The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-01-25

bonent NJ Tho public free schools" Now
II IA known that this scholastic population
NJ Tesas N Increasing faster IN proportion
than than the available funds N revenues,
whefens The healthy fnanolal condition Of
the state demands decreased taxation,
Witch, you will perceive, must, by 80 mnob
decrease accordingly The puplc
free schools revenue. Now the
purport and intent Of Senator
Gibbs IL TO remedy This trouble by direct
"Annual levy ol 20 cents or less on the 800
hd valorem school tax, together with ~
annual poll tax, ETC." so we'll so good, rs
the sum thus realized, plus
1.-THE interest on the permanent
school fund.-" will permit perhaps
school term of o months In the year.
Last year this school term averaged 4 36
months, and the year preceding just
months But now comes clause about
inch all are not so well agreed. 1t found
l the same section. VIZ Provided, that
the legislature may by general law, permit
or require the establishment of school COM
munties to votean additional ad valorem tax
not to exceed 10 cents on the 500. | see
no objection to the 10 cent clause, put there
is some criticism as to the school commu-
nifty" clause. For, the question arises TO
the rejecting mind whether il is wise to
provide for local school tax for a
smaller territory thar county, except in
the case of cities and towns. many
counties the bulk of taxable values Is ,ocai-
lied in particular district or community.
Suppose one-half of "a county is mountain
Gus or swampy, here would exist but small
taxable values. The Inhabitants hereof,
nevertheless, contribute to the full extent
OF their humble possess ons toward the
support of both the county and state gov
erDments and IL would be unfair to threw
them upon their own limited resources
the matter of supporting schools, mat
of certainly as much general interest as /.
support of other departments OF the gov
eminent, county or state, its court-houses,
jatls, roads, etc., etc. In those localities
were may happen to be concentrated the
greater taxable values, the citizens could
supplement the state aid by very small
tax to extend the scholastic term
A system of public education is as much a
branch of our government, SO far as finan-
cial support is concerned, as is the judici-
ary, the executive or legislative. All the
citizens are required to assist uniformly in
all this support. Is it well to sub-divide in
this right of taxation into smaller trag-
ments tnaa counties? Has Senator Gibbs
studied this feature in the case?
But again, the honorable senator follows
in section 8, of his amendment, in the
same old rut of constituting the governor,
and secretary OF state board of education
| w uiStrlUuJe tue puUliC Iree sCuOOl luuu5
to the several counties and to perform othe
dulles" etc. Let us abolish this thing.
Those officials were never elected
with a view to such qualifications.
They are overwhelmed with Their own es-
pecial duties, and actual experience has al
ready demonstrated that they have no time
to attend to these board of education meet
ings or matters. There is no force in such
system, no efficiency in such divided re.
N m hat a
state like Texas, with such great school
interest, the only true solution is in the ex-
istencc of state superintendent, with his
own individual responsibility at stake.
The philosophy, the utility of special SUI
perintendence, is shown by the experience
of all the states that have tried it. This
supervision is what has made the public
the best directed in the world. And
the same is true of the
schools of Prussia and Switzerland.
Whether we should have at present
county superintendent, or superlntend.
ent for each senatorial district Is CUES.
ton for still further consideration. But
certainly where counties are densely popu.
lated, and where the number OF schools and
the revenue applied to their support would
justify the expense, county superinten-
dent should be had. AT any rate, all four
leading states that have tried it, have pro-
nounced the county superintendency under
the states supervisory commits Toner, "the
unity, power and life of the system Of pub
lie instruction." and 'the right arm OF the
SERVICE" and "the most valuable of all
school agencies" etc. By all means, Sena-
tor Gibbs, let us have a system of supervi- |
sion. state and county. l have offered |
these criticisms in the friendliest of spirit |
to one of the most diligent and promising
ofall our Texas legislators, and trust be
may appreciate their force, or at any rate |
consider of the suggestions rendered. E.