Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-02-28
100000.

euuUsuVUs
Six hundred thousand dollars is the com
smali sum asked as an appropria-
tion for the present school year by our ex-
oellent State Superintendent, J. p. Wicker
sham. Pennsylvania has 10000 pupils in
her public schools and set last year she ap-
prolriated the miserable pittance Of 1856,
000,0 for the support of the whole system
or less than fifty cents fer each scholar
Can such things be in Pennsylvania Penn
syyania that boasts Of her Common School
System? Yes such things have been to the
disgrace, because ofthe illiberal spirit other
Legislators We hope the time has passed
when such things can be Our finances
have boenin so prosperous a condition that
the tax upon real estate was abolished last
winter aud the repeal Of the tax upon per
s9ual property has been seriously thought
Of at the present session Of ber legislature.
When such things can be done, can she not
appropriate at least enc dollar to each child
in attendance upon her public schools for
educational purposes? Even this is but a
misery allowance to her children, when we
consider hes abundant wealth and especially
wbea we consider that such appropriation
is the best paying Investment that can
possibly be made Why cid not our wor-
thy Superintendent ask at least a million Of
dollars? Why should not our legislators
grant it without the askiug2 They are not
so saving Of thepeOple's money when called
upon TO appropriate it to the payment Of
salaries to useless and sometimes even
imaginary appointees about the capital l.
is mind that makes the man aud men that
make the state On the intelligence of her
people depends the character of the state
they constitute. Shall not the state then
pour out Literally, yea lavishly of her treas
ures, for the education of her people. Shall
she not rather build school houses then
penitentiaries and jails? The state may at
tempt to withhold that which Is needful for
educational purposes, but if she does it will
be required for the support Of criminals
We assert without fear Of contradiction that
the cost Of ferreting out and furnishing crime
far exceeds the present amount Of the school
appropriations of the state at the present
time We have frequently pointed out the
heavy burthen laid upon the poorer districts
and counties of the state by the present
school law and that increased appropriation
would somewhat tighten their burthen, if
properly distributed. VIII not our legisla-
tors then ask the largest possible apnropria.
tian2 The whole expense Of the schools in
Bedford County last year, exclusive Of the
SupeFintendents salary, was about So 98 per
scholar, while her share Of the state apprc-
priation gave about S3cts, to each scholar
just about one twelfth Of the actual cost.
With an average tax of IA mills she was
barely able to keep her schools open 4
months Many counties are even worse off,
aud pay heavier taxes. When the people
voluntarily bear such taxes that their chill
dren may have the benefit Of even months
school in the gear, why should not the egis-
laturc step in and tighten their burthens by
granting liberal appropriations2 Shall we
not see a step made in advance by the pres
ent legislature 10 this noble work? Shall
we not have the pleasure, shortly, of telling
our people that their Legislators have appro-
priated round million of dollars for school
purposes the present year