Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1954-07-24

And most important of all, a
study looking to consolidation of
he states more than 1000 local
chool districts.
The educational finance COM
mission which organized Tuesday
s the final authority in the new
school districts. They. will meet
tiff opposition from small COM
munities whose citizens do not
want to give up their so-called
gathering centers." The school Of
ficials can do them service by
showing that fewer districts mean
better schools with more expert
enced teachers and the opportunity
for rural children to get an educa-
ton equal with that Of those in the
municipal separate districts and
weather. areas.
think the child's welfare is
paramount to the community CEN
ter" Anyway, the churches in the
neighborhood will still be there.
Locally, the county boards of
education created under the new
program have extended powers, but
their actions must be approved by
the state commission. That's as
it should be with the state putting
up nearly 60 percent of the school
funds. Too, it will permit creation
of stronger districts since the local
influences will be far removed.
The new salary schedule de-
feated years ago when one of its
sponsors admitted it would apply
to negroes on the same level as
with whites, will be needed regard
less of any other changes in the
dual system. 1t guarantees equal
salaries from the state level, but
still leaves the way for disparities
through locally supplemented
funds.
Some white teachers can expect
salary reductions in keeping with
their training, while some negroes
will receive raises. The present dis
PARTIES spoken of earlier in this
message, will bling that about. No
longer can the school board set an
arbitrary schedule, that is, insofar
as state support funds are involved.
Another new statute will result
in a larger enrolment next fall. 1t
permits children reaching their 9th
birthday on or before January l
to enter school. In many areas,
the cutoff are is as of December l
and December Is. The city of
Jackson anticipates an 8 percent
increase from the new age-of-entry
statute.
School principals now select
faculties instead of superintendent
and trustees although the latter
still have veto power.
/ believe those are the major
changes.
Until the segregation issue Is
worked out, the question of equallz-
ing facilities will probably remain
static. However, as state superin-
tendent of education, Jack Tubb, so
aptly told the new 25-member legal
educational advisory committee
studying a bypass of the courts
decision, if we have segregation,
we will have to have places for the
children to attend school.
It is highly doubtful, though,
that the legislature will vote build
ing funds without definite assur-
ance that Indignation will not be
attempted. How all those involved
can be bound by any sort of vol
untary" agreement is beyond me
to understand.
AS hard as the non-segregation
blow was, it did not stir Missis-
sippians to radicalism. | know in
a few instances some threatening
statements were made, but in one
Of those cases the author has since
taken on a clam and, we might say,
collected approach.
Neither did the Negroes spring
to action and demand admittance
to white schools. While that may
come late, at least for all con-
cerned at the moment, spirit Of