The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-02-03

schools gives announcement 10 increase tho
number of them, for which, doubtless,
houses will DO rendered 10 the state for that
purpose, ~ II was done by tho citizens o.
Huntsville. TO DO prepared for this, and to
give information to the legislature on this
subiect,by theaid of Mr.. o. N. Hollngsworth,
secretary of the board Of education, have
made known 10 the trustees OF the Peabody
fund the success Of the institution already
aided, AMI the great need Of An increase IN
tho number of such schools. The death OF
DR.. Sears, the general agent, has prevented
any definite answer TO the application SO.
letting additional aid, nor can it DO expected
until after the meeting of the board o. irus-
tees a. Washington City on the first tuesday
in February next. l have, however, been
assured by letter from the Hon. MIR. WIZ
throp, of Boston, president oPsaid board, that
due consideration will be given to the appli
cation, and that would be justified 10 max
ing nv recommendations TO the legislature
accordingly. Should there be two more OF
such schools provided for,I beg leave to suug-
gest the propriety ofnaming one ofthem alter
| DR.. b. Sears, and the other after MIR. Pea
| body, as a Just tribute of respect for those
| who have aided us in our efforts TO build up
good system Of schools. :
In regard to the appropriation for all OF
| the normal schools that are or may be es-
.ablished, would respectfully recommend
that it be made directly out of the reyenue
ard not out of the special funds, as it hereto
fore has been done. The propriety of taking
them out of those funds is extremely doubtful
from the wording Of the constitution
in regard TO said fund. And being
schools, auxiliary to and necessary
as part Of the public free school
system, the appropriation for them may be
made with reference to the amount OF rev.
enue set apsrt annually for the public free
schools, and be SO adjusted as never alto.
ge!her to exceed the constitutional limit And
| again recommend that the amour. of reve-
nue. to be devoted to the public free schools
be specifically named by the legislatures was
done before the session of 1876, and that it
will be specified and shown in the acts of the
legislature, SO as to be easily access
ible to and known by the whole
country what amount of the general
revenue has been given annually. The
legislature can form as accurate an estimate
of the probable amount of revenue to be
collected as can the board of education, who
have invariably had it to do before the as
sessment rolls for each year had reached the
comptroller's office. Thia, too, would be
| more conformable to the constitution, which
expressly says that "there shsll be set apart
annually not more than one-fourth of the
general revenue, ETC." 1t is general revenue,
not exceeding one-fourth of it, that is to be
annually set apart 1t should come
| into the state treasury as general
revenue, and not IS school fund,
! 10 be estimated annually by the board
| of education, which never has been done with
ANYTHING like accuracy, and never can be, rs
any one will readily perceive who will take
the pains to examine and understand the
subject in all its details.
The public free schools hsve been taught
upon an average over the state, about four
months annually for the last five years. 1t
was done last year, with one-sixLh of the
general revenue added to the other sources
of the available school fund, which was the
interest on something over three 'uilion doll
lars in lands and the one dollar poll tux. 1t
cannot for many years be kept
up to the standard y of four
months annually by those resources.
and even one-fourth of the general revenue,
| for reason that the sources from which the
| available school fund for annual disposition
to the schools, including that derived from
taxes, are not and have not been increasing
| per cent. per anDum. Whereas the scho-
| lastic populstion has for the last five years
| Deon iuCTedelHR ~ por Soht hhhhoilJ Ou shO
number of the preceding year.
An elaborate and carefully prepared re-
mort of the operations of the schools and all
of the leading matters pertaining to them,
will be found in the report of the board of
education, and in the statistical statements
| connected with il to which you are respect
| fully referred for full information.
It is very desirable 10 keep the schools up to
the standard of four months in the year.
The great body of the children of the scho-
| astic age, whose parents reside in the rural
districts of the country, may not ordinarily
be spared from home 10 go TO school longer
than four months, ard with good teachers
who had the proper educational spirit aud
could inspire. their scaolars with it, that
| length Of time, during six consecutive
wears, would be sufficient 70 give them a.
common English education, sufficient TO fit
them for the ordinary business avocations Of
| life. That is I'll that this state or
any other should accomplish by means
of taxing the people TO do IL.
| Those VINO i've in cities and in Incorporated
towns and whose chi dren can generally be
spared from home TO 60 TO school longer
! than four months, may unite in assuming 10
control their own schools, and by voting 10
tax themselves in aid OF what is given by
the state, may send their children TO school
as long as they may desire to do it. When
our population becomes sufficiently dense,
The counties may be laid OF into rural school
districts. and the same be done in them as in
our cities and towns, by d change Of the
constitution, authorizing Il TO be done by said
rural school districts. Indeed, that Is the
way in which the most Of the states carry on
their schools, the great body of the funds for
carrying them on being raised in the districts
where the schools are taught, as will be fully
shown 10 the report referred 10. l have not
vet seen and examined the comptroller's re-
port by which TO make estimates in regard to
the probable receipts OF general revenue du-
ring the next two years, but from my general
information il il is thought probable, when it
il examined Sc il should be before making
estimates, that there will have to be an
increase over one-sirth Of the revenue
10 keep the schools up 10 the
standard Of four months especially
ii the legislature should diminish the taxes.
Il Is certain, however, that the proportional
Increase of the scholastic population over
the increase Of the available school fund an
uuslly, will necsssitats to soma means by
which tue present standard Of the schools at
! =. -. :. l.