The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-22
THE MORNING NEWS: SATURDAY. DECEMBER p. 1885,
Public Schools of Two States.


MIR. F reemsn, who is stopping at Thomas
vile, but who is a resident of New Jersey,
in a communication published elsewhere.
| furnishes some interesting information re-
specting the amount of money appropriated
for public school purposes in his state. He
! addressed letter to the MORNING NEWS
day or two ago expressing surprise that the
fact that the Georgia legislature had appro-
priated 100000 for schools should have ex-
cited favorable comment, and even reioic-
ing. The amount was so small in compari-
son with the school appropriations of his
own state that he seemed to think that the
legislature ought to be condemned for it's
want Of appreciation Of public education,
instead OF being commended for lIberality.
OF course Mr. Freeman overlooked some
facts to which the MORNING NEWS subse-
quently called his attention, and he also
| seems to have overlooked the fact that the
rejoicing was not owing so much to the
amount of the appropriation as to a new
departure in the method of increasing the
school fund. The public school fund now
amounts to about 100000, but no part of
1t comes from a direct school tax. The
which was the subject Of MIR. Freeman's
first communication, is an addition to the
present school fund, and direct school tax
will DE necessary to raise il. Ii the legisla-
ture commits itself to the policy of levying
a direct school tax, it will not be long before
the public school system of the state will
be much better organized than it is at
present.
Mr.. Freeman says that in New Jersey the
public schools received from that state this
year s2,0J2, $50, and from cities and town
ships $500, 2S5, making total of 81, 522, 424.
The towns and cities spent in addition to
the above sum S590,036 on public school
buildings The total appropriated to the
schools during the year, therefore, was
50, IL, AL. A yearly expenditure of such
an amount would give Georgia a first-class
school system, but Georgia is not rich
enough yet to give such a sum to the
schools. Some day she may be, but not,
perhaps, as long as more than half of
her population are not taxpayers. She
will be satisfied for while with an amouat
sufficient TO keep her schools open for six
months Of the year.
Mr. Freeman states. with considerable
pride, that Orange, N. j.. the town Of his
residence, which has a population Of 1900,
appropriates 1876, 600 annually for the public
schools. That is not a great deal better
than Savannah does. considering that nearly
half of Savannah's population are colored.
The colored people pay no taxes worth men
tioning, but their children share the benefits
Of the public schools. Savannah's contri-
button to the public schools for the year
ending in July last was S55, 900.
OF course it is ut pretended that Georgia
compares favorab!y with New Jersey ii
school matters. Georgia lacks New Jerseys
wealth and besides, her ciJiz4ns are taxed
more heavily than those of New jersey.
With ali her burdens, however, she is wax
ing up to the importance of improving her
public schools, and it is conf ieatly believed
that they will soon show marked improve
ment.