San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-03-11
The Cost and blessings Of Good ~"
tenn OF Public Schools.

upon tho enrolment TO feo' 10 iooo
was only oighty-four cts, per month";
yate tuition costs not less than two
dollars per month, or twenty dollars
per year for the primary grades. This
wide difference in tho cost OF oduca'
ting tho child exhibits the results OBJ.
tanned where q large amount OF mon
oy is systematically and wisely OK
pended.
In order 10 further reduce the cost
of tuition in tho city FREQ schools,
and to realize tho greatest benefit
from the state appropriation, q small
tax of ono fourth OF ono per cent
should be voted to supplement the
funds received from tho State, which
for the next scholastic year will DO
about $4,000. That direct municipal
tax will increase the scholastic fund
900, and enable the School Trns-
tees to accommodate oil the San Mar
cos children within the scholastic age,
and TO continue the city free schools
nine or ten months each year.
Further, the state fund that will DO re-
ceived next year for the benefit OF the
colored children will be ample of it
self to guarantee nine months school
for them.
Four thousand dollars repre-
sonts the simple interest which
would accrue yearly upon upon the
amount required to build an opera
house, with its galleries, private box
es, seats, pits, stage, scenery, traps
and convenicnces for the ballet and
marching amazons, not counting the
annual and perpetual loss OF the
thousands of dollars carried away by
tho many theatrical troupes attracted
by n commodious edifice erected for
their special benefit. Is the theatre
such q promoter civilization, of the
advancement of human progress and
happiness, of morality and Christiani-
ty, that our people should place up
on themselves the burden of q large
debt in order to plant it in our midst?
What are your facilities for the ed
ucatisn of children? is the question
ton that every intelligent man asks
when seeking home in our midst.
The community that can point to
commodious free school buildings,
where tho best schools are maintained,
will draw to itself the best class OF
citizens, who will add to our wealth
and develop our multiplied
resources. How shall we be
compensated for the cost of educat,
ing Nll tho children in our midst
To receive that compensation VIC
must train the individual to that Ia.
Dor which creates property, but ere
he can be so trained he must be ed
ucated What constitutes property ?
Property is created by general re-
cognition of an association of citizens
Therefore a per cent of property il
applied for it's own production and
security. Without this training, this
civilization which education estab
fishes, property would indeedb be inse
cure. What is civilization but the
result of education :? To educate il
to civilzo. Therefore society be
comes indebted to the individual. ant
this debt must be Cancelled by edu
eating every individual. Further
the benefit derived by the individual
will be repaid in that he becomes al
educated citizen, and we cannot deny
the fact that tho educated citizens
constitute the true wealth of every
community. Then it becomes the
duty of our citizens to provide no
only suitable school buildings, but als(
the means to maintain tho school il
it's greatest efficiency. San Marcos
has no municipal debt expressing it,
people, and the regular levy is only
twenty five cents for municipal ex
ponsos, and were small school-ta!
levied it should not be reckoned witt
other taxes that are paid, for the rea
son that it is q positive blessing tt
tho educational and financial inter
ests of the town. A good publ,
school adds value to all interests, ant
the money expended for its mainte
nance is redistributed back to thu
community. Who is it that ultimatl.
paws tho taxes Surely and beyonC
doubt it is the consumers. Then on
whole community being taxpayers
no distinction can be drawn between
tax payers and non taxpayers.
The owner of real estate pays indi
vidually to the collector, but h
does it only rs an agent orrepresent
ativc. He has previously collected
the money from his tenants or Gus
toners, or it may be that he has re
ceived the money by the work of hi
laborers.
Every member of this communit.
shares in its expenses, and the dwell
Ter in the cheapest tenement is a tax
payer. as well as the man who lives
/ in his own palatial dwelling. TIL,
tax is added to the rent, and is laiC
upon everything that is eaten o.
woru-in a word, upon everything
/ that is sold. Then who can consist
oatly murmur at the advancement o
q public school system, which is ;
public necessity. and public enter
prise to which all can refer will
pride. and from which the city vii
rgcoivtvlluable returns for the monoy
. IuyCs;odl
To what can Won point now. wher
. . T. ..,..,.,, ~ ,-or,r mil,