The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1877-06-09
THE PUBLIC suoOL CUES
TION.


The Trustees Of Pref. GtIe.' school
speak Wsrds Of wisdom.
To the Editor OF The Herald:
We, of School District Eight, were
much pleased with the progress OF
Prof Giles success, under the circum-
stances. The Glasses ia reading, ge-
ography, grammar, mathematics and
French, did very well last Friday.
The actual attendance throughout
the seven months taught, has
averaged from eighty-fiye to ninety.
During the severe weather OF last win
ter and spring all were crowded into
one room with but one stove to warm
1t; nearly, or quite a third We're with
out n single book; few, II airy, with
full complement, aud not q desk nor
bookcase to keep these few In.
We did not feel authorized, under
the law, as trustees, To expend the
fund in purchasing books for those
who had none, or in purchasing
desks, bookcases, etc. The pay
of Professor Giles would not
| admit OF his doing so; bring but
one hundred and fifty dollars per
| month for the first three, (winter) one
hundred dollars per month for the
next two, and one hundred and TWEEN
| ty-five dollars per month for the other
two. Out OF these sums he bad to pay
| twenty dollars per month for house
rent. for his indefatigable assistants,
Miss Reddiek, the whole term, and
Miss l.. Carlton, the last tw9 months,
| and furnished his own wood, leaving
his portion quite small. Our wonder
is that they did 30 much, under the
circumstances.
As this closes the county system, the
public school having passed to the
city authorities, We beg the indulgence
| OF q few suggestions, viz:
First-That an efficient sehool, w beth
| er private or public, cannot be carried
on without money. We understand
the taxable property in the corporate
and one-halfto four millious OF dol
lars. The proposed tax of one fourth
| Of one per cent. on that will produce
| at least $3.50. The funds from the
state last year to the city, was about
s., 900, which will be increased BY the
| poll tax aud dog tax. An additional
sum OF 5000 may be obtained from
the Peabody fund, making some
S14 900 to $l5,0 900 annually. This sum
should build school houses in each dis
trict, and run the school ten months
I the first year. After houses are COM
| pleted, the tax might be greatly re-
dueed. Thus, the means of q good bu-
sipess education would be placed in
the reach of every child raised in the
city, than which nothing would do
more to induce settlers In our city.
The city can adopt an efficient and
uniform system of discipline, mode OF
teaching and standard books, furnish
books and stationery TO those who can
! not furnish them, etc, so that q new
set of books will not have to be gotten
and u new mode OF teaching tried
levery session.
Suitable buildings can be put up,
comfortably warmed in winter, proper
| seats with desks, book cases, etc, and
there is no reason why just AZ efficient
teachers should not he employed, an d
the school conducted in as good a
manner ~ the Test of private schools
and colleges.
Some object ''to sending to public
schools as vulgar and degrading, -
which We think wrong. City, county
! ana state governments are carried on
10y the public, yet we notice few, II
any, decline accepting office under
them, while to many these places are
objects Of the greatest solicitude. Chill.
dren are public property, aud the pub
| lie should see they are all educated.
There In no reason, II as well con-
Quoted, why public sch DOL should not
be considered ss honorable as q pri.
| vate one.
Others say, al have no children to ed
ucate, aud 1t In not right for me to pay
to educate other peoples children -
This Is not satisfactory. You NAV
have no children, but you have life,
liberty and property to protect. The
state furnishes your protectors, and
this cannot be derived from an igno-
rant and per force Vicious population.
In our government, all officers of
whatever rank or grade. are elected
by the people, and it would be as rea-
sonable to expect a corrupt fountain Go
send forth pure water. as that an liz.
norant and vicious population should
select wise and virtuous rulers. 1t il
impossible for the great lAboring class,
the overwhelming majority OF every
people, to make support and pay tu-
ition for the education OF their chill
dren. IL can be done by the public
alone. These great masses, we'll edu.
Gated and employed, make the pride
! and strength of their country; but whe n
ignorant and vicious, they are the ever
ut material for mobs and violence.
but we have taken too much of your
spare time.
| JOHN j. EAKINS
| j. II. CARLETON
I w. A HARwnan