The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-06-30
Our Public Schools.

EDITOR OF THE CITIZEN
public school system is regarded bv
some as odious and berdensome.
We all know that it has had many
drawbacks in its execution, but
they are re'being remedled as fki,t as
possible. There is mueh dissatis
faction about high taxation and
upon good grounds too, when all
the taxes are taken together. but
when we compare the amount
assessed to support public schools
with those to run the state and
county machinery, it appears almost
Insignificant. This complaIr Ids
heard more especially among the
free holders, who iarumbl = for
having to help educstelthe masses,
upon the grounds thatnibis1 nc ad-
vantage to them. True, there are
q few individuals wtoldetivel no
benefit directly from public schools,
but they do indirectly, or VIII as
soon as all the machinery gets i'll
good running order. We all know
1t is deficient in many respectB, but
mark the Improvement it has already
attained over every opposition II
certainly has passed through the
most trying ordeal ofiany systemor
question ever agitated in our county
except secession. It's success is
certain and its benefits have beea
realized TO some extent 1t isHa
fixed fact that II has a place in our
midst, and let as put our shoulders
to the. wheel and do all we can TO
advance such glorious enterprise.
There is now permanent school
fund for the state of Tennessee OF
$2,5l2, 10000; the annual interest
on this sum amounts to $3.50, 5000
to be divided among the counties,
and the amount allotted TO Giles
county Is between $1,000 and $lIO0,
of which the taxpayers do not pay
one solitary cent. The amount Of
money paid by the taxpayers OF
Giles county to support public
schools, outside of the poll and
privilege tax, is about $4,000, A
man who has $1,000 worth OF land
pays $1.O0, and a man who has
$4,000 worth pays $500, and 90 on.
Let US see how this thing wall pan
out. Suppose You haye three chill
dren to educate, and you are worth
$4,000, under the present system
where the money has been Judi
ciously expended il costs so cents a
scholar per month; for a term OF
five months the tuition would be
just twelve dollars; so you see you
would get the benefit OF two dollars
more than you paid out. Upon the
other hand If you send your chill
dren to a subscription school you
would have to pay at least 81, 80 per
month for each pupil, or $22.50 In
the public school you would make
$500 and in the private school you
would be out $1,000. You will see
at a glance there is but little room
for complaint. Now the tepilnt
comes up with three children; he
pays only $500 poll tax, sends the
same length of time, As out two
dollors, aud gets the beuefit of $40
more than he has paid out, He is
the greaJess beneficiary, AID ~ tue
same time you do not miss OF feel
what you have lost in the way of
taxation. The common laborer
keeps up your roads, cultivates
your lands, at the same time paying
a good price for supplies furnIsheds
and whenever he makes any I'M
provement for his own comfort and
convenience, be has TO advance
on his own labor or get out of
the way and let somebody that
will. The time is not Ear IA tho
future when all will be advocates
of public instruction, and then
we will have better times and bet.
ter people, the bad will be made
better and the good will receive the
touch. churches will be
built up, christians made happier,
sinners brought to light and every
body going on their way rejoicing.
We ought to be very neighborly
here, especially in building up edu-
cational enterprises, when il 10
benefit to all. II we do unto others
while here :as we would have them
do unto us, we will lot be abashed
or dumbfounded when wo meet face
to face over the river, have TO room
and mess together and all our Joys
will be one, when the face value of
every mans paper will be the same,
if he has been good
friend to public schools. IL. w.