The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-31

| The tax which comes next to this Il
importance is the county school tax an
provisions should be made for each count,
10 levy county school tax sufficient &
extend its school term for q; iess, tys,
months thereby giving 10 the schools 0
each county q term OF noi less than eigh
months. Il seems necessary FOR q coasti
iutionAl change to authorize this COUNTY
school tax and when such change is mad.
in the constitution. the authority to lev,
1 and ooliec; such TAX sboald be for ,hi
purpose Of maintaining the schools abuili.
Z ing. repairing and furnishing school
houses.
The last tax. and the one ,ha, should
be least depended upon tor the support Of
/ the public schools. is the local school tax
md the people Ct Ihs respective districts
should be left TO their Own discretion in
leSying tbs tax which, when levied
should - 10 lenrthening The term Of the
public schools, furnishing Libraries ard
other facilities for the education Of the
children q the district where these taxes
are levied
School orEeuizstioa.-There is an In
Tsrativs necessity for great changes in the
orranizaiioa and management OF the
schools Of this state.
In 1850 The city population Of the United
States contained but one in thirty Of tse
whole population Of the country. At this
lime the cities contained one third OF the
"hoit population Of the country and If The
opulation Of the smaller towns and VII
iAgss De included II may safely be said that
Almost hAf the population OF This country
70" i've Ia The cities ami towns. 4ne
exits and to~as have from the beginning
ilaa The best schools because. liy!u- close
together. they have more conveniently pat
rcniHe-l me schools, and as the wealth o!
he towns and cities has been greater u
iIolpruot 10 the population tnzu the
wealth u the country districts the local
support OF the school has been easier In
We cites ana tcNns than in The COUNTRY.
tbs STATE Is no exception 10 this condition.
cur Gig schools nave been organized aud
literally supported and brought 10 de-
stee OF perfection which IS indeed com
iLeI 1aole Bat our rural schools have beru
nt elected they have not had etftieut
Il zchcrs they have Rot had comfortable
school houses they have been practically
Without school appliances. they have bessa
y lih0ut school supervision. they have been
" iihout Systematic organization. and as d
result most Of them have accomplished
Hiue 10 The way OF advancing their edGcs-
i.pnGl interests suI Il seems 10 ne next to
EIF'skihle FOR our rural schools 10 prosper
as they shonld II they continue In the con-
3ttous that surround them at this time
We have few counties stil tn the con-
Z uIiiy system, II system it may he called |
he remainder OF our counties are in the
District system, but there has been no wise
plan Of laying off these districts and the
.eaIli Is that the districts are regular In |
-i@e and shape. many OF them are too |
mall and few OF them are too larae !
here seems TO be no hope OF remedyins
-hese irregularities unless we can bring |
he people to understand the Importance (
II proper division Of the counties into !
'chool districts. l present herewith a plan |
u organic ng the schools OF the counties |
md suggestion in regard to school dis |
ricis which II adopted would bring 10 the |
lchools OF this State immediate and endur- |
NJ prosperity.
There should be In each county a county |
BOARD of education, which should b. com |
'osed OF an equal number OF teachers and |
'ther citizens. with the county supcrlntend- |
nj as eX-offlcio chairman OF the board
This county board of education should elias
NY AL the schools OF the county and |
hould locate them from year TO year Thee
hculd begin their classification and lo-a- |
ion with the primary schools. and should |
lace primary school in every neighbour
GOD In the county where such n school |
ould be supported These schools should
'e brought as near to the people as post
lie. because the smaller children are un-
Ihlc TO attend az great distance As a rule
very school in the county which has uut
ne teacher should be a primary school.
md the course OF instruction in each pri-
nary county school should be limited TO
i've grades
coated throughout the county, the same
oard should go over again the same ter
ltory and locate here and there, as the
onditions may require. elementary schools,
'hich in each case should have connected
With them primary school That Is, hero
nd there through the county wherever the
Orditiun3 may require. there should be
ocatod school with at least tMo teach
rs. in which both the primary and inter-
-ediate subjects should be taught And
o primary school should be allowed TO
ave taught In II any subject beyond the
Tcscribcd course for primary schools
either should elementary schools he al
owed TO have taught In them any branch
eyCnd the course prescribed for the ele-
lentary schools. except By permission OF
he county board OF education. Finally the
ounty board OF education should locate
d the county, where conditions require
Ugh schools. These. however, should
sually be In villages, cities and towns.
here the people already may have
rad,d school system organized. and there
hould be such an arrangement made as
0 provide for the free tuition OF the stu
chts who desire to enter the high schools
established or recognized by them. Each
rhool, when located. should have a local
card OF trustees, who should be in imme-
late control OF the schools and should eni-
10y teachers. look after the school prop
rty. issue vouchers against the school
and Of the district. and perform school
uties Of local nature.
In this discussion | have said nothing |
bout laying off districts for these schools.
Or do not believe that IL Is wise to have
cbool districts entirely separate ana dis
met from all political subdivision of the
erritory OF the county. except in dividing
ne territory of the different schools and
ne lines OF these districts should be subject
, change from year TO year az may APP
ear TO the county board OF education as
eng necessary. In this State the justice
recincts should be made the school dis
Ticts for taxing purposes. and whenever II
desired to levy local school tax II ,