The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-05-23

Tho Graded School.

MEssRs. EDITORS No one questions that
Graded School is good thing; butsome
of us who have money invested in the
Military School, and who wish to invest
more in The Female College, think that our
present school system is sufficient. We
think that it would seriously injure our
present schools and proposed Female Col
lege, and that it would be unwise to add
more taxes on our tax-burdened people.
We now have half dozen fine schools
located in different parts of the city, con-
yenient to all our citizens, under the man
agement of we'll educated teachers, who
have their private means invested, with
moderate rates Of tuition, and have an en-
liable reputation as educators. These
schools afford ample instruction for boys
until large enough to enter the Military
School, and for girls for entrance into
Female College. Now, if the Graded
School would not injure or destroy these
schools it would not be worth one.tenth of
the taxes levied to sustain it. 1t would
have to break them down to sustain itself.
If it did not injure the Military School and
proposed Female College it would not
nave the high standard which Its friends
claim for it. If the Military School and
Female College had thirty.fve years the
start, as Che College in Greenville, it might
not break them down; but such is not the
case, and we should remember that we are
not quite as large as Greenville, and there
are differences in other respects against us.
The cases are by no means parallel. The
Graded School will require Superintend-
ent with largo salary, and subordinates
whose appointments must be agreeable to
him. Likely he is in somebody's minds
eye now, and ready for the work, espe.
cially the salary. Admitting it to be q
good thing, would it be wise to invest SO
much with such taxation? ? The fine build
ing, with all its modern conyeniences and
improvements, would be we'll enough if
we were out of debt; but cities, towns and
school districts, like individuals, should
haYe only such conveniencies as they can
afford, for when they go beyond it they
become bankrupt. A reasonable tax for
school purposes is just and proper, and no
ore complains at two mills, but add five
mills to it and we have seven. This is un-
reasonable, when we have 162 mills for
other purposes. The two mill tax must
still go, as required by the Constitution, to
support schools without regard to color,
&c. The citizen, with three children, who
nov pays fifty dollars, when in a Graded
School it would cost him only fifteen, SIM
ply proves that thirty-fYe dollars comes
from some other persons pocket.
The writer believes strongly in educa-
tiop. He differs with some as to the mode
of acquiring it. BE believes that those
who are able should educate their own
children, and not let the schools suspend
when the public money becomes exhaust.
ed. Those who are able should contribute
willingly, over and above their reasonable
taxes, to educate others; but one mans
money should not be taken from him
against his will to benefit another, because
the majority of community thinks it
would be good thing to do so. If this
majority, on an average, pays less than
one fifth CT the taxes, while the forced con-
tributors pay more than four-ffths, it
partakes oil communism. 1t should not be
done where such taxation would be such
harden as would pa1alyze trade, manu-
facturcs and industry, and bankrupt the
community. It should not tax The stock.
holders of existing institutions to establish
another to break them down. Having no
intasest in any except the Military School
and proposed Female College, be prefers
our Schools as they now exist and will
risk losing all the possible benefits which
the Graded School might give these prom
ising seats of learning. Then let us stand
by the two mill tax, if the County does get
some of it, and not ruin ourselves by tax
ing more. =.
! Fl. Nacl,nan, Groenville, S. c., buy,
.>o,.x, N rtiolou ot,cI nc hraSe irOn dam.