Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-09-17
A CARD.
THE COUNTY SCHOOLS

It Is doubtless generally known that
nearly ona-half the support of the Pub
lie Schools in this county has, within
the last year, been cut off by the deficit
in, or the diversion of the State School
fund. The reason of this is also we'll
known. The State, with coupons only
in her treasury, is unable to supply her
proportion (which is nearly one.halfl of
the money necessary to keep our schools
in operation. This catastrophe, though
unprecedented for several years past, was
unexpected and unprovided for in the
school-term just ended. And we find
ourselves, now at Its close, in debt to
teachers to the amount of over SIS 1000.
This sudden crippling of the schools is
the more to be dep1Ored now that the
system Is ia good working order, and is
just reaching that degree Of proficiency
which, but for this calamity, would
have enabled us, in q very short time,
to extend the term from five or eight
months without any increase Of taxes.
But with the aforesaid debt upon our
hapds, ana nothing to depend on to
meet it, and run thescbools during the
incoming term, but the county levy, the
questonis how many schools shall we
open? The answer for Middle River
and Riverheads districts is easy, because
the amount of county funds to which
they are entitled will not mora than
meet their present indebtedness. South
River. hoYbyer, whose debt is smallest,
can SUPPORT two thirds of her schools.
whilst Beverly Manor, Pastures and
North River cap carry on about one
half their usual number. ~
Many suggestions have been offered
to meet the'diHculty such as the entire
suspension of the schools for one year,
the opening of all the schools for two or
three months, &C., &c. But school of
fcials are expected to obey the law, and
not be casting about for devices OF their
own. The law, moreover, ia clear, and
ltand our instruetions ftoni the State
Board plainly say :s'r'The number of
schools shall he according to the funds
available for the purpose. There must
be as many schools In every district as
can be supported, be the same more or
less" If the money justly expected
from all sources will support Ten schools,
then there must pc ten schools, not fit:
teen snd.not five. little money is suf-
fcient for only three schools, then there
shall be three schools exactly. Paying
teachers at the rate Of $50 per month
$500 will run two schools for five months:
but it will not run four, or even three.
And the law further declares explicitly,
that mo school shal! b. epenedfSg a less
time ttap ave months '' - :
The State Superintendent says, "ef
course tie duty of selecting locations for
a reduced number Of schools will be very
embarrassing, and there will be a fright
jul amount ofgrumbling among the peo.
ple-naturaliy enough, but we are SIM
ply executive officers and must do the
best we can with the means furnished.M
The people, too, ought to know just the
extent 70 which they are deprived of
thHit school money. As long as the
teachers only are made to suffer, the
people will be comparatively quiet-be-
cause ignorant Of the act.:::.i situation.
but when they see the diversion Ct their
fms is shutting thu doors Of their
school houses, and cutting off large
nambef OF their children from all means
Of education, then they will be likely to
speak in tones that win effect ssine.
thing. -"
And now as the Airest and most eff.
fectQal way 81 meeting the emergency,
we propose. instead of opening but one
half the schools OF Beverly Manor, the
Pastures and North River districts, and
two-thfrds ofthose of South River that
we will open Ull in each of these districts,
provided the people will supply one.half
the teachers salary in the Grst three,
and one-third the salary in. the last NAM
ed district. Ay this means good school
may be opened and carried on in every
neighborhOod; but any community that
refuses to provide its part of the means,
will, of necessity, fail to secure Q school.
OF course this arrangement ID proposed
only fcr tie one Year upon which we
are now entering, as 1t IS hoped and be-
lieved that the necessity for it will nc
longer exist.
This COMMUNICATION xppears at the
6ghfes could bs obtainsd' il order that
no time may be lost to those districts
that will be under the necessity of max
ing arrangements for private schools.
Very respectfully,
RO. s. HAMILTON,
County School Superintendent,