South Bend news-times., 1921-03-16
MARCH 10. 1921
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.

Gov Warren T. McCray upheld the constitution
az and adhered 70 sound Tolitical and edu-
catona principles when by signing the Cam bill he
made il impossible for any private parochial
school TO receive any money from public school rev.
enues. Under the old this question left some
in doubt though former attorney general. holding
the constitution above the old statute maintained
as the cam law now expressly provides The present
attorney general reputed under political OBJ
legation TO hold differently. had been inclined to do
so and the bill was introduced halt him. It
well done. The governor has contributed handsome
Iy the result.
Thus and other things considered the cause OF
education in Indiana received considerable boost
result OF the recent legislative session. did
not, however come near the mark educators had
for before the session opened The fact that
the Russell Sage Foundation has classed Indiana
18th among states in education taken by legis-
Iators a reflection on the state and as an impetus
for lettering educational standards.
Perhaps the most important educational measures
passed by the assembly are the following:
Revision OF the teachers tension law
Requiring that children shall attend school
until they 10 years old
Requiring part time vocational schools for all
employed youths under the age of IS
Providing fund totaling 100000 for the
schools OF the poorer counties OF Indiana.
Increasing the common school levy from 90
cents TO cents.
Increasing the higher education levy from 2.S
cents to hve cents.
These represent only a part of an ambitious FRO
gram OF the state department of education and OF
various educators The school Ievies are something
OF disappointment to the department of educa-
ton. The original bill called for a levy of 20
for the common schools. This cut to seven cents
the house. An attempt increase it to 10 cents
IN the senate failed
The state educational institution levy OF five cents
is said satisfactory. although the original re-
quest for cents. The legislature also in
creased the vocational education levy from 2 cent
To 4 cent 1t also added new levy OF 8 cent for
the Purdue experimental station.
The teachers pension law is said to put the
pension sound basis 1t Is based on nearly
equal contributions from the teachers and the stste
with the contribution slightly in excess of
that the teachers The board of accounts re-
Gently showed that the present system is rapidly de-
clining and the prediction made that it would
fail utterly.
Indiana has been little slow In comparison with
ether regard it's school attendance laws
The law requiring children to attend school until
they 16 years old and the one establishing part
time vocational schools will do much to remedy this
defect.
Southern Indiana schools have long been in need
of additional assistance from the state on nurner-
Gus occasions schools in tho poorer counties have
been forced to close because there was not money
enough to pay the teachers. This will be remedied
10 some extent by tho law Transferring a total of
100000 in $500 600 instarnent. from the tuition
fund 70 tho aid fund. This will not increase
school expenditures but is merely a transfer.
Teachers throughout the state have been dissatis-
rel with conditions which they must work In
order TO remedy this the legislature enacted a law
providing that teachers shall with
for fuu terms; that they shall be paid IN full for
holidays days when schools closed through
fault Of the teachers and that trustee or teacher
must give Is days notice OF any intention break
contract The last session gave teachers increased
salaries and with the passage OF additional acts
benehting teachers they have succeeded in getting
much Of what they have been lighting for.
The text book question was large one in the ses-
sion but little done 10 remedy it. A senate COM
luttee spent about half the session investigating
the letting OF text book contracts but the various
Ports II prepared were not discussed. The as
sembly however did increase the text book dealers
profits from l. percent to 20 percent as an in
ducemcnt 20 dealers 70 handle books Another bill
hxes conditions under which teachers may obtain
llfe licenses This met with some opposition on the
ground that lowered standards and was therefore
step backward.
The question OF high school inspection has long
AseR large one with the department Of education.
This was solved TO some extent by act providing
that an additional high school inspector may be ap-
Iointed. We do know what the inspector Is for.
but we presume 20 help remove one OF those II
points distant from the top, where the Russell sage
Foundation found us. We hope among other things
however that the inspectors see TO IL that the
teachers detect the morals 10 be drawn from
the Mother Goose rhymes and that there will be
ne Katherine Blakes among them. bent upon the old
iadys determination.
No doubt 90 is true that the prevailing short skirt
is responsible for the surplus Of dress goods