The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-10-12

Editor F5crizian As The recent action Of the
Board Of Education Of this Institution, in charg.
ing students . small tuition fee OF 10 cents :
month has subjected the Beard 70 no little cFiti'
cism, deem an explanation necessaEy. Many
Of our ciiixens are under the impression that NE
Seminary b established On the sGme bssis q
the Common Schools that tuition should not
be charged, and that all children irrespective Of
their age or advancement, should be admitted.
On the contrary, the object, organization, and
bssis ef rapport or the Two Eeminaries OF learn
ing are separate and distinct from that of the
Common Schools The former are intended i" fer
the iaslfucsion Of persons, both male and female,
in he art Of teaching all the various branches that
pertain to good common school education and
next, TO give instruction In the Mechanic arts In
Husbandry and Agricultural Chemistry, in the
Fundamental laws, and In what regards the
rights and duties OF citizens" Ella Laws, 1851,
Sec. H. They are governed respectively by q
board Of six persons, appointed by the Govern
or and confirmed by the Senate. ella. Laws,
1854, page II, Sec. ~ They are supported from
the interest accruing from the sale of the Semi
nary lands, donated by Congress Tor this purpose.
The amount realized from the sale of these lands
is $S4, 400, of which $500 is invested in Flori-
da and per cent. bonds, and 81 900 in Florida
Railroad Bonds Total income from bonds
$4,000. Zee Treasurer's report, page Al, for
year ending December 81, 1879 This interest
is divided equally between the two Seminaries,
act organizing these Seminaries, each county is
entitled TO send as many benefearies in the ratio
to which It is entitled TO send representatives to
the Legislature, not 10 exceed such number as
the Board of Education may prescribe Bush,
500, Lee. 0)-tuition TO lie charged for all Others
With the Common Schools, it is different
/" There shall be established and literally main
tanned. a uniform system Of public instruction,
free to all the youth residing 10 the State between
the ages Of six and twenty-one years
Ella. Laws, 1859, Sec. ~
Their organization.- officers consist of
superintendent Of Public Instruction, u State
Board Of Education, Board OF Public Instruc-
ton for each county, Superintendent Of Schools
for each county, local school teachers, treasurers
and agents ella. Laws, 1859, Sec. 81
How are they supported? 1st. BY the interest
mon Schol Lands, which amounted In 1879, to
$l4, 295 90 tsnd of which Leon county receives
$1,590) End. BY special Slate tax. and 3rd, by
a county lax assessed by the Boards of Public
obstruction Tor HE several counties
twill thus BIZ seen that The Common Schools
are supported mainly by taxation, while the
SemlnaIirs are not.
But why is il that students have been admitted
rec If tuition in the Seminary for the last II
years and now are charged? When the Board of
Education was Ie0rganized in 1868, during
Governor Reeds administration, it was decided
that not more than 81 900 would be raised
from tniiion fees this amount could be obtained
from The Peabody Fund, if no tuition fee was
charged, 10 make il a free school. For number
OF years assistance was received from the Pea
body fund, and the Board was thus enabled to
admit students free. Bnt now that no aid is
received from that quarter and repairs to the
amount of $500 or 5000 on the buildings become
necessary, the Board Of Education are compelled
to make charge for tuition. This charge is
very low, lower IN fact than any school Of SINH
lar grade, and so moderate that even the poorest
patron can afford to pay. Leon county is enii-
tied TO five beneficiaries, and The County Com
missioners, will, upon the proper application,
appoint that number. ]. T. BERNARD