The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-24
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EXTRACTS FROM SUPERINTEND-
ENT CARLISLE'S REPORT.
The Question of Public Education Dis
cussed-Revenue and the Means Sug-
gested to Increase 1t, That the
Schoo Systen May Pc
Perfected.

latorS. lie says:
1.-TWO general propositions, now almost
universally accepted by thinking men,
constitute the surest support of the pub
lie school system.
The first proposition is, that under pop
ular form of government the education
of the masses is necessary to the preser-
walton of the state and the perpetuity
of free institutions. The state, therefore,
has deeper stake in the education of
the children of the country than have
parents. With parents it is q matter
of sentiment, of affection, of family pride;
with free state, it is a matter of self
preservation.
The second proposition is, that public
school system is the only means by which
the state can make sure of the education
of the masses. The state, therefore,
must at its own peril provide for the edu-
cation of the children at public expense.
These propositions are old, but they are
fundamental, and the progress of events,
| the developments of history the evolu-
tons of society, all are constantly fur
| nishing examples to illustrate these ele-
mentary truths, add to their force, and
| keep them fresh in the minds of those
who attempt to study the problems of
human progress.
| In every state of the American Union,
and, indeed, in every country that has
felt the quickening touch of modern civ
ilization, the question of public education
has gained recognition as one of the per-
manent and one of the most important
problems of government. One of the
most remarkable evidences of the strength
and merit of the public school idea is that
in the face of great opposition, preju-
dice, misunderstanding and misrepresen-
tation, it has spread itself over the mod
ern world, and won from all forms of
government recognition that is voiced
in the expenditure of millions of public
funds. Furthermore, wherever it has
once gained recognition, it has been able
to take hold upon the popular confidence,
extend its influence and usefulness, and
become permanent part of the govern
mental system"
He says the schools have never had
adequate funds. The average term for
the county schools has usually been about
five months, which he says is not ade-
quate to the education of the children,
He calls attention to the lack of money
and says:
| Experience has proven that the pres
ent rate is not sufficient, and there can
be no reasonable hope that the increase
taxable values will so gain upon the in
crease in population as to render it suf-
hcient. Neither can we expect such an
increase in the income from the perpet-
ual fund as to render the present ad va
| loren rate sufficient. In fact, there
has been during he last few years, ma
terial decrease in receipts from the per
petual fund. For the year ending Au-
gust II, 1891, these receipts were ST..
2S2,343.93; for the year ending August
81, 1892, they were 81, 265 ,376.9G; fol-
the year ending August 81, 1893, they
4 Al
Ing August 81, 1894, they were SS37,
; THE DEFICIENCY.
The deficit on August 81, 1894, wa.
1868, 40S.50. This deficit cannot all bt
paid before January /, 1895. AS rule
the schools for the year ending January
1, 1894, were taught during the fall anC
winter, most of them ending not latel
than early in the spring of 1894. 1t thus
results that many of the teachers hav,
been compelled to hold their warrants
the case, they have often been compelled
to sell them at large discounts. In tn,
l main, the teachers have endured the de
t lay and loss without much complaint
I but it is, nevertheless, deplorable in view
j of their meager salaries and the shor
: term for which they have been employed
d that it should have been necessary t
make these sacrifices.
The prospects for the coming yeal
unless the legislature takes some step
e looking to immediate relief, is not muc
G better. The apportiOnment for 1899
|, was S2S36, 3G3.50; for 1S94-9J, althOug
:. the per capita is reduced from $3.50 I
l. $3.50. the apportionment is S2,42S, 10
l. or only S40S, 231 80 less than the previou
l. year This is the smallest apporti0nmen
!. that has been made since 1SS9-90 an
!, the smallest per capita since 1882. Still
e unless the collections of interests %
school land notes should greatly improv
land ] can see no prospects of early IN
lprovement). it is not apparent how tn
state will be able to pay Off the dehclt IL
: 1S93-94 and the apportionment for 1oo4
II 95 by the end of the current school yea
e August 81 1895, with the funds avail
$. BILE under present laws. In 1888, whe
6 similar condition confronted the LEI
II islature, the difficulty was met by trans
l. ferring to the available school fund S504
II 600 from the general revenue funt
which then had large surplus. No sue
method of relief is now available, sine
there is at this time deficit in the gel
N eral revenue.
lee Under all the circumstances, there
=. no reason why the legislature should he
y ;tate to raise the ad valorem school ia
le 10 twenty cents on the one hundred do
u lars. The people of the state by the vot
u adopting the amended section =, articl
7. of the constitution, have not only al
T. thorized it, but required it. That ther
u is no plan by which efficient schools Gu
be maintained for six months in the yea
= without this increase, seems perfectl
/, plain.
ON local taxation he says:
. There are important reasons for PROVE
ing local support for the schools, as we
as state support. Whenever the peop
of a district or county tax themselves Il
the support of their schools, the ia
brings the schools nearer and lends
p them an interest and Importance in Il
estimation of the people that state su
port cannot give. At the same tin
= | the weather. communities in the sta
will the more cheerfully pay liber
state school tax, knowing that part
the tax will go to assist poorer commun
ties, when they also know that poor'
communities have put upon themselv'
reasonable local school tax. In oth'
words, an ideal system of support Tor u
public schools must include both sta
and local County and districO suppo
in due proportion"
Would you have strong baking. POI
der Use DR.. Prices. It's absolute
pure.
q THE PROPER THING.
A c4o, ,,o,,;no oil hills tho inouOurol hf