The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-15
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Inc summaries WHICH we give DelOW VII
afford some idea of the progress of the Pub
lie School system in the State and the ex'
pense attending its administration. The
reports of county Superintendent and ac-
companying statistical tables, which are in
cluded in thcrcport of the General Super
intendent, furnish, perhaps, the best evil
dence OF the favorable progress of the Pub
.lic Schools. From these it appears that a
the limited resources at command. The
enrolment of pupils, the average atten-
dance and the quality of the teachers have
all gained.
The report, besides the statistical lnfor-
NATION, is replete with excellent sugges
tons from the Superintendent. aud whilst
he alludes very briefly to his own serv-
ces, Which must have been onerous and well
performed, as the efficient manner in which
he has carried forward his great work, in
the face of multiplied difficulties. abundant
~ demonstrates, he reports that ''the official
management has improved in economy,
system and efficiency. Efforts for the i'm
provement of Teachers have multiplied.
The spirit of education has been promoted
among the people, and growing attach
ment to the public system has been mani
tested very generally
DIVERSION OF THE SCHOOL FUND.
After quoting the plain mandates of the
Constitution, providing for the support OF
the public schools, and setting aside as sa-
cred a certain revenue for that purpose, 10
be paid an money, he gives the composition
of the Literary Fund, and follows it with the
history OF its systematic robbery He
says: ''The diversion Of large share of
the proceeds OF the capitation and property
tax began with the first year of the school
system, and has continued ever since. The
fact, however, of this diversion was not dis
covered until January, 1876. The auditor
of public accounts in his annual reports had
stated how much school money he had
turned over to the second auditor, but he
did not state how much had been received
Hence, ib was not known and could not be
known whether the sums he turned over
! were or were not the whole of the school :
money which came into his hands. State
ments were repeatedly called form fact
earnestly endeavored at one period to OBJ
tain monthly statements, but having no au-
shority in the matter I was compelled to
yield to the difficulties presented. But it
did not occur to me for three or four years,
that there might be going on some consid-
cradle diversion Of the school money-ard
having no sort of control was unable to OBJ
tain any information on which l could with
prorriety act. But when the Legislature
met in the winter of rs and '76 drew a
bill whica was designed to remedy any such
evil as apprehended but the committee
on schools and colleges failed to report it..
Soon afterwards drew resolution which
was passed by the House requiring me to
give certain information, and authorizing
me to call on the Auditor for needed ma
terial. On inquiry l learned that the Au-
dtor himself had difficulties in respect to
the exact ascertainment of balances, and f.
nancial difficulties generally, which 1 at least
was before ignorant of, and which demanded
leniency of Judgment towards an officer
whose integrity and faithfulness was be-
You'd question. The report which made in
January, 1876, in respose to the House of
Delegates, sufficiently disclosed the main
facts of The case to lead to enquiries addressed
directly to the Auditor. In response to a
Senate resolution, he reported the arreara-
ges due from the cipitation and property
tax to the school fund as something over
100000 for fiscal years 1901 1918 and
Alive years. What deficiency is to be
added to this for our school years, 1856
and '76-7 has not yet been asccrtained. The
amounts turned over to the second auditor
on account Of property and capitation tax
were, for 1876, $4,000; for 1877, s341.-
| 266.''
Assuming that the amount due the
Schools for these two years would for each
equal the average annual amount due for
the preceding five years-which was $685.
529-then the unpaid balances for the last
two years would aggregate about $4,000,
and OF this the balance for our last year was
$127.263 from the property and capitation
tax Ito say nothing of the large unpaid bal
ance of interest on the literary fund.- So
that the total deficit due the School fund,
July 81, 1877, must have been about $780,
| OOO.''
The Superintendent then reproduces the
explanation of the Auditor given in a
communication to the Senate in March, 1876,
in which he claims that there was not mon
ey enough in the treasury to meet the de-
mands for all appropriations. IN consequence
OF the influx of coupons. and that therefore
he had paid the school fund its proper pro-
| portion Of currency.
| In concluding this subject the Sllpern-
tendent says 'rhe
NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION
is manifest. The auditor has announced
the principal that all appropriations are of
equal authority to him ;that money collected
fora specific purpose under the mandate of
the Constitution may be used just as other
money is used for the genera! purposes of
government. He is no doubt conscientious
in this, and it is not for me to criticise his
course or to question the soundness. Of the
principle upon which he acts. But whether
right or wrong, the principle of action prac-
| tically abrogates the constitution and des-
troys the existence of the School fund.-"
He leaves the solution of this problem to the
wisdom of the Legislature. and asks their
Immediate action. AS one means Of revenue
for the School fund, Mr.. Ruffner favors an
addition of one dollar to the capitation tax
as well as make the prepayment of this tax
a condition of voting.
sTAUNToN AND AUGUSTA.
The report Of the Superintendent of pub
lie School for the county on the public SEN
timent concerning the Schools during the
year, states that ''fault-flnders have been
more out spoken in some quarters owing to
the recent discussion of the subject in pub
lie prints, and to the agitation of the State
debt question, &c.,) but there is really, i
think, less of opposition entertained among
the people," Superintendent of the city
| schools unnn fife cfIII;oot