The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-03-10

eignt months each year.
| will add, that Allegheny county
can keep their schools open over nine
on an average, and reduce their
aggregate taxation (Which is already
less than half the rate of Cameron
county, little more than one hundred
and twenty-six thousand dollars.
And If the amount of salary is any
criterion by which to Judge the
qualification of the teachers, they
may have the better teachers.
The same inequality that I have
mentioned exists to greater or less
extent Throughout the State. A person
has to but glance over the tabular
statement of the various counties to
see that one district is required to pay
one mill tax, another thirteen. One
district receives over one hundred
dollars of State aid, another less than
thirty, this before the large increase
in the State aid, but the increase will
not Of itself change the inequality.
Now If any person can see any
fairness in the old mode of distribut-
ion or the one suggested by the State
Superintendent, 1 should feel like
addressing to him the question once
addressed to a boy by an old gentle.
man who was trying to beat some
common sense idea into his head,
viz. Whittier has thine understand.
ing fled, my child1
/ am free to admit that DR.. Walters
suggestion is a step in the right
direction, but it is too short a step, it
does not even approximately over
come the injustice or inequality.
In fact equality can not be reached
by any plan which incorporates as a
part Of it the old basis of distribution.
Some entirely new basis or plan must
be adopted, or we must continue to
feed the fat horse at the expense Of
the lean one.
am aware that it is difficult per
haps impossible to arrive at any per
fectly equitable plan to raise money
to keep up our public schools; but I
, do think, that some plan might be
adopted. that would come nearer
equal and exact justice to all, than
any yet adopted or suggested.
1t never seemed to me quite right
for any man to indulge in criticizing
what others are doing. without sug-
gesting something which Gn his Judge
ment at leas) is "a more excellent
way 1t may look like presumption
for me to attempt anything of that
kind. But having no financial repu-
tation to either win or lose, l shall
venture suggestion.
If the State Legislature is going to
assume the paternal role and dictate
to its masters how long they mus,
keep their school open for the beneh,
of their children, they should by all
means divide the expenses as nearly
equal as is practicable, among those
who are to be benefited or burdened
by the arrangement. Hence the plan
suggest is, that our State Legislature
pass law fixing uniform rate ol
taxation Throughout the State, and a
uniform number of months to KEEP
the school open. And l advise that
the number of months be not SC
great, that a portion of the time must
be wasted in some districts, so far as
the children of the district are con,
cerned.
1t is an incontrovetible fact, thai
in many parts of our State children
who have arrived at an age to be
benefited by long term of school
cannot be spared for long time fiom
work necessary to secure a decent
livelihood. 1t would be manifestly
unjust to tax such districts in order tc
give more steady employment to the
teachers who would be the only rea
beneficiary of the arrangement.
This plan would not hinder any dis
trict having the means and dis
position to do SO, from adding a few
mills to their tax rate, and keep thei
schools open for a longer term thar
that required by law.
If children in certain districts have
nothing to do, or not disposed to dc
anything, and their parents desire tC
send them to school most of the time
to get them out of the way, or to keeI
them out of mischief, we will raise nc
objections. they may even built
gymnasiums in which to give then
physical exercise, if they do not wisl
their children to be Inundated by
taking up some healthy, useful and
honorable employment, and we viii
not interfere.
But every principle of justice and
fair dealing forbids that such ia,
, should be levied upon those wht
, have to work themselves and require
their children to work the greater
, part of the year, in order to make th'
: buckle reach the strap.
/ for one am not disposed to env.
| my more favored or ease takini