Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-10
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF TIE STATE.
a Number OF Important Changes In me
School Law SuGgestod-What Is Neeoeo
TO Perfect the system.

TO Perfect the system.
Our progress in education has
been remarkable. AS this is
question of such vital Importance
to our people, and as we expend three-hitns
of the taxes upon our schools, ask your
consideration, ct some length, OF the scnooi
question. .,,o.ooo -
In 1870 our school fund was 1929, 300, gen
eraI school fund was 1888, 1902. In 1894
the school fund was S766,616.SO and the
general school fund was $751;, 9+o.44. In
$3.50 the number Of school houses was
31l3. In 1894 il was 1902. In 1870 the
number of pupils was l62, 432. In 1874 the
number was 49,, 40. In 1870 the average
length of term was four months and two
DAYS. In 1894 il was five months. IL lo'o
the value of school houses and Dulldlngs
was 81, OH, 932. In 1894 it was S2,3fo,3oo.
In 1870 the average rate OF levy Tor scnoOl
and building purposes was 80 and 10 cents
on 500. In 1894 it was 30 aud II cents.
ANY system under which such showing
as this can be made is not u poor one. In
the main features, our system is u gOo9
one. but it has been added to, amended and
changed. in so many ways oy the various
legislatures that it is ambiguous III It's de-
tails obscure in its operations, unjust, ana
very often upduly cumbersome. oelleve
that that the whole school law should be
intelligently and comprehensively revised
as a whole. do not believe that isolated
amendments will reach the OBJECTIONS
to it,
Again, the district levy is the unit OF
taxation. Very often this produces ln-
equality and absolute unfairness in the
same county. Let the county levy be the
unit of taxation. This will produce longer
schools all over the State, and better pay
for the teachers and bear equally on al
parts of the county This unfalrness OF
Inc district levy is shown by an illustration
which is repeated all over the state. A
district pays fifty cents on hundred DOL
lars valuation and has four months school,
whilst an adjoining district which mas
railroad through it has levy OF only nj
teen cents on the one hundred dollars ana
six months school, My suggestion would
eoualize the school levy over the county
and give minimum of five months school
in each county This subject IS OF great
Importance as three-fourths OF our children
receive their education in these district
or village schools.
Again, the Independent School DISTRICT
has gotten TO be an abuse, and virtually
defeats the fundamental constitutions
idea of the law which says "Ihe Leglsla-
ture shall provide by general law thor-
ough and efficient system OF free schoolS.
Inc process Dy WHICH IuCSO 4uuSp
school districts are brought into existence
is simply the abuse Of the power which
the richer part Of the county has over the
poorer part thereof. The voters of a rich
community holding the voting power OF
the district, selfshly form district to
themselves and exclude from its benefits
those who happen to live across the line,
in the poorer section of the district. Thus,
the richer portion of the district divides
itself from the rest Of the distrlct'and uses
for its own selfish interests the improve
ments which in all likelihood have been
given it by the outlying country. In
majority of instances, the Independent
District system is opposed TO the honest
aud equal advance of the free schools, and
is wrong and selfishly unjust to large
part Of the people who pay taxes.
This independent district system is Ut
terly unjust TO the poorer parts OF the
State, and this proposition very largely
applies to the whole free school system.
The rich cities and counties virtually re-
ceive the benefits from the free school
system whilst the poorer counties are lett
out. This is not right The system
should be as universal as possible.
| append some statistics gathered from
the school reports, showing the glaring
Injustice and inequality Of theindependent
school district system: