The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-21
Plan for a Free School System.

10 inc EultOrb Of Tue 4nlelnRencefs
It has been objected thatil the Legis-
lature should fix and levy all the schoo
money above that arising from the per
manent fund, 1t would take from the peO
pie the privilege they now enjoy Of rails.
ing a portion pOEuntdrIly through theil
local school boards, for only In that way
are they now allowed to raise.
think such objectors do moi under
stand the present law. The Legislature
now levies 10 cents on every 800 valua-
ton, which, with the poll tax 1t collects
into the State Treasury, and then com
placently says to the local school boards
and through them to the people, now 60
10 work and raise for yourselves sufficient
money, when added TO your quota, as
shall run your schools four months in a
year without exceeding so cents on o
800 Valuation-if you don't, we will
have the Circuit Courts mandamus after
you, and will withhold from you all the
moneys We have already levied and col.
lected from you and your quota arising
from the permanent fund also. [See Secs.
A, 45 and 10, chap. 45, Code A privll.
ege like that steamboat crew gives TO
horses, cattle, sheep, swine, &C, they
wish TO ship aboard. How much more
manly and respectful to its constituents
it would be for the Legislature, as the i'm
mediate and highest agency Of the people,
TO fix the amount 10 be levied, collected,
and pay 1t 10 the County School Treas.
urer, as needed, together with the quotas
arising from the permanent fund, over
which none but the people themselves
have control.
Others object that 1t would be shock
ing-alter the property owners have been
compelled TO furnish the money TO build
the school houses, hire and pay the teach
ers-to obEige indifferent and S0rdid parents
and guardians to give TO the future men
and women In their charge, the future
sovereigus of the Republic, this inestima.
bic boon-the privilege Of acquiring the
art to educate themselves, and become in
telligeat, free and useful citizens, instead
OF future burdens to the taxpayers In the
form Of public paupeFs or convlcts. The
genius OF West Virginia youth, il / IN.
derstand 1t, and l think do, Is destined
to strike out in some direction and make
itself ielt, either as blessing and honor,
or curse, disgrace and burden 10 the State.
The Indifferent or sordid feeling among
parents and guardians in my native State,
kas induced its Legislature to impose
upon all its manufacturing establishments
and individuals penalty Of $500, II they
employ minor Of the schoolgoing age
without q certificate from some compe-
tent authority that the youth has attended
some school the prescribed time within
the year. am informed that there are
a large number oil totally illiterate youth
in Wellsburg that have never attended
our large and commodious free school
with its competent and worthy corps Of
teachers which our taxpayers money has
built and supports.
Is the right oil these Indifferent or sor-
did parents so high and sacred that hon.
est tax. x.paying citizens must still be com.
pelled to keep on paying, and keep mum,
lest they diminish the numbers of such
parents, demagogues political and
spiritual, have to prey uponH l regret
however VIC might expect-thRt the OBJ
jectors should beregular graduates Of our
colleges.
learn from the Auditors last report,
which friend loaned me, that delinquent
sheriffs prior to 1872 still hold on to ST.
G74 70 of the school money-the chill.
drer's bread-and this Is but small item
Of the stealings in that direction, In fact,
under the present system, the children in
the mountain districts have scarcely got
tho crumbs of the funds raised Tor the
purpose, that fell from the thieves table.
And one Of the collegiate editions remarks
with a true clerical superciliousness, "G.
z. Is out again" answer-and intends
to stay out until the children get their
bread, in spite Of thieves or sordid and
unnatural parents.
Very respectfully, G.P.