The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-06-15
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


tions for synopsis of the bill to pro-
vide for system of public free schools
The bill was drawn, after full and free
conference with those best informed on
the subject by Judge Terrell, Senator
from Austin. This bill is evidently
carefully framed, and, il is understood
meets with the hearty sanction Of tho
educational committees Of both houses
The condensed provisions Of the bill are
as follows
1t is estimated that by taking one
fourth Of the general revenue OF Tho
State (cstimated) $377500 revenue
from poll tax, $500 interest on the
permanent school fund Sl45,00O max
ing nm estimated annual school fund
available, of $672,500O
IL is further estimated that there are
one hundred thousand children in the
Stnte between the ages Of eight and
twelve years (the proposed scholastic
age). The above sum would give to
each child within the 3cholastic ages, in
the State, over six dollars year, which
sum would furnish schooling for six
months in each year for four years for
each child, provided all the counties
will manage ~ economically rs Collin
Gillespie, Washington and II few other
counties, where the tuition Tor
each child il not over one dol
iar per month The bill makes am
ole provision for the security Of the
school fund in its checks on officers,
The old system Of school districts III
abandoned, and school committees or
ganized to suit neighborhood conyen-
Ience, take their places. Each school
community gets its pro rata of the
fund.- and has its own trustees, who 30
loct its teacher who must have GER
iilicate Of competency from county
board Of examiners The countrywide,
county clerk, county assessor and col
lector are the only county school oili-
GERS, exc pit the neighborhood trustees.
As it is deemed public charity that
they administer, their fees are nominal,
and the trustees receive no pay,
Teachers with the consent OF the trus-
tees, can take children over or under
the scholastic ages on private contract
with parents and guardians,
The school fund before named IL paid
over to the county treasurer by the
county collector of taxes from the
revenue collected in the county, on
certificates from the Board of Education
ut Austin, showing how much the
county is to receive. The hill provides
for Secretary of the Board of Educa.
ton, ut Austin whose qualifications
shall be OF n high order The scholastic
ages are from eight to twelve years; this
was deemed necessary because Of the in
suilcency Of the school fund
Cities and towns with scholastic
population of four hundred and over
manage their school affairs The system
permits the school fund to be used to
erect ncighborhood schoolhouscs only
on the application of the parents and
guardians of those benefited, and only
then when they voluntarily contribute
in work, money or material an cquiva-
lent for the money they expend.
Amy educational bill that our Lcglsla.
ture might favor will be scrutiuiaed
very closely, since il has been charged
upon Us that our organic law did not
provide free schools with these pcrcmp,
tory, mandatory and liberal require.
ments which were thought by many in.
telligent men to be desirable Suspi-
cions have been aroused, not only in
the State but outside of it, that the
Democratic party only sought an oppor.
tunity to destroy and uproot u system
Of free schools in Texas. We believe
that the provisions OF Senator TewelIs
bill will contribute largely to dispcl
these unwarranted assumptions and to
satisfy both our enemies and hyper.
critical friends that Texas has
the interests of her children
at heart The limitation of benefits
to children from eight to twelve years
seems TO have been forced by reason of
the inadequacy of the States resources,
While it may have been desirable TO
have enlarged the benefits from eight TO
at least sixteen years, yet the footing of
resources showed that such an end
could not be accomplished with the
fund at the disposal of the State, and it
was in the Judgment of legislators not
advisable to increase the burthcns Of
taxation, or the bonded indebtedness of
the State, were they constitutionally au-
thorized so to do,
The giving control of community
schools TO the trustees of that particular
community and authorizing these trus.
ecs to select competcntteache will GER
tainly prove acceptable to the people
The division of the school fund pro rata
among the various school communities is
a lair and equitable adjustment of this |
most difficult subject and if II does not
work well, the people who are to be
oeneftted, and who may be unfortunate
enough to choose incompetent, worth
less or negligent trustees, must suffer
the consequences of their own folly.
The State gives for six months in eocb
year for four years, us free otlerin,
education to its children, and will asits
resources increase, enlarge the term of
years. Parents and guardians viii and
should fill in the remainder of years.
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tbs paper having the largest circula.