The Russellville Democrat., 1882-04-27
Schools for All.

ED. DEMOCRAT: As prescribed by law the time of holding the Annual Schoel meeting is the Third Saturday ill May, aud in order to an understanding of the duties and obligations resting on both people and school officers, we wish to call attention to Sec. 69 of the present school law of Arkansas.
 The importance of this meeting can scarcely be estimated. By wise action here every material interest ofthe coun- ty is advanced. Financially, good system Of public schools is the best savings bank within the reach of the people. It will save to each district where there are fifty children of school age $3, ,75O for every six months school ing from home, and an infinitely great CT amount to the children in the fu- ture, in the way of preparation for money making. It will enhance the value of lands to almost double what it is now, infuse life and energy into the people, old and young, parents and children; adorn our homes, and bless our firesides. By system Of free schools, the children, ALL the children, can have the advantages of good bus iness education, such as will qualify them for the pursuit of usefulness and happiness; secure to them tine respect of the intelligent, and bring honor and credit to us as a people.
 Then on the Third Saturday of May, at the time prescribed by law, let every voter of Pope county be at his post (his voting place. looking after his ehil- dren's best interest, and see to it, that the maximum school tax is voted; and thereby provide for six months free school in his district during the year. Should the total tax levied not be suf- ficient to run six months, supplement it by private subscriptions, donations, &c, and make your schools the best in the land. It will pay more, in the end, than any other investment. We know the times are hard and money scarce, but if you would permanently re-instate your fortunes, work with the head AS well as with the hands, for 'money saved is money made" You may have the means to send off to distant schools, but 1t would be we'll to remember that most of your neighhors have not, and that the relations of individuals in communities are such as to make the children of one household dependent upon these of other families around them, for their social, moral and intel lectual development. Hence the great est good to the whole community is the greatest good to it's individual members. At low estimate the cost of sending from home will be about $50 per year for each child sent, and if four families should send one child each from home it would take out of the district a sum sufficient, if supplemented by the tax, to run the school for eight or ten months, affording almost equal facili- ities for the forty or fifty instead of on ly four, besides the great advantage of having the children at home under pa rental oversight, a point too often over looked, or delegated to others who have little or no interest.
 Look to your own schools as the ele- ment of development to your children. Put your money into them and thereby make them efficient, and create such an intellectual, moral and social atmos- phere for the youth as will induet them into the purest walks of civilized life, and do not forget that "no child is safe while any child is neglected"
 C. A. JoN Es.
 Russellyille. Ark.