Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-05-02
For the Spectator.


To the Voters of augusta County
The town papers of last week stated that
the School Trustees of the County had deci-
ded to ask the people, at the May election, to
appropriate 62 tenths Of mill, on each dollar
ing on the Public Schools, for the next scholas-
tic year. Six and half tenths of a mill on a
dollar, would give six and half cents on the
hundred dollars, or sixty-fve cents on the thou
sand dollars.
The realty and personally of the county is
valued at $l4, 137, 244.8 80. Six aud a half
tenths of mill on each dollar of this amount,
would raise SO, 1920, which is about equal to
what the County will receive from the State,
the present year, for School purposes. The
law authorizes the County to double the State
appropriation. The State funds were scarcely
sufficient to pay half the tuition the present
year. 1t is safe to estimate that we shall re-
ceive as large if not larger proportion next
year. And supplementing this sum with the
county appropriation, We hope to supply every
neighborhood, where a sufficient number of
pupils can be raised, with school for at least
five months. The calculation is made for FIVE
months only, because experience this session
has shown, that in the country it will be inn
practicable to keep the Schools up to the min
imum number, for longer time than five or
six months.
The sum asked for includes $277, 12-the
proportion of the Superintendent salary
which the county is expected to pay.
The Trustees fully realizing the straitened
circumstances Of our people, of whom they are
part, nevertheless appeal with confidence to
them to- vote the small tax required. Under
the present arrangement in most instances,
only half the teacher pay comes from public
funds. This operates unjustly upon commu-
mites and individuals-upon individuals, in
that, while the Schools are free to all, one man
more anxious to have a teacher may have to
pay half his wages-upon communities be-
cause where there's no concert of action, a
neighborhood may be wholly deprived Of the
benefit Of the State funds
The trustees, wishing to avoid unnecessary
expense, nave not asked the Districts for mon
ey to build School Houses because the Districts
will probably be subdivided hereafter and con-
veDient sites for houses selected by the proper
authorities. But most of the houses in use
are badly in need of desks, and these could
easily be moved into the new houses when
built.
Most of us have heretofore objected to the
introduction of the Free School system into
our State. But, in adopting The new constitu=
ton, we took this among. other Objectionable
features, believing, that having the admins
execute them SO fairly and justly that our i'm
poverished section might regain something of
its former prosperity. Let us then in good
faith give this system fair trial. The consti
tuition requires it to be put in operation by
1876. If it is not done by that time, the Leg
isature will be compelled to raise the whole
requisite amount by taxation. This would be
much more burdensome on us than the present
proposition, because the counties of Eastern
Virginia have so much larger colored, and,
consequently, non~tax- paying population.
ut is wise to learn even from an enemy. y
Our Northern friends have for years had Free
Schools in every State; have never abandoned
them as not paying On the contrary, have
carried them into all their new Western States,
while they were much more sparsely settled
than Virginia, and partly for the purpose of
encouraging emigration. This is one of the
sources to which we must look for our up
building, and we cannot compete with others
in bidding for the most desirable population
THAT which appreciates education) unless we
offer the advantages of Free Schools.
Tickets will be distributed to the different
voting places in the County with the Words
For the School Tax printed on them.
Any one who wishes to vote against, may
erase the word ''For" and substitute "a
ganst.
j. e. GUY,
County Supt. Schools