The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-05-12
THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AND
KENTUCKY CHILDHOOD
The Second Amendment

The second amendment TO the con.
stitution upon which the voters OF
Kentucky will be asked 10 express an
opinion at the polls in November will
strike from the constitution the pro-
vision that "All school funds shall be
distributed to the counties Of the
State upon the per capita basis" and
provide that "Ten percent Of the State
funds may be distributed upon some
other basis than that Of per capita"
This ten percent clause is great
mistake. and is the result Of lack Of
understanding and suspicion on the
part Of the Legislature, but IL will
give the half Loaf which will be
better than none. II was folly to
provide for the expenditure Of slO,-
600 for making a survey Of the
schools Of the State in order that the
people might learn what changes in
our system were needed and then
limit the powers Of the Survey Com
mission in one Of the lines where It
is most certain to make important
recommendations, but conditions are
as they are, and II will be much bet
ter to accept what is offered than
nothing.
Two questions will certainly arise
in the mind Of every thinking voter
when confronted with the question Of
how to vote on this amendment. The
first is, What Is wrong with the
present method Of distributing State
funds? The second should naturally
be, II the present method is faulty,
how may it be improved! Let us
consider these questions in order.
What il Wrong With the Present
Method Of Distributing Funds?
In order that a clear understanding
Of the faults Of the present method
may be reached, let US state clearly
what II is.
Each year the State Superintend-
ent of Schools learns from the State
Treasurer what amount Of money is
available for school purposes. and
from the county and city superin-
tendents the total number Of children.
white and black, between the ages Of
six and eighteen within the State.
The total amount of money must then
be divided by the total school popula-
ton. The result Of this division is
the State per capita for the year.
Last year and the year before it was
1910, and it will probably be about
the same the coming year. After
this per capita is determined it re-
mains for the State Superintendent
to send to each county or city dis
trict this amount Of money for each
child reported in the district, regard
less Of whether or not the child for
which the money is sent ever sees
the inside Of the school building. the
county or city provides a fit house.
adequate equipment or capable
teacher, or the child may have finish
ed all Of school work offered. The
facts are that there are many thou
sands Of mothers within our states
under the age Of eighteen for which
the county draws its school per cap
tia. Many thousands Of children
finish the elementary school by the
age Of fourteen or fifteen and have
no opportunity to attend a high
school for whom the county continues
to draw money, and great numbers
Of eager children receive this State
aid when local indifferences or igno-
rance provide such wretched houses
and equipment and teachers Of such
inferior training that the school is
practically worthless. In fact, our
present school fund is a pauperizing
fund, for ii gives without demanding
responsibility, effort. or returns for
value received. II is unbusinesslike