Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-02
Toe Richmond schools.

We do not blame anybody for de-
string to get his children into the public
schools OF this city; but we suppose
that the taxpayers here would ask to
know the reason why IL the Board Of
Trustees Of the public schools were to
admit children from the county at time
when there are twelve hundred colored
and three or four hundred white chill
dren in Richmond who cannot be &C
commodated. The people of this city,
white and colored, think that charity
ought to begin at home. Would the
Mshoneites admit children from the
county to the exclusion of children from
the city? This city is Democratic, and
the county Republican; but we don't
think that this would be accepted by
the Richmond taxpayers, white or COL
ored, as a reason for discriminating
against the city children.
The school trustees Of Richmond are
about TO rent rooms to be used as
school.rooms until three or four new
school.houses can be built. If the
Council will appropriate the money
needed for these new schools, the trus-
tees will rejoice. The hands OF the
trustees are tied. They cannot build
new houses nor employ additional
teachers without the consent Of the city
fathers.
Would the Mahoneites. if they were
in power in Richmond, build new
school-houses for the sole purpose OF
accommodating the children Of persons
residing in the county, If not, there
is nothing to dispute about; for surely
the Mahoneites would not expect the
city children to be excluded in order to
educate the county children. Is there
any good reason why the people Of this
city should be taxed for such pur-
pose as that? IL so, the people of
Norfolk. Petersburg, Staunton, Dan
vile, Lynchburg, Alexandria, and all
other towns and cities ought to be
taxed to make amends for the failure,
if there has been q failure, Of the au-
thorities of the counties in which those
places are situated to provide suitable
educational facilities for the children Of
those counties. Would such course
tendto increase the popularity of the pub
lic-school system? Would it not rather
have the effect of raising a clamor
against system which would thus tax
the liberal for the benefit of the stingy?
Richmond city last year gave CLEvE-
LAND over 1,790 majority. Henrico
county last year gave BLAINE over 400
Is it these Mahoneites that
because the Democrats of the
city of Richmond will not build new
school-houses and employ additional
teachers in order to educate the chill
dren they ought to provide for them
selves? Why do not the authorities of
the county provide better schools?
We know that there are meritorious
cases amongst those that have come up
before the trustees of the city schools
for decision. We would that there were
school accommodations in Richmond
for all the children in the suburbs. We
can think Of but one way to secure
them. Let the suburban population
ask to be incorporated into this city.
Then they will have gas, water, cul-
verts, and the very best Of schools.
Come in, whether you be Democrats or
Republicans, white or black, and "big
Richmond Liberal hearted Rich
neutrality-suspicious. Richmond-will
educate all your children. But do not
complain if she holds that it is her duty
to educate first the children Of her own
citizens.