Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-02-18
Equalization of
Educational
Opportunities
BY Fort E. Land,
State superintendent of Schools

sion of the legislature Is OF such fSf-
reaching import as that providing
equalization of educational opportu-
nitv for the rural child.
Most of the Southern States, in
GLIDING South Carolina, North Caro-
lima. Texas. Mississippi, Alabama and
Rsryland already have a state equall-
cation fund. The states which have
no such fund are laying plans and
waring campaigns to get their leg1s-
l:.tive bodies to appropriate such
fund. for all the states find them
selves facing the same problem as
Overwhelmingly, to give the boys
ard GIRLS of the weaker counties,
where property valuations are low,
Ell equal educational opportunity with
the boys and girls in the counties
where the wealth of the state Is cen
tered. One-half of the wealth in
Georgia is. conferred in ten counties
which have only one-fifth of the chil-
dren Of the state to educate.
For example. one of the county su-
nerintendents, in small mountain
county. in recent article on school
conditions in his county makes the
statement that, Behind each child IN
the county is the sum of $l,60O that
can be taxed for the education OF
each child. In some counties there is
not more than $500 while IN other
counties there is $4,000"
On the basis of five-mill local
tax levy, the county with $l,50o
rroperty valuation behind the child,
would produce $3.50 per year, which
added to the state school fund OF
$5.13 per child, would total $12. 63
to provide a years schooling for. that
child.
1t can be seen, therefore, how far
short the county with only Sl'ouu
property valuation back of the ehlid
would fall in giving him adequate
school facilities.
The county having only $500 prop
crtv valuation back OF the chlld
would produce only sou when
ADDED to the regular State School
rund would give $3.50 per school
CnlIu.
When these figures are compared
with the county winch has $S,OOo val
ualion back OF the child, raising S4o
IN local taxes on 4 flNe-mlll leNy,
i, oich added to the state fund would
make q total Of S45.l3 to be spent
on the child of that county, IL can DC
easily seen that there is vast m
.cuality of educational opportunities
in the state.
This condition can only be rene
died by what is known as state
equalization fund to be used after
;l,c regular state appropriation isI
made as large as possible, TO cstao-
.lsn in the poorer counties ana COM
munities uniform length of term
.nuugnout the state with teachers
paid under uniform salary schedule
.lxed BY the State BOARD of Edu-
cation.
The plan of the equalization fund
would be to require every county In
the state to levy minimum OF local
LAKES OF at least five mills. Then If
this is not enough to run all the
SCHOOLS of the county uniformly IN !
length OF term and pay OF teachers,
the state out of its equalization fund
would step in and pay to that county
CROUCH money to BRING It's scnoo's up
to the standard set by the state.
In order that the counties may
not look upon the state in a paternal-
istic light, every county should be re-
,ulr,o to do according to her ability.
that is levy tax of at least five
nils, Tor the public schools as Il DEM
onstration of good faith and as aeon
dition to be met before they can par
tlcipate in the state equalization
lund. No county should expect the
state to help it until it has attempted
10 help Itself. This would also, more
i..an anything else, tend to make the
county unit of education in Georgia
L.. realty as we'll us Ill theory.
In democracy which is a govern
Inent 'of the people, by the people
and for the people," organized for the
public welfare" the government can
be no more stable than the voters are
islteiligent. The uneducated voter Is
influenced in casting his ballot by
prejudice, passion, intolerance, lack
OF information and inability to see
through the false reasoning of the
petty, time-serving and selfish polit-
ician. 1t is easy then to see and I'M
derstand that the security and per-
petuity of the nation depends upon
an enlightened and happy electorate.
stronger than it's weakest link. 1t
may be said with equal truth that no
nation can become and remain strong
so long as the boys and girls in poorer
counties and rural areas do not have
educational opportunities in order
that they may make the most of them
selves for their own and the nations
good. The nneducated group cannot
understand and therefore will moi
follow the educated group.
Those states which have spent the
most per capita for education ara
those which have the greatest wealth
per capita. Education is economical
~ productive and all money spent fol
education is splendid investment
which will bring returns to the stat,
IN dollars.
The mobility of people and wealth
makes the education of boys and girls
in the poorer areas a matter of vita
en- era to the weather. areas. Al
4.snorant boy born in the poores
cJlnty in Georgia may move between
sGnduwn and sunrise to the wealth
.ust county in the state, where his bal
lot viii carry equal weight with the
educated boy who has been given the
btst educational opportunities, and h
,naS become dissatisfied and bolshe
wiz or criminal, or may, i'll his ole
ape, become burden to the commu'
nity. No town or county can lift it.
SET by its own bootstraps far above
,r<,1,,lipuS Tho walfara of all in