The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-31
TOWN SCHOOL SYSTEM.

management or the schools from Il
district to the town system. We hor
|. the vote will be favorable although "
are not sure that our townspeople ha,
yet knowledge enough of the real az
J vantages TO accrue TO make the vote q
certain as is hoped for.
. Although we were in sympathy wit
the sentiment Of home rule that ia
spired the successful opposition to tn
Assembly.bill designed TO compulsoril,
displace the district system by the tow
system, we are frank in our conviction
that the town system could dis
place the district method with advan.
tage TO every town in the Stat,
and with larger and better results in tn,
educational way. 1t does not appear tC
us that there can be any question aboui
this in the minds Of anybody who has
made even a superficial examination oi
our State educational matters.
We are accordingly glad tc see the re.
newal of effort on the part of those in
terested in the educational advancement
OF the respective communities. And we
have read with interest communica-
tion on this matter from Mr.. JAMES A.
PIRCE, superintendent of schools in
Johnston, which we understand has the
endorsement of a majority of the school
authorities, irrespective of politics.
Ii appears that the financial factor of
the question of change is chiefly at the
bottom OF the opposition. And as to
this superintendent PIRcE states that
while the value of the school property of
the districts is S125,0O0, and the debts
100000 that the idea, that il the town
votes IN favor OF the new plan it will
be compelled to assume the debt of $780,
600, and, in addition, pay over the
go, 900 to the different districts, is en-
tirely erroneous The town need not
assume its debts-in fact. will Motif
the propo sition for tho town system is
carried.
There are provided by statute two
courses. either Of which town may
follow in abolishing the so-called
district plan. BY one of these the town
nominally assumes the district debts.
This method the opposition evidently
has in mind. II is unnecessary to g
into the details Of this plan, because, as
matter Of fact, IL is never followed.
OF all the towns in the State which
have abolished the district system, not
one has assumed the district debts.
The other course Is always taken.
That is, the town. buys all the school
but leaves it to the several
districts to pay their respective debts
In their own way and at their own time. |
To make the matter clear let us sup
pose town, containing three districts.
District A has taxable property to the
amount of 800, 1000; b. $50, 900; @. S4O,-
Ooo. A has school property worth 5000;
b. 5000; G, $500. A has debt of $500; |
b, debt of $500. and C, debt of 800. |
The total value Of the town property
Is $500, 1000; value of school property.
S2OOO. Town must buy this property.
10 do this q tax is levied of 81 per 100.
This means that District A must pay
$1,000. But District A has school prop
'rty worth 5000. which it turns in
oward the payment of its assess
nent. This leaves only 800 net
hat the district must I'm reality
aise. So its tax rate for a single year
will be 10 cents per 800 more on account
Il the change. In case of District b, the
evy OF 81 per 500 on its
10000 property will be 5000. But
600 being the exact value Of its school
roperty. the district will not have to
aise any additional money. It's tax rate
'ill not be affected at ALL The assess
lent upon District c would be
100 as its share of the con.
ribution. But its school property
worth more than that, viz, $500;
ierefore 1t will have 500 remitted-that {
, the SlOO which District A paid goes to {
so the latter's tax rate for the year
all be 20 cents per 800 less than usual.
This is practically the way the matter
orks. One district pays a little more
I'd another little less, the first year
ter the assessment Is made. 1t il
system of averaging. The :,
strict whose school property. !,
proportion to the whole
operty Of the district, is more valuable
an the average throughout the town.
paid by tho town for its excess. the
wn getting the money for this purpose a
I'm such districts as have property be- N
v the average. ii
lt is, OF course, impossible to tell in
vance just what the tax would be for
IN district. OF the more populous
tricts, however, it is prob In
~ safe to say that Plain Farm. as
neyville. Merino, and Thornton have m
lool property at least equal to the nj
'rage proportion throughout the III