Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-02-25
"A Farmer" on Public Free Schools.

Edator spectator:
In the abstract of the annual
report of the Superintendent of public schools
| for this county, embraced in the proceedings of
the Teachers Institute" find the following
statement:
1.-THE cost Of tuition per month, per pupil,
was 90 CENTS In private schools it was former
y not less than $l.75-nearly double the amount
it now is. -
also find from the same abstract that the
whole amount expended for public education
was $29, 963.26; ond that the average atteu-
dance during the year was 1856 or 33 per cent.
OF the school population, and 623 per cent of
those enrolled. Now divide $29, ,96326, the
whole amount expended by 1856, the number
of pupils attending, and it gives fraction over
SO 49 for each scholar. But as the average
continuance of the schools was months, this
makes something over $l.89 per pupil, per
month, instead of SO cents. 1t is clear that
the only correct method of ascertaining the cost
of tuition per pupil, under the public free
school system. is to divide, as have done, the
whole expenditure, by the number Of scholars
attending school, The salary of the Superin-
tendent and other expenses, are just as proper
items to be estimated as the monthly wages
paid to the teachers.
But there is another aspect Of this subject to
which wish to call attention. [ presume the
SO cents is the actual amount paid the teachers
per pupil, per month-which is equivalent to
81 IS per scholar, for the year, the schools be-
ing kept up months Now multiply 1856,
the number Of pupils attending school, by 81
IS, and it gives $14 CTS 40 as the amount paid
the teachers during the year for tuition; which
it will be seen is considerably less than one-half
of the whole sum expended. This explains
very satisfactorily why the schools, under this
admirably efficient and economical system, are
kept up but one-half the scholastic year-fve
months. The machinery being so ingeniously
constructed that it requires more than half the
money drawn from the people to keep it In pro-
per working order. The administration of the
money collected for educating the children of
this system, like feeble stream of water, con-
Quoted over sandy and thirsty soil, before it
reaches its destination, where its power is to be
expended 10 some useful purpose, it is more
than half absorbed. Now the benefits con-
ferred upon the people, by this noble system of
public, free education, and for which they are
properly grateful, is in having the teachers they
have long known and employed at $1.75 per
per month, allowed to them, with the impri-
naotur of the county superintendent, at $l.S94
per month. Dirt cheap!"
This system, in addition to being burdensome,
oppressive and unequal, tramples at every step
upon tue niOSG sacreu rights vi tno citlAeu. Ii
man has one God-given right, which the State
has no authority to deprive him Of or in any
way abridge or hinder the exercise Of, it is the
right to train and educate the children God has
given him, according to the dictates of his con-
science and judgment. But this unquestiona-
BILE and inalienable right the State ruthlessIy
and cruelty tramples out with the Herculean
foot of this system of public free schools. For
the State determines what shall be taught, how
it shall be taught, and by whom taught. The
parents wishes, opinions and responsibilities
being utterly disregarded.
I have not seen the report Of the State Su-
perintendent for the last year: But from an
abstract Of it in one of the Richmond papers,
I learn that the whole cost of public education
for the year ending August 3lst, 1872, was
1898, 3lS SO. and that the average daily atten-.
dance was 95,4SS, which gives as the tuition Of
each pupil$1O 40, and as the schools continued
little over five months, it makes tuition per
month, per pupil, about $500, instead of 70
cents as stated BY your correspondent week be-
fore last. OF the 1898, 3lS SO, the cost Of pub
lie education in the State, about $669. Alt, goes
to tuition. FARMER.