The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-03-29
RICHMOND, IND. Sd mo. IS. 1860.

Friends Eds Broad Axe Palladium, and JefersoniAn
GENrLEMEN: II notice in the Broad Axe,
Of last week, query wether we are to
have any free schools this summer or not
In answer. would say not. For many rea-
sons: LIST. The tuition money received last
May was nearly all appropriated to the school
closing in April previous. The revenue
collected the past fall. winter ana spring is
not distributed until May next; and If it was
now on hand should doubt the propriety Of
opening such crowded schools in warm wea-
Their, and at q time when third of the
most needy pupils could not attend on &C
count of having to perform labor that cannot
bs done in winter, and is necessary for their
support. propose now to say on my own
responsibility about what think the Sch oo}
Board are aiming at:
To complete the stile, steps, fence. &c., of
the Public School House; finish grading the
lot. and set the west part in grass and plant
a few trees.
Grade and pave the side walk. and during
the 7th and 9Th months, while our private
schools are out. repair and clean up the house,
and on the first of the 9th month, Septem :
Der, open our schools on long term and then
they will have this years revenue on hand;
and the next in view. which will enable them
to offer some inducements to teachers, in
several respects, not only the length OF our
schools, but being able to pay them month
ly, and house, furniture. &c. in better order,
and one thing more.
l think it is a settled matter that the Board
are determined that the property shall be bet
ter protected and better used by pupils at
tending school, if it takes the FIRST month Of
school, think we had better take it. to in
culcate an interest in the children to protect
and keep in order the property, after being
once fitted up. Then we can tell when des-
truction and abuse to furniture and house be-
gins and make it part Of the contract at
the beginning. that defacing wilfully of any
portion of it shall be good cause tor dismls-
sal, besides holding parents responsible for
such wilful damage.
l wish to correct an error many have fal-
len into in regard to the moneys received
and expended for our iron fence and the pro-
posed improvements. There has not been
any tax levied by the School Board since the
year 1858, and what has been received and
expended has been Of delinquent tax from
that assessment and the balance received OF
old Board; and now while many think taxes
high, please recollect that ten cents on the
SioO is all that has been levied in this dis
trict, and that is by the State. and is collected
in the fall and winter, and paid to the State
Auditor, and distributed back to the several
counties and districts in May next. School
House and Repair Fund is different fund
from the Tuition. and we in this county pay
double what we receive back in the distrbu
ton, with the increased tax by revaluation OF
real estate and our liquor license money dad
as it ISL think our public schools can be
sustained some six to nine months, as may
be best which is certainly better than having
a dab Of three months school. and that three
months in advance of being ready to pay for
| it, The present Board have never issued a
| bill of credit, nor contracted any debts on
| time. and l hope never will. but have tho''
| bes. to use a part of building fund collected
| of delinquents mostly in keeping up the school
/ property and making some small improve
| nents.
Below is about the shape of the Tuition
) Fund received of old School Board. as they
/ reported the SUN of Slo2o b.
| OF Co. Auditor in 1889, Of delin-
/ auent 1857-5S-59. zoos A.
Expended as previously, 2767 OF
Reported for Tuition, mos. school, 1856 s
i Balance. 1910 g
This would only run our school two week
and would not pay to organize some seven
teen schools.
This scribbling is my own. and not BY au
thority Of the Board of Trustees, but thin
nearly their sentiments.