The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-07-29
"uOrRR,Sn VIEWS.


In this weeks SENTINEL appears
a communication from "Voter, who
antagonizas the local taxation act
for public education and gives the
reasons for the faith that is in him.
In general, we do not agree with
aVoter." but we commend him Tor
speaking his convictions. Agitation
of a subject is the way to bring 10
the front what is in it and to enable
the uniformed to arrive at lntelli-
gent conclusions.
The local taxation act is not free
from objections and its application
would not be of equal benefit under
all circumstances, but its general
tendency is to stimulate interest IN
and to advance the cause OF pubic
education, and, therefore, we heartily
favor its adoption in such LOCALITIES
as stand in need of its beneficial pro
visions
We think Voter is rather severe
upon our teachers, in charging them
with entirely selfish motives In their
enthusiasm for the measure. 10 be
sure, whatever promotes public edu-
cation benefits the profession OF
teaching, but it does not stop here.
1t is a general benefit to the commu-
nifty and to the State and hence the
objection to class legislation does
not apply in this instance. If per
son helps himself and everybody else
at the same time he is not open to
condemnation, at least for the effect
of his action. The main idea in the
local taxation act is that 1T Will
prove advantageous to such commu-
mites as adopt it and it would be
poor argument to forego these ad-
vantages simply because the teachers
would be benefited along with the
community. The teachers OF our
State have done and are doing a
grand work for the cause of educa-
ton and, as a rule, there is no danger
that they will get more out of it than
they deserve.
"Voter" says "we now have long
enough free schools and teachers
competent enough to theach them.
This may be true as to his particular
district. If so, his district does not
need the local taxation act and, we
presume, will vote against it. II this
condition prevailed throughout the
State there would be no necessity for
the law, but, unfortunately, this con-
dition does not prevail. In vast
majority of the school districts In
the State the school terms are
entirely too short, in very many
instances falling short Of the consti
tutional limit of four months, and to
aid such districts the local taxation
act, with the State gift provision,
was devised.
"Voter" suggests that instead OF
the plan now being discussed, the
State should have apportioned to all
the school districts the fifty thou
sand dollars which it now proposes
to dispense to such districts as shall
vote for local taxation. He supplies
an answer to his suggestion when he
says "we now have long enough free
Schools" presuming that this state
ment is intended to apply to his own
district. 1t would be poor policy on
the part of the State to give more
money to the districts that do not
need it and thus lessen the amount it
will be able to give districts that do
need it and are willing to comply
with the provisions of the gift.
of course, it is not to be expected
that school districts having enough
money to conduct a sufficient num-
Der of public schools for eight or nine
months in the year, and to employ
sufficient corps of competent teach
ers, will vote to raise more money
for this purpose. AS we have stated,
the purpose of the law is to extend
greatly needed aid to the less fortu-
nate districts, with the further pro-
vision that this aid will be confined
to such districts as realize their need
and show disposition to help them
selves, by voting for the special tax,
which will be supplemented by an
equal amount by the State to a sum
not exceeding five hundred dollars to
each district.
1t is to be hoped that many of the
needy districts will utilize the adyan-
tage to their school interests to be
derived from voting in favor of the
local taxation act.