The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-08-10
FREE SCHOOLS Fon DALLAs.
Another Earnest Meeting Last Night
Hse BnII in MOTION.

Johnston was called to the chair and
Mr.. T.. G. Ellis appointed gecretnry.
Rev. Kirk Baxter then addressed the
meeting in very concise aud telling
1t was "A subject in which he
felt IN earnest interest, and spoke
with marked force and clcarncss, OF
the importance Of the subject, His
remarks were listened to with great
attention.
Mr.. Stevens, from the committee ~.
pointed at the last meeting read re-
port in whi3h the legal status Of the |
question was stated ,HE6 IGii.4H0" fine rn. |
80. ,,,t mo"
SUIT of the committees conference with
n number of all classes Of our citizens
who had expressed themselves ns very
decidedly in favor Of free schools.
The report was adopted and the COM
mittce discharged,
major Helm then arose and for half
an hour spoke with admirable sense
ana pith Of the necessity Of free
schools, the advantages that would ac-
/cure at u comparatively small cost
lie favored the issuance of school
bonds for twenty years and separate
free schools for white ard black,
He dwclt upon the duty
Of educating the poor children and the
negroes as paramount in It's impor-
lance to lhc State and society. The
first question asked about Dallas by
people continually writing from else
where was: "What are your sch0o,
facilities? Have you free achoos"' It
question Wc were now ashamed to an.
swer and say that we had no public
schools. 1t is Impossible to give even
n brief synopsis Of Major Helms very
appropriate and exhaustive review Of
the subject.
Hon. A. b. Norton followed in q Few
well-timed remarks, in which he
agreed perfectly with Major Ileim,
and said that Tor one, hc would will
ingIy pay his school tax, nnd con.
cludcd by announcing himself III favor
of compulsory education.
Dr. Phillips, formerly prominent
physician and citizen OF Lcavonworlh,
now residing here, was present, and
having been called upon, stated that
| he had been member of the school
board in lIraVeuworth and gave II
brief review of the history Of the free
school movement in that city and Of
it's advantages to the place. lie stated
also that there were mechanics now in
| Dallas whose families lived in l,eaven-
worth, whore they were compelled to
remain as they had free schools there
and none in Dallas, the education Of
their children being an object with
them. lie said twenty thousand Il
year would provide schooling for the
children of Dallas Of the best kind
Graded schools were all That were nee
1essOry nj present. High schools for
boys or girls would not be required AT
present. An experienced and highly
competent uperintendent could he
| had for fifteen hundred doliars. The
taxable property of Dallas being Sli,-
600 900, twenty thousand dollars rs u
free school tax was but u very small
per cent, to pay for II very great out.
come in education,
He expressed his Willingness TO pay
such Il tax cheeriully, although his
children were being otherwise
schooled, The doctor made Il very
practical talk and threw a good deal OF
lghtvn the subject.
Mr. Nenable, formerly of Kentucky,
gave the history Of the free school
movement in Franklin, Ky. He had
been teacher and connected with
public schools for many years and was
familiar with their working, their re-
suits, and their effects, not only ON
communities, but pre- perty. lie was
satisfied that when the people once
understood the fact that by u small
tax on their property they could school
their entire family of children, they
would Willingly pay it and reap the
fruit. He explained very graphically
how the graded free schools were con.
Quoted and of the course of study from
four years of age, upward, from which
it appeared seventy-tive children
could be taught by one teacher under
the system OF graded schools, as well
if not better than in most private
schools. He illustrated the method OF
teaching in graded schools n system
at once simple and thorough, and said
there were children in the graded
schools who could turn down any man
n in Dallas analy2iug. The graded
school system was the result Of great
experience, and II had been we'll tested
and found to be all that could be de.
sired as a mode of imparting learning,
Mr. Stevens said that there would he
difficulties to be overcome in pushing
this movement to n success, He was
himself in earnest, and knew all pres.
eIt were. lie was warmly enlisted in
the effort to secure the benefits OF free
schools to all classes OF children, and
Intended to put forth his every effort
to secure the blessings Of an education
for every child in Dallas.
Mr., E. {. Ellis was called upon and
briefly responded. lie had noticed in
many towns in the North and West
ithat their public fchools were pointed