importance-the reorganization of the , state department of education, and the centralized distribution of school funds } While the school system of Arizona has many excellent features, there are certain weaknesses due to the lack oi centralized administrative system anc consequent lack of co-ordinated edu- 3 cational leadership. To this is du,
 primarily the failure to deal adequately
 with our very urgent but much neg. < lected rural school problem. I an . therefore, thoroughly committed to tn, necessity for constitutional amend s ment. reorganizing the state board O 2 education, and making the office O | state superintendent appointive in e stead of elective. The method of SC n lecting the board should make it con I tinuous, partisan, or at least bi a partisan, safeguarded from politica n chance; and impose upon it greatI
 increased powers and responsibility. s To bridge the interval until sue e an amendment becomes a law, a meas e ure should immediately be passed, en Q larging the powers and duties of tn - state board of education as at pres ent constituted. and of the state super Q intendent of public instruction Thi f is essential in the interests of efficien Q cy, and to prevent delay in putin a into execution at once a policy of in l, creased usefulness.
 e As companion to this amendmen - and the most important step in i'm - proving our much neglected TUT; e schools, there should be passed t. measure reorsanizing the countr e school stration,-something sin '- liar to that proposed by the last legis .e lature, but with certain defects ol t, viated to secure greater efficienC l- without sacrificing to too great an e, Ia tent local participation and cons, ie quent local interest It should prC m vide that the county superintendent ss like the state superintendency shou se be made an appointive position. 1e Equal in importance is the matter
 school finance. There is an fncreasir
 realization that education is the coI of cern of the state primarily and that ty should bear a considerable share of u of burden. Arizona's law for the distr l- button of county funds is excellent to that 1t assumes the county is respol be sible for the general maintenance D. education, and not the local district re The state in the past has assumed u he same attitude to certain extent b
 the discrepancy in the wealth of Il h. various counties has combined with u in lack of centralized state departme
 
 ut ity of educational progress and oppo ve tunity. Furthermore, both state al u- county have conspicuously failed to a ne sume any financial responsibility f ch nigh school education, although sta cy and county contribute to elementa 1t school education, and the state bea It's the entire burden of normal schools al ch university.
 s- Modern conditions demand a high n- grade of preparation than formerl he and every child has a right to f ng equipment of at least a. high schc he education. Because it is relative be much more expensive than elementa ad education, and the individiual distric
 are lert to bear the burden alone. ma, lu children, especially in rural commur D. ties are being denied this right. As ne part or our rural school problem Il lot condition must be remedied bv Iesisl on tive action, increasing and euualizi 'a- the distribution of state school fund me and at the same time. in return me increased taxation, assuring hi no school opportunities where there is zen high school need
 Another phase of this question or providing sufficient high school fac led ities relates to the law creating uni me nigh school districts The present O res has proved vexatious and caused mn se- friction and dissension in operatit ed, In many instances it creates two q oill tinct school systems. with dupIicat md administration and expense: a 'es stands Quarely in the way of the { or velopment of a unified school syst favs