In the Country

A bulletin of the Bureau of Education related how one Martin, able farmer, had given up his land, had moved to town, had said: "The school business is what drove me off the farm."

"In Martin's state," said the bulletin, "the rural schools are handicaped, chiefly because of the small school district system and because of unscientific methods of raising school revenues." More progressive states than Martin's contribute, in addition to income from a permanent school fund, extra appropriations for local school maintenance. In Martin's state, these extra appropriations come annually to only about 3 1/2% of the fixed school revenue.

The bulletin then pointed out that the legislatures of 42 states would be in session shortly. The moral was: "Vote more local school maintenance appropriations and keep the Martins on the farm."