Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-01-13

purposes y Tic past seven or eight
years, has been as follow:
1879 Is on the 500
1Gi........-... ............. l 20 100
1875. 20 " Ion
1876 80 100
30 loo
80 100
isl9 50 100
/ 10 100
1t will be seen that only until under
the management of the present board
our taxes have been reduced to 80
cents on the 500. Further, we would
state that none of the present board
of directors were in Office at the time
the debt vas created. Some have
complained Of the present board be-
cause they are taxed to build an ad-
dition-30 cents on the 500, which
pays the whole cost of the build
ing. In answer to their complaint,
we give the following: The law al
lows the board to order an election,
when they think it should be done,
for building OR making an addition.
In this cast they refused to do so,
but we're compelled to advertise and
order an election when petitioned by
ten tax-payins citizens. The original
pttetition We give here; all are lax
payers, As shown by the collectors
books, and seventeen names-seyen
more than necessary:
To the Honorable Board of Directors OF the
Mexico City Schools
MEXICO, Mo, June 25, 1SSO.--We,
the undersigned voters aud tax pay
ers of Mexico District, petition your
honorable body to order an election,
to submit estimates of cost and rate
of tax to build three additional rooms
to the school house of the aforesaid
district.
John Gregg. B. F. TomliLson,
John H. Hayden, C. c. Barnes.
Geo. A. Poleet, d. Vineyard,
A. NJ. Patterson, j. D. Morris,
/. Hall, Geo. Robertson,
f.. J Gibbs, W. X. Potts,
w. F. Reed, Jas. +. Gillian,
H. T. Brooks, j. A. Guthrie,
r. Scharlach.
One of our county editors has call
ed for a statement. II he had read
the paper he offers to others, he
would have been saved this trouble.
We refer to the annual statement
made by the secretary of the board
June 80, 1S8O-Press file No. 40.
OF course, there can be no statement
made of collections now being made,
as the greater part of the money is
still IN the hands of collector, and as
there is only one settlement per year,
there can be but one statement made,
which has been done annually. Any
tax payer or citizen can know where
all the money goes, if he will only
read any of our county papers.
Some complain that too much is
paid for teachers, superintendent,
&c. We find, on investigation, that
two or three of the best teachers have
left our school because they could do
better elsewhere. Also, that a Gem
petent superintendent cannot be had
for less than the salary paid. Of
course, they al get men and women
at almost any price, but not compe-
tent teachers.
Others have complained of the
''high school," We find that the
thigh school," so-called, is not a
fifth wheel, as some have called it,
but the room where the more ad-
vanced children are taught, and, ex-
cept Latin, the studies are those laid
down Ivy the State Superintendent,
and each one reciting Latin is re-
quired to pay S. before taking a seat
in the class !; but it dosen't cause the
employment of an additional teacher.
and is, therefore, the source of a small
revenue. Nonresident pupils are re-
quired to pay before entering the
school, and are not admitted in
crowded rooms. The collections from
these two sources, until this year,
have been small, because the ad-
advanced rule was not enforced, but
1880 will show some two hundred or
three hundred dollars.
Now, we want TO know what about
the music. 1t costs, under the pres
ent management, 25 cents each to
teach 500 children to read music.
We thought we had the Board here,
but this seems to be the best invest
ment that could be made by any
community. One hundred and twenty
dollars teaches 500 children not only
to sing, but read and understand vo-
cal music. We find that for the
last two years no member of
the Board has been paid fer
services rendered. Also. that the
average amount of taxes paid by its
individual members to be nearly
equal to that paid by the editor
mentioned above.
We also find that some who have
complained of the present manage
ment have been members themselves,
and have voted pay for their services
directors and of: cers to the amount
of 500 yearly.
The cost of the addition erected
last tall, is abont So. 000-furniture
included. For the exact sum, e
next annual statement,
These facts are offered to the pub
lie, not as a compliment to the pres
ent management, neither is it offered
IN the defence nor to c~riticise any
board the district has ever had, !
but as facts that all should know
and if the school law hasn't been re-
garded. let the Press man post him
self and see that all have justice.
CITIZEN.