San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-06-27
THE SCHOOL HOUSE QUESTION.

tfUNos
Before proceeding wo wish to state
that in what VIC said last week OF the
handling OF tho free school pupils in
tho Institute after they had been
withdrawn from their own house, we
did not mean to be understood as
intimating that tho Institute manage
ment did not do MS we'll by them as
the circumstances allowed. But
aside from the lack OF suitable &C
commodation, the attempted combin-
alton was one forbidden by the con-
stitution and laws of the State, by
reason and justice and tho best in
terests OF the people ut large. 1t
could not therefore, end otherwise
than in failure and disaster.
The sketch OF puLlic school history
in Sun Marcos in our last referred to
the conflict over the question OF build
in z our present school house, its brief
occupancy by the public school, and
its following surowSdue by the In
stitute management, leaving the
school house abandoned and desolate.
This state of things continued for
quite number of years, during
which period San Marcos must have
lost not few desirable citizons who
otherwise would have settled here,
occupying her waste places and
vacant houses. For what intelligent
man or woman from other states,
where the public schools are fostered,
could have failed to read the lesson,
more eloquent than words, of our
deserted public school house on it's
ragged, rocky hill?
At last, in the spring of 1885, mot
SO as our types had it last week.,
there was q sufficient waking up
our people to call for q vote
On the question of separating and
putting our public schools under the
exclusive control of tho city, as pro-
vided by law, The special friends of
The Institute made most bitter and
fight against this move
nent, but it prevailed by n decided
majority. The vote took place Mt
the corporation election of April 9th
Of that year. It may be interesting
10 read tho report of the vote on the
school question. 1t was as fol,
lows: North poll, 05 for, Ga against;
South poll, II for, 35 against; total,
l66 for, 90 against; total vote for and
against, 2G5; majority for separation
81. This election was followed by
another by which it was decided to
put tho schools under the manage
ment of trustees.
The public free school having thus
struck fairly and squarely for indie
and the net being IRE
,Ocable, it was naturally to have been
expected that the warfare on it would
cease. There was, in fact, lull for
short time, and certainly 1t was no
ault of the public school trustees
hat peace and harmony did not con-
inuo, for they were assiduous in their
Efforts to conciliate the Institute
management. They chose as super
ntondont a member of the Metho-
list church, with several former teach
RS of the Institute, and very friend
y to it, rs his assistants. They did
more, and what they should not have
lone-they allowed the Institute
70 secure free school pupils from
formed in the surround
ing country for that purpose. We
ire assured that the Institute has
bus been receiving about $500 an
lually from the public school fund
ince the vote of separation. This
vas permitted on the ground Of in
efficient room in the public sc hool
louse, but this fact should not be
leld as warranting disregard of the
aw. Until we get better school
buildings, another room could be
ented or addition made to accommo-
late thoso outside pupils, should they
Iesire to send to school in the city,
o that all may be under one super
ntendent. Besides we learn that
he term taught by the public school
J longer, for less money. We feel
iarranted in saying that the trus-
ees will hereafter correct their err
or, and require the strict enforcement
( the verdict of the people at the
oils for the complete separation of
he public schools and the complete
ontrol by the trustees of oil the pub
Ic school pupils sent to the city. |
We shall probably have more to say
n this subject.
All these concessions failed to pla-