Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-02-24

| Der =, by a. majority of more than 10
I 600, adopted constitutional amend
| ment containing soIns OF the most FOR
ward looking educational provisions
ever put into a stale constitution. The
! amendment provides that hereafter
! California shall contribute, out Of its
. treasury. toward the support OF the
= public schools an amount which shall
be not less than $50 per pupil per year
in average daily attendance i'll the
! elementary and high schools, and that
the counties must raise, in addition
ut least so per pupil iii average daily
. attendance i'll the elementary schools
and at least 500 per pupil in average
,iHiIy attendance i'll the high schools.
1t il also provided by the amend
Inent that all OF he school moneys
contributed by the state and 60 per
, CEN of the sums raised by the coUn-
ties must be used for the payment of
te;lrherS' salaries. California will thus
he ;nie TO establish Il statewide min
imum salary of fully $1,3cG Il year.
The amendment makes the kinder
garren schools part of the state
school system, and provides for nor
Proposed by Teachers.
The amendment was proposed by
the California Teachers association,
and the campaign for its adoption
WAS under the direction of 4 commit
tee of the association. of which County
Superintendent Mark Keprel of Los
Angeles was chairman. The commit
tee drafted the amendment. submitted
il by initiative petition and procured
its approval by the voters. The
amendment WAS placed on the ballot
through thousands of signatures in OK
cess of the 53.oO7 that were needed.
Into every city. town and school dis
:, '~t in the state the fight fer the
amen 'ment was carried. A Primer
of Educai ion and School Finance" was
printed in The Sierra Educational
News, the official organ of the usso-
citation, and was distributed through
out tue state. Yearly two million
campaign cards with the slogan. "A
Square Deal for Every Child" were
sent to the voters. Hundreds OF
amendment meetings were held and
thousands OF automobiles carried tha
amendment appeal
The teachers obtained generous
support from the press Through
funds raised by teachers, display ads,
giving all the facts, were run in the
principal newspapers throughout the
state The movies took prominent
cart in the campaign. Many clubs
and fraternal orders co-operated.
Win c. Wood, superintendent OF
public instruction. in a statement 10
the voters of California preceding the
election, said:
The proposed constitutional amend
ment relating to the public schools is
the most important school measure
submitted TO the people of California
since the first constitution was adopt
ed in 1910. IT is the Magma Charta
Of education in California.
1T establishes definitely in the con-
stitution the towns under which state,
county and school districts become
pronounced in the report of the pub
lie school.
Fixes State Contribution.
at fixes the annual state contribu- {:
ton for elementary schools at $50 per
pupil. which is an increase of approx
mately 30 per cent. 1t also makes it |
impossible to reduce this amount ex-
cept by vote Of the people.
1T fixes the annual state contribu- !
ton for high school purposes at $50 |
per pupil, which is an increase of 100
per cent.
''Gt writes into the constitution the !
provisions OF the county high school |
1, /,
law has promoted the Development Of .
high schools in California. This bill |
is subject to repeal ut any time by the
legislature Amendment 1e makes its
repeal impossible except by vote of
the people.
''It writes into the constitution the Il
provisions of the county elementary 1
school tax law, making its repeal inn
possible except by vote of the people. Il
at applies the principle that money il
for school purposes should he raised
by taxes levied according to ability to
nay. and that funds thus raised should
be distributed to school districts ac-
to the needs of the children
to be educated.
"It will reopen the hundreds OF
schools now closed for lack of teach
ers because Of inadequate salaries.
It will encourage young people to en-
ter our normal schools to prepare for
teaching. 1t will enable us. to restore
the efficiency of the schools.
ut guarantees that all the money
raised by the state and 60 per cent
Of the money raised by the counties
sor school purposes shall be used for
The money cannot be used
for the construction OF elaborate build
Ings to satisfy community pride at the
expense Of the children. It must be
1sed Tor education"