Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-03-16
KEEP TIL: SCHOOLS OPEN
| MORE COM NJ UN1CA ATIONs ON
THE SUBJECT.
why DO Not the MINISTERS of the
CITY Move I'm the M after of H ais
Ing NJ Onex to Keep the Schools
Running PA Su&Kestion.

EDITOR The CITIZEN Permit me
to use a small space in your paper on the
public schools question. To any one
who has read the reports Of the school
committee on the finances of the public
schools of Ashe Vile. it is plain as the
nose on a mans face that the tax rate
for the support OF the public schools has
never at any time given enough money
to meet the needs of the schools of the
city.
With the increased ca pacitv of the fine
school buildings erected last year has
come increased attendance and in
creased expense, which must be met by
an increased assessment by the city au-
thorities for school purposes. This can
not be met by q lumber of gentlemen 60
ing down into their pockets in a charit-
able way, but it is yearly tax which
should be raised. and these gentlemen
would do the city a much greater service
by signing petition to the officers Of
the city government to increase the tax
rate 10 cents on the 500 for school pur-
poses, than they can by temporary
charitable gifts.
1 should prefer that the public schools
be closed for the remainder of the year if
the parents of the children now in the
public schools do not take some action
to raise money to pay the running
expenses of the school tor this year. To
close the schools will be a hardship to
the teachers which 1 should be- very
sorry to see imposed on them. If not in
justice to the children, then i'll Justice to
the teachers, the city should not allow
the schools to be closed this month. 1t
seems to me somewhat remarkable that
the ministers OF the gospel in the city,
who should be leaders in all things edu
eating the people, and especially the
poor, should be silent at this time and
have no word OF encouragement for the
people to keep the standard high for the
education of their children. A revival in
the interest of the public school will do
as much good in this generation as any
church revival ever yet organized. The
true test of a Christian is the interest he
axes in helping the less fortunate of his
fello wmen. =
One of the best known writers OF New
England has truly saiH Out ,oec&he
SCHOOL houses flows the wealth Nf New
England"
The corner stone of anyrepubhc should
be the public schools and no trhe democ-
racy can live without them. This is as
true as gospel.
Now then, fellow citizens, let us have a
true democracy here in this city and
State Let us anchor the public schools
and give plenty of cable that they NAV
ride securely in all wethers, not in char
ity but in Justice. George T. Davis.
AuOiher suxEestion.
EDITOR THE CITIZEN Being greatly
| interested in the public school problem
allow me to suggest another solution.
Many of the parents. probably ma
Jority. have means sufficient to pay for
the tuition OF their children during the
remainder OF the school term. Let all
who are willing to do this send their
names to Prof. Claxton. An estimate
could then be made of the amount nee
essary to meet the expenses of the others,
and then let citizens contribute acco rding
to their ability.
Many could paw smaller sums who are
quite unable to give $1OO.
Many of the country schools add one
or two months to their short terms by
private contributions, and our city
ought not to do less. A Woman