Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-12
GETTING THE MOST FOR OUR
MONEY OUT OF THE COUNTY
SCHOOLS.

How our county school system can be
made more effective and useful. with
moderate per centum of taxation, is an
interesting question to the tax payers OF
Augusta. 1t interests, especially, every
head of family, and all who are concern
ed in the education of the children grow
ing up around us. 1t is far better that we
should all join heartily in developing our
school system, than to complain OF its
drawbacks while it is yet undeveloped or
to fretfully regard the tree with its unripe
fruit, which we would joyfully gather when
it is ripened-and proudly too, if it may SO
be that it's browning lusciousness is partly
due to our own work and.waiting. There
can be no defect so great a drawback, in
any system schooling Or anything else, as
the want of cooperation among the peo-
pie. If they shall stand aloof, and neither
dig nor water the plant, what can they ex-
pect but stunted growth and barren
boughs? When the citizens Of neighbor-
hood find they have no school, instead OF
finding fault with the scanty means for
getting it, let them avail themselves of
the means within their reach to have one.
Let the school trustees and patrons In
each district decide upon the proper loca-
ton, and if there is already school house
there, repair tiff not either, rent or set
to work and build one Immediately
They can get no benefit Of the school tax
If they have no school, and they can have
no school if they have no school house.
To procure a suitable building, where there
is none, let persons having children, and
other public spirited men in neighbor.
hood contribute of their money and labor
sufficient, with the district fund, to COM
plete the fund. The present district tax OF
cents on the 800 imposes on the holder
of $4,000 worth Of property, tax of only
SIS and we will suppose that he gives in
money or labor $40 more, making but $ls
that he pays for the schooling of his child
ren-cheap enough surely. If the people
who need schools for their children, will
work unitedly with the trustees, it will
not cost parents as much to provide school
houses and schooling for them under the
new system, as it did under the old; be-
cause under the present mode they get back
some Of their taxes. The same line of ar.
gument applies to securing good teachers
Let parents who are able to do it make up
by subscription what the pay of the teach
er lack. The $4,000 man now pays S.
school tax. Suppose he had three children
to school! why that amount wouldn't,
under the old system, have schooled them
two months. Let him then add ten or fiji.
teen dollars from his means and help to Sc.
cure good teacher. All ..these things
could be SO easily accomplished if the PEG.
pie would only take hold themselves.
Many ofour people think the Public School
system bad bargain. Exactly but then
if the State has made bad bargin let us
in Augusta make the best of it. Let us
give such aid to the system that it will
bear fruit abundantly. Let us get close to
the tree so when the fruit falls we shall
get our abundant share. Don't let's stand
aloof and grumble and pay our taxes with.
out adequate return, but let us turn in
and help, so we may get our money back.