The Little River news., 1923-02-21
ARKANSAS IS FACING
 EDUCATIONAL CRISIS
Appeal Made ill Behalf of Schools 6y State Superintendent
 HilL

Little Rock, Feb. 19.-The people of ArkGnsas were urged to indicate to theIr representatives how they felt on the subject of education in Arkan- sas and ias immediate needs in a state ment Saturday by State Superintend- ent of Public Instruction Hill:
 Again let me say that Arkansas is in the midst of an educational crisis. Adequate school facilities cannot be provided by the local school districts without additional ,'evcnue," Mir. Hill said
 ''The legislature has just enacted a law providing for severance tax. The revenue from this source is to be plac- ed in the common school fund and I am sure that every c1tiz:e interested in the promotion of the cause of edu- cation in Arkansas appreciates the fact that our legislature has seen fit to enact this law. l. ;5 difficult to es- innate the amount of money which will SoC lIilO IuS SOlllHlOAl SCllOOl luuu this source. It is variously estimated at from one to five dollars pupil, but nobody knows for sure. The school people of the state should not think that they can rely absolutely upon the severance tax as a source of securing sufficient revenue to carry on the schools of the state. Provision for re- lief to local school districts must be made by this legislature if the schools are to be conducted without serious handicap. Since 1914 practically no school buildings have been erected in the state of Arkansas Many of these local districts are overcriwded and cannot maintain an adequate school term.
 "It is the policy of the Department of Education to offer suggestions to the legislative committees and leave the legislature to formulate bills which should be introduced to remedy the present situation. I have found the members of the Committees on Edu- cation in both houses very eager to be of service to the people and willing to do something worth while in the inter- est of the cause of education. The peo- pie who are interested in education in this state should let their represen- tatives understand that the question of education is the most important pro- blem which it has to consider, and the people expect an adequate solution of this problem. The time remaining is short and it will take persistent effort on the part of those who are concern ed to get the proper legislation pass ed.
 AS the one charged with respon5i- bility of educational leadership, hall be patient and 1 hope discreet, but l am ready to say to the members of the legislature and the people of this state that we canot afford to fail to take advantage of the opportunity which now presents itself. Let me urge that letters be sent to your representatives,, indicating how the people feel upon this vital situation and whether they want the cause of our schools remedi- ed by the present General Assembly. There is no time for delay. The inter- est of the children of the state is at stake.
 'Iet us not forget that the govern- or's message to the General Assembly emphasized the importance of solving the school problem. Practically all of the members of both houses of the leg islature pledged themselves to give some relief to the present situation. The platform of both the Democratic and Republican parties placed empha- sis upon the fact that he schools must be given some relief"