Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-06-22
THE SCHOOL TAX.


The slayeholder's rebellion would never
have 0een inaugurated, had the people of
the South for the past thirty years, believed
in the payment of liberal school tax; and it
would never have been crushed, had the
people Of the North and West during the
same PERIOD refused the payment of said
tax for the education of the masses Hada
good common school system been adopted
throughout the southern States thirty years
ago, the nation would not to-day stagger
under her heavy debt of three billions.
No intelligent citizen can longer deny that
the school tax is the best tax, the most re-
muneratiye as well as the most important,
that he is called upon to pay. Ear better
than an Investment in five-twenties, excel
lent as that may be, is the payment of a
generous school tax. For many years our
leading educators and other close and intel
hgent observers have in some degree appre-
ciated the great blessings which this partic-
ulGr tax was comforting upon US as nation.
But not even these men could know the full
value of the Investment which we OF the
North had been making from year TO year,
until the hour of sore trial came, and our
nation was plunged into q protracted civil
war Other and heavier taxes we have paid
to meet current demands upon the public
treasury. but this tax has proven the seed
corn which has multiplied itself ten thou
sand fold, for it was the abiding influence OF
the Common School that saved the nation.
And in preserving our nationality, who viii
pretend to estimate the blessings it has con-
ferred, not only upon ourselves as a people,
but upon the human race the wide world
oyerl
When therefore, we have found this in
vestment to pay so handsome dividend,
what better policy can we adopt than to In
crease our annual installments? 1t is the
part of wisdom 60 reap the full benefits
which this tax is able to confer. Towards
this rational view of the matter, popular
sentiment is steadily marching on. Pa
rents see more clearly than ever before that
it is better, far better, to expend a part OF
their means upon the education of their chill
dren than to give them a few additional
acres Or bedueath them few hundred dol
lars more in their wills They have learned
that property may be lost, that wealth may
take to itself wings, eftentimes leaving the
bankrupt wretchedly poor and utterly hope
less but that a good education, backed by a
reasonably good degree of energy, in cash
capital which can neither be lost nor stolen.
And since the public schools are open to all,
this large class OF patrons Is deslrous that
they shall be rendered as efficient as any
other schools made prominent by private
enterprise
The time was-nor is the period very re-
mote-when the blind publ" grumbled
at the payment of a tax much lower than is
now paid willingly-in many cases gladly.
The beggaIly pittance paid the teacher but
a few years ago, has been increasing until in
some localities it fairly deserves the name
of salary. Salaries double and treble those
formerly paid, are now advertised in many
| directions. and the profession of teaching ii
| taking more dlgnlHeu rs-uk sIncG tyeelIvt
themselves are better qualified, and the pub
! lie is growing into better appreciation Of
| the true character Of their labors
But the school tax in most parts Of the
country, is still far below what the import
ance of this interest demands, and whatever
other taxes may ge lower, because of a de
crease in the national debt or reduction Of
the national expenditure, this must continue
| to go higher, in order that we may build
better school houses, furnish them with bet
ter appliances of teaching, secure the .servi
ces Of more devoted and qualified class O
instructors, and carry our common schoo
system, of noble capacity and richest prom
ise, to a far higher degree of efficiency. :
Lancaster EU. Express.