Pocahontas star herald., 1925-01-01
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l. tl&le hOck, ice -. III '"''
eril. Assembly convencs two weeks
from today. A majority Of the mem
bcrs are new, and have never before
served in a law-making body. But al
analysis of the body seems to Indicate
that it is strong group Of representa-
tive citizens from whom much gooo
may be- expected. There will be plenty
of work to be done. our old FRIEND
the Local Bill, is still with MS, having
successfully met the assault OF the
electorate. He is clearly popular Win
many, and as usual he is expected 10
grab the spotlight.
There will be plenty of other Dusl-
ness, however, to engross the time ana
attention of the SolOns. IT is believed
this session will be devoted to educa-
| tiOnal matters more than to any Othef
single issue. Roads, and cattle, ana
boll-weevils, and taxes and many other
things have had their inning ana the
boys and girls of the rural districts
are now to receive attention. Public
speakers, the press, civic organizations
and others have joined hands with the
educational forces of the state in the
awakening of a public conscience on
the subject of schools. Gov. McRae
has emphasized this in a practical and
effective way in his administration and
he will be ably seconded by his sue
cessor, Tom J. Terral, who has for
years been known as a'cOnsistent and
enthusiastic advocate of the public
school system.
School revenues will naturally be
foremost in the phases considered.
Much has been done during the last
two years to meet the situation, but
we are still far from the SO per capita
minimum State Supt. Hill has set as
the goal for maximum efficiency. This
will not be reached at this time, but
a start will be made. School legisla-
tiOn has been consistently progressive
and every gain has been maintained
County Supervision has established it.
self and only in rare instances is Op-
position heard.
| Next must come the county unit sys-
TEN, which has proven successful in
many other states. This can not be
reached in 1925, for there is still much
prejudice to overcome and the people
must he educated to the necessity Of
| it, There will be from many counties
numerous local bills providing for con-
sOlidatiOn of districts and this will be
a long step toward the county unit.
1t is the only logical solution of the
rural school problem. 1t will reduce
the overhead expense, will unite many
weak districts with those that are
strong, will provide high school facili-
ties within easy reach of all, and will
provide a more intelligent, because
more elastic, system. 1t viii mean a
unifcatiOn of efforts and methods. 1t
will prove to be another means of over
coming the surge Of population from
the country toward the city.
incidentally, the old back-to-the-soil
movement has received its strongest
allies in the hard-surface road, the
automobile, the radio, the first and
above all, because it employs all the
others, is the rural high school. Ar
kansas is only on the threshold
Among other things Gov. Terral will
advocate a student loan fund to enable
boys and giIls to attend the state uni
versity, the Teachers College and the
Agricultural Colleges. One of the
strongest planks in the program to be
presented by him viii deal with this
matter. He will make an earnest plea
for all children, and especially that
the rural child be given an equal OPP
portmity with the city cousin. There