The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-12-16
For The Cecil Wing.
Free Schools in Cecil County.

BY calculation from the best map
of Cecil county that l can obtain. and
which believe TO be tolerably accu-
rate; the area of the County is about $50
square miles, and Of this there is a con-
siderable extent occupied by water and
barren lands without many inhabitants.
But assuming the area to be $50 square
miles, and laying 1t off into districts 3
miles square, each district would con-
tain 9 square miles and the school house
being placed in the centre, but few of
the scholars would have TO travel more
than ii miles which would be conve-
nirnt.
There are about 60 schools IN the
county land a number of these are only
taught in the wintcr,) and rating each
school at % scholars, which is about the
average, the whole number of scholars
in the county would he 1900, which
being divided amongst the 40 districts
aforesaid would give to each school the
number of 40 scholars: and should the
number run still higher, it would be
manageable in the hands of systematic
teacher The compensation of teachers
NAV be set down at the annual sum of
$500 each, so that for the support OF 40
schools the annual sum of 81, 900 would
be required
One of the most difficult tasks in or.
ganizing public free schools, is to devise
the best method OF raising the means for
their support. After some reflection on
the subject, the following strikes me as
the most judicious plan of supporting
Free Schools in Cecil County: Let the
annual poor school fund, say $4,000 be
appropriated to this purpose, which will
be about one fourth Of the sum required:
then let there be general county tax
of six cents on the 500 of assessable
property. levied by the Commission
ers. making $4,000 or another fourth of
the required sum, this would be but lit
tie felt, as tine County tax frequently va
ries in different years nearly this amount.
One hall the necessary sum would thus
be provided for, then let each school
district have the power to levy the bal
ance on the taxablos of said district. If
a poll tax of one dollar could be impo
sed on each voter it would he more ac-
ceptable to property holders, and many
who are not taxable on property would
rather contribute something than not,
toward the education of their children,
and thus remove the imputation so odious
TO some, OF their being schooled by pub
lie charity. A poll tax of one dollar
per head would raise in the county about
$4,000, and would have 10 be levied by
the County Commissioners, and the pay
ment beimg a condition of voting, there
would be no difficulty in the collection,
which might occur if it was levied in
the school districts.
IT the county was dlstricted and the
sum of $4,000 raised by general coun-
ty tax in addition to the annual school
fund of an equal amount there would be
enough of money to keep up school in
each district for 6 months in the year,
which schools being uader the regula-
ton and control of the Board of Educa.
ton for the County, as regards compe-
tent teachers and systematic arrange
ment, would soon become tavolites with
the people, and majority of school
voters would not hesitate to levy the
requisite tax TO secure the constant ope-
ration ofthe schools throughout the year,
and If in some districts they did not vote
additional tax, still they would have
good schools for six months in the year,
and the advantage being manifest, and
public opinion progressive. they would
soon be extended throughout the year.
The poor school fund now, at interest
would furnish the means of districting
the county, of building and repairing
school-houses and paying other inciden-
tai expenses. RAMBLER.