The Nevada County picayune., 1922-10-19

the counties, it is proposed 10 place upon the state the responsibility for equalizing educational facilities, op- portunities and school tax burdens | throughout the state.
 A reorganized State Board of Edu- ation is to be given author ty to fix minimum standards, and to distribute state aid on more liberal basis than hitherto to those counties which meet these standards,
 The report emphasizes the fact that the present basis of apportionment, by number of children of school ages, is inequitable and in fact penalizes the district which attempts to maintain good ScholS by sending large propor- tions of it's children and youth to school The survey recommends that school funds be apportoned on the basis of salaries paid to teachers. which constitute approximately 60fo of the total school expenditures. It is proposed that salaries of superintend- ents, supervisors, principals and teach CTS be paid from state funds, and that the expense of buildings, sites and maintenance be met from county reven- ues IL is proposed that salaries he based definitely on professional quall1- cations for the work to be performed, and that the state Board of Educa- tion prescribe min mum qualifications for various types of positions. These provisions are to be accompanied by graduated minimum salary scales and a closely related plan for certification of teachers and other employees.
 II is proposed that the reorganlzed State Board of Education shall be charged with the responsibility for all elementary and secondary schools of the state. the State Normal schools and the four Distric Agricultural Schools The State Board of Education should also appoint the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, thus removing this important off co from politics
 The desired improvements in public education in Arkansas cannot possibly he brought about tnder existing ad ministrative arrangements. The first serious defect is found in the large number of unrelated boards, the State 1ya of so1lpn he Board of Trustees for the State Un'- verSity the Board of Trustees for the State Normal College: four separate Boards of Trustees for the four Agri- cultural Schools and the State Text Book Commission. The composition of these boards is the second source of inefficiency. Sound principles of ad- ministration demand an equal division of reSpons bility between Boards of Trustees and the expert executives and suboriinates employed by. them. For example five members of the State Board of Education and educators who meet in one room as experts in charge of various phases of the educational program and then meet in another room as the State Board of Education, theoretically representing the citizens of the state. to pass upon the propriety of their acts as superintendents of schools. and so on.
 Education for Rural Life Emphasized
 The Report lays special stress upon the need of developing the type of education better adapted to the needs of rural communities. important ele- ments in which will be training for agriculture and home making. The survey points out that the State of Arkansas instead of mainta ming schools of this type in four isolated eenterS as District Agricultural Schools should be maintaining such schools in every part of the state. thereby bring ing these facilities within the reach of practically every home, and pro- vidng what has been insisted upon by the educational leaders of Arkansas for an equal opportunity for every boy and girl in the state The Survey !: outlines carefully articulated ten years program calling for the establ sh- !. mcnt of county schools in which train ing for agriculture and home making will he emphasized in at least sixty of the seyenty-five counties Arkan- Sas ranks almost last among the IS