The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-10-01
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
COnHfssIoSER BR4DWEIL EX-
PLAINS NOW THE LAPSE OCCURS.
Talk of Splendid Appropriation-why he
Ihinks IL should be Mzde-An An
jos sver tn Many Inquiries, Etc

There seems to be a good deal OF mis-
UNDERSTANDING over the effect of the school
law which the last legislature adopted and
the changes which that law Will bring
about.
The Constitution is in receipt of num-
Der OF letters from different parts Of the
state, complaining OF the lapse which. In
many instances will necessarily occur, leav-
ing, as they explain, the present school
year TO consist OF virtually eighteen
months. in which but five months OF the
school will. under the present law, be
open.
gentleman from Burke county, writing
on the subject, says: THE last Georgia
legislature. by changing the school year
from January to July, virtually made this
an eighteen months year Most OF the
public schools closed in June, and according
10 the new law cannot be put IN operation
again till July !. ISe5. With the short
cotton crop and fits low price, the farmers
say they cannot support private pay
schools as heretofore. The result Is that
great numbers OF the country schools Wall
be closed until July. 1856. the children
deprived OF that time from school ana
teachers out u employment"
The writer believes that the legislature
should make a further appropriation 10
cover the time hrom January until July OF
next year. He says the public sentiment
in his section Is strongly in favor OF IL
ought I'm justice TO the children % the
state. 10 - made.
In speaking upon this subject recently,
Commissioner Bradwen said:
-'Oue or the most important measures In
connection with the common scnool system
10 be brought before the next general as
sembIy is how 10 bridge over the difficulty
caused by the change in the school year.
Formerly, the school year and the calendar
year were c0incideuts now. since July Isl,
the school year is 70 run from July TO July.
80 as 10 correspond with the fiscal year Of
the schools. Ii was originally in
tended FOR the schools to have an in
terregnum Of six mOnths-frOm the LIST of
January 10 the 1st OF July OF the present
year but the act was amended by allow
ing county boards Of education TO operate
the schools At any time they thought pro-
Ter. and the sum OF $4,000 was borrowed
from other funds in the treasury 10 help
pay OF the teachers. The amendment
alluded to Writ IaIly made the school year
eighteen months long. extending from July
J. 1885,, to June D. 1895. The appropriations
were not increased, and. in the opinion
Of the state school commissioner and the
state board Of education. We're only suf-
i1ient 10 operate the schools Tor = term OF
i've months.
We see then that county boards had the
right 10 select public term OF 100 days
any time during the period OF the extend
81 school year-eightcen months. There
can. however. be but one public term of
i've months. because the money appro-
prlatCd IS sufficient for only hundred
DAYS Besides. there would then be TWO
school terms in one school year
How many operated the schools in ad-
vauceg'
'One hundred and twenty-One counties
ayailel themselves Of the privilege of oper-
aJing their schools in advance OF the school
year. some counties operated the entire five
months before July. while others occu-
pied nifty days in the early spring and
Itty days ia the summer. About twelve
counties waited until July. but those coun-
ties wiz complete the full term Of I'VE
months by Christmas. II will be seen that
every county in the state VII be without
schools the first half OF 20 unless the
general assembly Will make a special APP
Tropriati0n 10 cover this period Of six
months"
.CaE more money be BORROWER
cit is commended that the authority 10
borrow, applied only TO April, 1885,, and
does not apply TO April. 1885. Numerous
resolutions have been filed with me 10 b.s
presented 70 the legislature, asking for
"a special appropriation OF $4,000 at least
Tor tLls period which is improved for. Ii
looks as 81 this ought TO bc done. If we
are entitled 10 Sl.-u.Hl0 for twelve months.
am Increase Cf the tine. six months longer
ought 20 increase the fund at least S5yl-
CO"