The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-02-06
LOCAL SCHOOL TAXATION.
An Able Plea for the Same That Better
Schools May Be Had.
To the Editor of the Statesman:

purpose of improving the condition Of
the schools and school houses in their
several districts. There are many
reasons why this tax should be voted.
The farmers OF this county have to
struggle against the Inconvenience
arising from a succession of bad crop
years, but the last two years have
helped the farmers immensely and
they are now in a condition to meet
this small additional tax without in
convenience. Their children have
been kept at home to labor to keep
the wolf from the door, and right
royalty have the dear children done
their duty. Now the fathers of these
children must try to make amends to
them by giving them longer school
terms, better school houses, and,
above all, better teachers. To do
this, however, requires more money
than they get from the public school
fund. Two ways are open to them; One
is to continue the school by private
subscription, and the other by imposing
moderate tax on the property of the
district, as it is proposed to do on Sat-
urday next. The private subscription
plan is open to the objection of its
unreliability. People are often tickle
in school matters. They may sin
cerely desire to do something for the
neighborhood school, but many con-
tingencies may arise that will prevent
them from doing what they wish. The
only absolutely safe and certain plan
is to make the property responsible
for sustaining the school beyond the
time which the public fund will carry
it. This is buslness-like way of do
ing very important character OF
business. The proportion OF the pub
lie school fund can never be much, II
any, more than it is now. Hence, il
the public schools would run longer
the people must l5ok to other sources
This they are already doing, and they
are looking to that source which never
fails. The people of our large towns
and cities have been doing this
for some time, and the results
have been eminently satisfactory
The schooling that the country chill
dren get in the country schools, al
they now exist, is altogether INSULT
cient, both as regards the quantity
and the quality of it. The schoo
houses in which this schooling il
gotten are by no means so comtorta
BILE or convenient as they might be
made by little effort on the part o
the children's parents and friends
The time is ripe for a change for thu
better, and, if the signs OF the times
do not deceive us, there is cause fol
hope that we are on the eve of {
change.
The change should be made, first o
all, in the interest of the children
Although we have the State Univer
sity, college and many good school
1 high grade in our county, but 1
mall per cent of our children, ospe
cially those of the country, can eve
hope to attend either of these institu
tons. If they fail of getting instruc
ton in their home school they vii
be doomed to grow up to manhood
and womanhood with their menta
powers but little expanded ant
trained and invigorated.
The blessings of good English ed
ucation should be placed within thu
reach of every child in our country
and it can be done if we but besti
ourselves and set about doing it il
earnest. Since our country children
cannot, as a rule, attend any othe
than the country school, the training
that they do get should be of the best
but TO have good teaching and goot
training implies good houses and ap
planes and good teachers. Yes, W.
should have the very best teachers il
our country schools. How can they
be gotten? Only by paying for them
1 know of no better basis for rearing {
good, strong, vigorous, intellectual
and moral manhood upon than you
hardy, honest, brave country boy. Lee
him have the best opportunities TO-
the development Of his bodily, mental
and moral powers. Let money b
freely expended on him. H. will no
disappoint your expectations. GU
best men have with rare uniformit!
come from the country. The robus
bodies, brave hearts and vigorous
minds of our country boy
are so many mines that should he dill
gently worked. The loss to our coun
try arising from our neglect TO do thi
is quite beyond calculation.
Again, Travis county contains with
in her limits the state capitol and thu
State University, besides many othe
excellent schools. 1t is supposed II
be a center of intellectual life ant
thought; and, in justice to what the
state at large has done for hes, sh'
cannot well afford not to align hersel
with the most progressive counties o
the state. 1t will make good i'm
preston on the outside world. Jus
now Texas is receiving much atten
ton from other states. Most natur
ally, people Of other states woulc
think that the county in which tn
capitol and State University are 10
Gated would aspire to lead in almos
everything, especially in matters per
tanning to education. Hence, if w