KAWSAN COMMENT
Money, money, money...
Money, money, money, money, money. . . Can you use any money today? Money, money, money, money, money. . . Nice new bills that we're giving away. In our treasury there's a mighty sum, millions we've subtracted from our take home pay. Can you use any money today?"—Irving Berlin.
Irving Berlin was not referring to Kansas taxpayers, but he knew well the attitude of taxpayers and Kansas taxpayers have no real reason to differ from taxpayers everywhere. They feel, and rightly so, that their money is being taken and given to others; they feel this most keenly when they see no benefits from their output.
Kansas is at a critical stage with the economic life of her education systems threatened seriously by taxpayers who are feeling the pain of high property taxes (which finance much of the state's school expenses) and who, at the same time, are not seeing the benefit of their output for education.
Any man can understand money leaving his hands when he sees a new highway being built in front of his home, but the value of education is much less visible, particularly to taxpayers who don't have children.
Taxpayers in Kansas are probably even less aware of the benefits of maintaining universities than of the benefits of maintaining primary and secondary schools. But schools on all three levels are in danger.
Chancellor E. Laurence Chalmers, Jr., spoke wisely when he said, "We have already severely
over-extended our human and physical resources."
And with many urgent, money-demanding projects looming—Wescoe Hall, Watkins' rejuvenation or replacement, a new library, etc. it looks as if we might be asked by the State to extend our overextension a bit further.
The solution is twofold: 1.) to convince the State Legislature that it should not put a lid on property taxes and that it should consider a long-range increase in expenditures for all levels of education in Kansas; 2.) to convince the taxpaying public that no better investment can be made than education.
It is a common misconception, and held far too often on campus, that the university is run foremost by private funds and secondarily by State funds. Not only is the State the central financier of the university, but it is the only source which can be depended upon on a yearly basis.
If some schools have reached the point where they can exist without State funds, KU is not among them. We cannot tell the State Legislature to get lost, as much as we would sometimes like to.
Without a long-range program of intensified rehabilitation, Kansas' schools can look forward to sinking into the unsuitable slime of insufficiency.
The rehabilitation will take money, money, money, money, money. And, yes, Irving, we can use some money TODAY.
Mike Shearer
...money, money, money
From The Wichita Eagle
An assistant superintendent of schools at Shawnee Mission, Kan., told school administrators the other day that they will have to persuade "the taxpaying citizens of our districts to march on the Capitol building" if they want more state aid to education.
He is right about that. It isn't likely that many citizens are concerned enough to march on the capital, but they will have to show some interest if the Legislature is to be convinced it should appropriate $43 million in additional state aid—or even continue the present $26 million.
But the legislators also know that if an
The senators and representatives at Topeka know that Kansans are smarting under high property taxes. That is one of the reasons a "passel" of tax-lid bills has been introduced.
The judge v. tongues
CHICAGO (UPI) — "Chicago Seven" defendant Abbie Hoffman, denying Judge Julius Hoffman's demands that he remain quiet:
"Julie, your gonna have to cut out our tongues. That's the only way you'll make us stop talking."
arbitrary lid is put on the property tax, which finances most of the school expenses, the need for state aid will be even greater than it is now.
A large portion of any increased school support will of course go into teacher salaries, and there is nothing wrong with that. Kansas must compete on at least an even basis with other states and with industry.
Since most of the money will be spent on teacher salaries, this means the state must insist on efficient teaching.
However, if the state is to contribute such a large chunk of its revenue to support local schools, there must be some assurance that the money is being spent wisely.
What all of this means to Kansas parents and others interested in education and the future of Kansas is that the Shawnee Mission assistant superintendent's advice should be followed.
If not a march on the Statehouse, there should at least be a campaign of telephone calls and letters to senators and representatives.
They should be urged to support elementary and secondary education at 40 per cent of the total, which would take thou $43 million, or at the very least, continue the emergency $26-million appropriation made last year.
In addition, the Legislature ought to be urged to require school districts receiving state aid to pay teachers on a merit basis rather than tenure.
Education can only improve when excellence is rewarded and mediocrity discouraged.—Editorial page, Feb. 4, 1970.
SOKOLOFF
Griff & the Unicorn, Copyright, 1969,
University Dally Kansan.
Alphabet soup and maybe an avocado
By MIKE SHEARER Editorial Page Editor
I recently wrote to about ten graduate schools and carefully reviewed their application procedures to determine to which I should apply. I immediately threw out all of those who ask to have references rate personality or ability to "get along," whatever that is.
I was taking no chances.
This week I ran across a copy of the Fort Hays Kansas State College admission questionnaire, the type the school mails to the school which the admission candidate is leaving. The questionnaire tops them all.
The questionnaire begins: "We have a very solid, clean-cut, well-groomed student body. When transfers or out-of-state residents are considered for admission we want to be positive that they are the type which will cause no disturbance or bad rapport on campus or in the community. The confidential help of school officials is very much appreciated by us."
Catch that, you flabby, shaggy, shabby KU radicals; they have a solid, clean-cut, well-groomed student body, which might explain why they are looking for people who will not cause disturbances. We all know, don't we, that it is the solid, clean-cut, well-groomed type that really causes disturbances?
The questionnaire goes on to ask the recipient school to check the following as they apply to the student: (space is left after each word for a big, hateful check mark).
"1) Boisterous, uncouth, undisciplined, (or) refined, thought-
ful.
"2) In dress—long haired, shirt-tailed, beatnik, (or) neat,
well groomed.
"3) Inclined to be radical, agitator, left or right wing, (or) orthodox.
"4) Emotionally unstable, psychotic, wild with car, (or) well adjusted."
Are you still with me? Let's skip down to number nine:
"9) Probably has problems with alcohol, drugs, homosexuality, (or) none."
I gave myself the test and, good news, I won, Fort Hays Kansas State College lost and I'm not qualified to attend.
My first reaction on reading the questionnaire was one of utter horror. Do these people really depend on this cheap criteria? Is it their school or their administration that is sick? Or both?
But thinking it over, I decided it was only fair that creeps should have a place of their own, someplace sheltered from beat-niks, radicals, psychotics, alcoholics and homosexuals.
Next to a cemetery, Fort Hays Kansas State College may be the most comfortable place in Kansas for the right kind of student.
Refined? Thoughtful? Neat? Well-groomed? Orthodox?
Well adjusted? None?
Dead?
Maybe Dead?
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