The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-10-24


lated its promises. in that it has,
by reducing the school tax, crippled
the cause of education, until our schools
are mockery and q by-word."
Let us examine this charge We will be
gin by consulting the recordsin the State
superintendent Office, taking the 6rst
county on the list. And for the con-
venience of drawing a comparison between
Republican aud Democratic rule, We will
take the report for the last year under
Gov Stearns aud the last one under Gov
ernor BlOxham.
In Alachua county for the scholastic
year ending September 80, 1875, there
were reported the following: N umber
Of schools operated, 80; average number
of days taught, 49, For the scholastic
term ending September 30, 1882, the re-
port stands as follows: Number OF
schools operated, "a; average number Of
days taught, 90. An increase of twenty
frye schools during the last six years in
this county alone Not bad showing
for Alachua.
Taking the next county, Brevard, we
find that the number of schools has been
doubled and the length of term increased
from three to .fUe months.
Going OH down the list we find that in
Gadsden, in 1876. there were thirty -four
schools and in 1882, forty-seven-or an
increase of thirteen schools while the
length Of term has been extended from
sixty-six to sixty-nine days. But just
here we,find another item worthy of no.
tice. In 1876 there were expend ed SO,
1853 for school purposes in this county,
while in 1892, only 5,l6O,54 were ~
CURED this is very Significant fact.
Thirteen more schools operated on but
little more than half the amour. of money.
In Jefferson in 1876 there were twenty
six schools with term of ninety days |;
IN 1882, forty-six schools with term of
one hundred and thirty-ive days.
Bat let Us see what the statistics are ID
the. very county where these resolutions
wereNgotten up. In Leon county In 1876
there were ffty-one schools with q term
Of one hundred and eight days; in 1882
there were forty-nine schools with 4 term
Of one hundred and ten DAYS At first
sight. II would appear that there had
been reduction OF three schools This
however i not really the case, for in
l-7o after the report We have consulted
VA made, four city schools for the col
ore1 children were consolidated in the
Lincoln Academy, and have thus b en-
continued 10 the present time. We are OPP
Grating then It will be seen the same num-
Der OF schools with a slight increase in
the length Of term. The most signi6-
cant item, however, in connection
with the schools Of Leon is that in regard
to the relative amount of money ex-
pended for the two years we have under
notice. In 1875, the year in which the
funds expended in 1876 were assessed,
the school revenue, including the one
mill State tax, amounted to $Il ,96O.OI :;
in 1881, the year in which the revenue
for 1852 was assessed, the total amount
of school funds expended was only So
902.9l. To put this in other language,
We have operated in Leon county the
same number of schools for longer term
on less than half the amount expended by
the Republicans. But this is not all.
The Republican School Board of this
county not only disbursed more than
double the amount of funds which they
had collected, but spent in addition to
this amount so, 100, for this was the sum
Of the Indebtedness of the Board when
the Democrats assumed control in 1877.
This is an item that taxpayers cannot af-
ford to overlook.
We next examine the Orange county
records. In 1876 there were in this county
thirty schools with a term Of sixty-six
days; in 1882 there are reported seventy
five schools with term of lightweight
days. This shows an increase of forty five
in the number of schools and one month In
the length of term.
In Volusia county in 1875 there were
only nineteen schools, now there are
thirty-four.
We might go through the entire list OF
counties but this is unnecessary, for it
will be seen that there must have been
more or less advancement in every county
when the fact is considered that there has
been an average annual increase of over
one hundred schools throughout the State
during the last six years.
We have said enough to show that the
wiseacre who framed the resolution above
quoted didn't know what he was talking
about The Democratic party has not
violated its promises in the matter of pro-
tecting the public schools, but notwith-
standing the reduction of the tax referred
to has year by year fostered and advanced
this in terest