Pocahontas star herald., 1925-03-05
School Legislation

the relief of the public schools have
yet been enacted into law, but several
Of them are in a satisfactory condition
and may be passed during the few re-
naming days of the session.
Hopes entertained by the friends of
the free text book proposition were
shattered last week when the Senate
indefinitely postponed the Higginboth-
am bill which had been passed by the
House providing that the state should
furnish free text books for all children
from the first to the eighth grades in
elusive. Disappointed, but undismay-
ed by the action of the Senate, Mr.. Hig-
ginbotham is already making his plans
to initiate his free text book bill and
refer it to the people. The bill by
Senator Dulaney to furnish free text
books to the children of INDECENT par
ents is in the House, but has not been
acted upon by the committee on educa-
tion.
The attack made upon the system of
county supervision is apparently doom
ed to failure. 1t has been reported
adversely by the House Committee on
Education that those who have been
advocating it are apparently losing
faith in their ability to pass it, There
has been a strong undercurrent of OPP
position to any movement designed to
interfere with the orderly progress of
the system of supervision now in
vogue.
1t appears probably that a millage
bill will be passed providing a fund
for the erection of new buildings at
the University of Arkansas the State
Teachers College and the four Agricul-
tural schools. A bill pending in the
House makes an aggregate levy of one
mill for this purpose. The House is
not looking with favor upon the Sen
ate proposition TO create new agricul-
tural schools and has reported adverse
ly on the Milum bill for schools at
Beebe, Harrison and Mena.
Among the educational appropria-
tiOn bills already passed are bills for
vocational education in agriculture and
home economics and for the payment
of the states portion of the salaries of
county superintendents.
There has been apparent an increas-
ing sentiment in favor of the county
unit system. While a bill has been in
troduced in the House for this purpose,
it is only remotely probable, however,
that in the press of other business its
friends will be able to put it through
in the ten working days remaining of
the session.
An enabling act proposed by Repre-
sentative McKennOn provided that "In
all matters concerning consolidation of
school districts, the creation of stock
laws and fencing districts and addi-
tions thereto, and all other matters
local to some part of the county, the
county courts and quorum courts in
calling elections herein provided, may
take into consideration the conditions
and circumstances in each particular
|. instance, and if the required and con
templated result has been reached
thereby, may limit the election to quail
fed voters in the Territory affected"
The most important measure pending
is that known as the school Relief
Bill" which seeks to have all property
| in, the state assessed at its reasonable
market value. This would automati-
cally reduce the general tax levy in
direct ratio. 1t would enable the pa
irons of any school district, however
to vote any tax up to the II mill limit
and thereby make it possible, if they
desired, to double the revenue for the
!. schools, while making no increase in
: the taxes for other purposes. This
i. bill, it is believed, would solve the
4 problems of finance which have beer
increasingly embarrassing for several
years. The measure has many strong
I advocates in both the House and Sen
ate and hopes are entertained of its
passage.
| The late Senator james =. CLARK
1 in his farewell message to the Arkan
sas legislature advocated the county
I unit system in the following language
! 81 would pursue the course pointed
! out by wisdom as is indicated i'm tho
! great majority of the states of tho
4 Union by providing for a county super
I intendent to take charge of the prOfes
( sional features of school management
l and the general direction of work il
T! the school room. l would make &
! school district consist of an entire
I county. This would always insure tho
levy Of the maximum district ,schoo
I tax, as l fully believe. | am firmly
| of the opinion that the introduction Of
! these changes will do more TO render
I harmonious and effective the work o