The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-08-12
THE SCHOOL PRoPos1rIoN.

THE SCHOOL PROPOSITION.
1t is well enough for voters to be-
gin serious inquiry into the PROPOSE
ton to be voted on in the coming
municipal election, touching the as
sumption of authority over public
free schools in the corporate limits
of Austin by the city council. The
constitution, under suffrage" sec
ton 8, says:
In all elections to determine ex-
penditure of money or assumption
of debt, only those shall be qualified
to vote who pay taxes on property
in said city or Incorporated town !;
provided, no poll tax for the pay
ment of debts thus incurred, shall
be levied upon the persons debarred
from voting in relation thereto"
1t will be seen that the right to
vote is limited only to persons who
"pay taxes on property" and it mat
tiers not whether it be a five
dollar pony or fve-dollar
watch. which carries the right of
franchise, the vote of any individual
owning such property, or even a
broken down "buro" may declare
whether the property holders of
Austin shall be required to pay as
much even as one per cent. for the
maintenance of public free schools.
AS we understand the question the
council has the right on such pOpu-
lar vote to fix the tax, and
to. make it even one per cent.
at will. This covers ali property
real and persOnal-lands, houses,
furniture, wares. goods, carriages,
wagons, live stock, merchandise,
money and evidences of debt. Be-
sides this excessive right to tax
there are other features in the case
more Objectionable to the masses.
AS schools are now conducted, the
employment of teachers and the SUI
pervision of schools is too far
removed from home influence. Yet
it may be tolerated, since the super
vision is alone with the trustees OF
school communities, selected by the
parents and guardians of pupils.
The county judge is but a school ex-
ecutive officer, whose duty is TO see
that the fund is properly distributed,
and that the trustees selected have
full authority to control the COM
munities. Under the system pro-
posed the city council becomes the ab-
solute guardian of the schools of a
city; the council controls the fund,
distributes and supervises the
schools through figurehead, placed
in charge of them ON such salary as
may be agreed upon; and the con-
duct of the schools are thus left to
men who go before the public,
some appealing to honor and
principle in elections, but most of
whom appeal to the lowest and bas-
est elements of society for peace
The result of the adoption of this
proposition on the 10th would be: A
one per cent. tax on all property in
the city; money collected and dis
tributed by the city council, bal
ance of power IN which generally
appeals to elements which care least
for schools; the employment of a
superintendent not in harmony with
the people; and, since it is well
known that teachers of high char
acter will not take position in such a
system, the public free schools
would be left mostly TO incompetent
teachers, and the standard of tut
ton would be lowered in our midst; !;
there would be more private
schools, and those who pay
the most money for teaching
and who care the most for proper
education would be the least bene-
fitted. We want no such system.
The one now in vogue is bad enough,
and this one would be a hundred
times worse.