Page:History of Public School Education in Arizona.djvu/88

82 gested that the fixed amounts now allowed these schools be increased from $400 and $500 to $500 and $600, respectively. The same results would be attained if the present allowances to these schools were lowered to $200 and $250, and the districts be permitted to share in the apportionments based on the daily attendance, as now made to the other schools.

In this report there is a return to individual statements from the county superintendents which give us an insight into the workings of the school system in its various parts and the difficulties which each was called on to face. Thus, in Apache County the difficulty was racial and linguistic. In some sections Spanish-speaking pupils predominated, and when teachers came into such districts without acquaintance with Spanish little progress was possible. For this reason it was suggested that such teachers be required to have a practical knowledge of Spanish. In Navajo County it was suggested that separate schools be provided for Americans and Mexicans. In Cochise County it was desired that the compulsory age be extended from 14 to 16 years. Gila demanded that the apportionment of school funds be amended. Pima suggested that the laws be so amended as to permit all schools to be open for eight months, which was impossible for the country districts as the law then stood, because of the lack of funds.

The reports from the high and normal schools for these years were extremely satisfactory. They showed a development and growth that was fairly uniform.

The report of the superintendent for 1907–8 was of the same general character as that for the two years preceding. Mr. Long was again appointed superintendent, and the development and growth were of the same character as in the former years. The most marked increase was in the southern counties, and was due to the increased activities in mining interests.

The school law was somewhat amended in 1907, among other matters the compulsory law. This amendment required that every employer of child labor should require proof, under penalty of fine, that any child employed had been duly excused from school attendance; and in case of children unable to read and write English the compulsory period was extended from 14 to 16 years. But, like earlier laws, there was not sufficient machinery by which the requirements of this law might be enforced.

By this same amendment the rule of apportionment was so amended that $500 was to go to districts with 10 to 20 children (class 1); $600 to districts with 20 children or more (class 2); and to districts having an average daily attendance of 25 or more (class 3) was to be apportioned “$25 per capita, upon the average daily attendance in excess of 25 pupils.” In addition to the above, schools which increased their average attendance over that of the previous year were