The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-01
SATURDAY, MARCH /, 1884.
Book Fees.


Our Double Pipe Creek correspondent
this week makes some pertinent remarks
upon book fees. He speaks of a petition
for their abolition being circulated in.that
neighborhood and presumes that similar
petitions are being circulated elsewhere in
the county. In this he is correct, we be-
lieve, and efforts are being made in other
counties to do away with book fees.
The book fees in Carroll amount to
about $780, If the petitioners succeed
in having them abolished the public school
system must suffer If We judge the tax
payers of Carroll Alright, they are opposed
to an increase of taxation for any purpose.
The amount now applied for public school
purposes is inadequate under our present
school system, and to take from that a
mount $4,000 would result in lessening
the number of terms or the further reduc-
ton of teachers salaries. If the former
be done, public schools will be Of little val
ne. If the latter be done, it will be diff
cult, if not impossible, to secure competent
teachers.
Let those interested in having book fees
abolished consider these facts, and reflect
whether, in the effort to save dollar or
two, they are not in reality losing an OPP
portunity to educate their children.
If there be any change in the book fee
system, it should be to make fees uniform
to all patrons, and require them to be paid
in adeance 1t is misfortune to be poor,
but there is not man or woman IN Car
roll, with children to educate, who cannot
afford to pay the small amount required
for the use of books. School houses, fuel,
furniture and teachers are supplied at the
public expense, and that should be suffi-
cient. The people ought to do something
for themselves.
The ADVOCATE has no other interest in
this question than the public good. We
said last week that the school law should
be amended SO as to reduce the branches
to be taught to reading, writing, arithme-
tic, geography and grammar. The public
school system, we stated, contemplated too
much for the funds devoted to education.
In that we spoke in the interest of public
education, and we now speak against abol-
ishing b)okfees in order to preserve the
schools. 1t must be remembered that
large amount of the school tax is paid by
persons who do not patronize public schools.
Some heavy taxpayers have no children to
educate, and others choose to give their
children a higher education than public
schools afford. Many derive no direct
benefit from the taxes paid Few, if any,
object to the present levy for public educa-
ton, though many believe that much of the
money is virtually wasted because the
school system embraces too much. That
government is best that interferes the least
with the rights and privileges of the people.
Taxpayers do not like to feel too heavily
the public burdens. They do not want to
b. compelled to contribute largely of their
means for that which does not directly
benefit them They do not object to con-
tributing to elevate the youth of the land
and to give them a rudimcntal education,
in order that they may become enlightened
and useful citizens; but they think that
everybody should help themselves little,
and not depend upon the public for all.
At public school in this county eight
Of the fifteen patrons pay nothing in the
way of taxes At the public expense, then,
those patrons have roads, bridges, schools,
courts and the protection of the law, and
pay nothing whatever to the general fund
and in addition the county maintains a
home for them, should they ever become so
unfortunate as to need one. In another
section of the county taxpayer pays
about $50 taxes, and receives back, in the
way of educating his children, more than
$40, and has all the other blessings of gov
eminent beside.
Let the people consider well what they
are doing, when they ask for the abolition
of book fees, lest they work injury to the
public schools. Carroll gives nearly third
of her whole levy for public education.
Notwithstanding this, levy of three cents
additional is asked on the one hand, and
upon the other it is proposed to cut off the
book rents, which would nearly equal the
increase, and leave the funds about as they
are.
If the bookfees are maintained, the
school law amended, and little more
economy be observed in expanding the
public school fund, we believe that in few
years, with little aid that will probably
be obtained without an increase of taxation,
the schools will be more efficient, better
school-houses will be provided, and teachers
be paid more literally. 1t takes time to
get a school system efficient, and the peo-
pie should be patient and lend personal aid
as far as possible
The German and American press are still
discussing the Herr Lasker resolutions, and