The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-04
NICHOLAS,
NICHOLS Q. Il, July 81

ScuOoL MATTERS. --Jir. EditOr.-As
I am an enlisted soldier under the
Democratic banner, | feel It a duty l
owe to my party. and to the system Of
Free Schools, to contribute what | am
able in vindica,ion Of its efficiency.
On the ID Friday in August next
tue question of levy for the support
Of Free Schools will DO submitted to
the people of our county, and con.
slider this one of the most important is.
sues ever presented to US to DO ratified
or rcjec ted. At that time We have to
decide whether We are 10 favor or on.
posed to popular education.
When a Convention was called our
partSpfclt n, that time tue want Of a
more perfect system Of Free Schools /;
and tho pledges made were, am sorry
to say, trampled under foot. find a
strong opposition TO the levy coming
from our own party and IL is defeated
I charge it to men who profess to 10
Democrats. speak from obscrva.
ton. | have heard Democrats say
that We have it in our power to vote
the abominable system down: Others
say it always has been a system of rob-
berry to draw the money outOf the rich
mau's pocket to school poor mems chill.
dren. Again, l have heard poor men
say that we will vote against levy be.
canse We believe it is a party measure
And here [ regret to say it surprises
me to see men condescend to make II q
party question. Every conceivable
argument is brought forward to break
down our schools. Tho Radicals say
we will vote against it because thereby
we will kill the Democratic party I;
and other Radicals who are poor men
say we vii! vote against Ii because
they make US pay % cents q year for
school tax-or the school. house is 100
yards away from me. l had q CONVEX
satiOn with friend A. G.. who is Op.
pssed to levy. lie said II have no
children to school, and 1t is hard for
inc to pay tax to school others" |
told him he had grand children to
school. Ilo said that he was grand
child orco, and got along verya well
without an education. Ny own con-
convictions in regard to the opposition
are That to touch the purse i, to
touch very sensitive nGrrO-hencc
arises the opposition with monisd men.
But tue poor mans case is difIercn.
II he opposes the levy as reasonable an
excuse as he can offer for his oppOsi.
ton is, that somebody told him to op.
pose the levy. Our county is divided
into six districts for school purposes,
and houses erected SO as to aceonmo.
date all the children. They have been
built at an average cost Of $3.50, and
are all paid for. The schools have
averaged four months per year. and
We are out of debt. The teachers try
to inform themselves in their profas.
sion, and not without success. Tue
influence exrrted upon children is
plainly pereeptible; and in a majority
Of cases the most aattering results have
been realized.
/. Now, Mr.. Editor. an idea in favor Of
the levy, aud | will close. From what
has been said Of the schools 10 our
county, it will be seen that tho system
works we'll aud il VIC wOrO to vote the
levy down We would bs without
school Law. as there is no provision in
our Constitution for tho eiucat on Of
children whose parents are not able to
school them. Will men shut the door
even Of human sympathy and make
god Of their boarded treasures which
will sink their souls where instruction
never comes, and a respite shall never
offered, rather than levy few dollars
for the support Of Free Schools!
OBSERVER.