Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-06-18
school Money in the Future.

school Money I'm the Future.
The following article is from the
pen of DR.. Ruffner, Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction for Vir-
glnia, and we Icy it before our
readers as the best obiainable an
swer to the hundred and odd qnes-
tions from our patrons and neigh
bors touching the prospect for
money with which to run the Free
Schools OF the country. DIR. Rnf-
ner places his hopes in increased
taxation, and this the people will
not ttar. He walks tender foot
cdly over this ground, but it is
plain to be seen he sis not SAN
gnine," and the feeble hopes he
indnlges are grounded in an in
crease of taxation through Super
visors and City Councils. This is
slim hope. DIR. Ruffner.- Ed.
News.
There need te no serious apprPhen-
siOnE concerning the school system. or
the school money. The school system
has not heen and cannot lie shaken hy
any assault or any plea fIom any quar-
ter. Sone people would like 1" Kill
it, and some others would reluctantly
sacrifice Its but il has now hrpii almost
universally asTeed among men cf
common sense that tn" permanPucc of
The school system IL, a fnct which
ought to he assumed and acted upon
without controversy. Aud those Who
have studied the subject in its wider
aspects see plainly that the iiuly hope
for public honor and prosperity in the
future is rooted i'm popular education.
Hrnce that this vital work of teach
ing and training the people is not in
conflict with any good thing, hut ia
the most powerful ally Of every vaIua
hIe Interest. Then let the true doc
irine rp4pecting the public debt be
what IL may, let the States revenue
Toe adequate for all IurI"srs or made
qrTate for ail purpnses. il is certain all
partiPs, creditors. "fIIudprr adjust
rr-." or what not can strike hamrls on
this point, namely. That the people
must he taught nr everything good
will go The dogs together Ard there
is reason to hplieve that just this hap
py harmony iE to he the basis of de-
purIure for NIL parties hereafter.
The trouble about eur State school
money must by tile time lIc generally
understood. II continues to I've Just
what it las IPen all alpng-s super
fluffy Of cOupons, ~ srms would say
or p deficiency Of cash, az Others
might phrase it. Ahout one hAlf of
the present net revenue of the State
may he paid any year in coupons. -
Something less than this has hen
paid heTetufnIe because some $200. .HG0
Of the pnHt due coupons have each
wear been withheld 10y the creditors !,
hut this fact only mak"H the paER
worse for uS in the fu'ure Of the
twelve hundred thnnsand. or little
upwards. " hirh is paid into the treas
ury in currency. the State wants say,
nine or ten thousand for it's own sup.
tor, and If the wants nf the Slate he
supplied. then the school money In
used by the quantity : for there IS no
other fund within reach More IA
vOrnhle stntPmpnts than this have
been made. hut these favorable state
mPUtE have not been demonstrated hy
figures. The problem IA ia what is
,hP real amount of school money
heretofore consumed for other purpu
ss,. remRins uusulved.
40 10 tha immediate future we are
NOT saup uipP. After all that has heru
sa,d and done, we helieve that the
school money will continue to he use'd,
less or more. for other purposes until
more cash comrs into the treasury
thoD can I've expected under the exist
InR financial arrangements ot III"
state Hence the Jul, appOrti,'nment
for this wear is III uukuo" u quaniuy.
which H. to he det"rmii'd hy lhr i"rm
i'm which the unpaid l%xPs VIII come ih.
The practical uRe wh'cH sh"'iin n
made of this sTSie of affairs " s''n""I
officers and the friends Of edu,"a'l'h
is In move strongly in ia Vor
"f increased appropriations from Su-
perUisOrs and City Councils, For thes,' !
bodies To diminish their Hpprnpria |
tions At this iuncturR il ia deny to the |
people the means of education which !
they have a right to expect under the |
law and the constitution. No doubt in |
time the schools will receive their own |
from the State. hut at pre- rnt the |
school money heing used in part ia
Rupport the State Government and in |
that extent relieving the people of ad-
ditional taxes for that purpose. there |
is ere Ited an equitable claim on coun
maintain their suft9riug schools.