The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-02
THE SCHOOLS WILL SUFFER.
GRAND JURY'S APPROPRIATION IN
ADEQUATE TO THE DEMANDS.

Board OF EducaUOns DeciAres INN
Fully 1880 Children VIII BE Left
Out of school Next Year-SuPerin-
tendent AshmOre DepIOres the Par
simony DispInyed-SchO Will
Hold Up in Quality, But Their
scope of Usefulness VIII BE Re
strfcted.
by the action of the grand jury limit
ing the appropriation for schools TO $4,000,
at least 1.5O0 children in Chatham county
will be denied educational advantages
during the next school year" Col. George
Mercer, president of the county board of
education. said yesterday.
Both Col. Mercer and Prof. Ots Ash
more, superintendent of the schools in the
city and county, declare that the decision
of the grand jury in refusing to authorize
an appropriation of 100000 will result in
keeping at least three hundred white chill
dren, and more than a thousand colored
youth out of school during the next year.
Il cannot help thinking" said Col. Mer-
Ger, that the grand jurors have failed to
realize how rapidly the number of school
children in this county is increasing from
fact that we cannot at all continue 70
meet the demands of the educationa. in
terests of the county on the appropria-
lions we have had. The appropriation of
only $S5,0O0, $4,000 of which is for the
operation of the schools and $4,000 for
the reduction Of the indebtedness incurred
by the board OF education on behalf of the
10 to to he
of the schools of the city and county. There
will have TO be retrenchment in many
ways, which will result disasrously to
our educational interests"
Col. Mercer went a step farther and de-
clared that by the trimming of the appro-
priation the question of free tuition in the
High school is made to confront the board
of education. A tuition fee Of 50 per month
was charged each pupil until three years
ago, when this fee was abolished and the
tuition was made absolutely free. Col.
Mercer thinks the question of requiring
the tuition fee again will confront the
board as a probable solution Of the ques-
ton of meeting expenses since the grand
jury has cut the appropriation so disas-
trously.
'that the question of supporting the
schools Of Chatham county is not optional
with the grand jury but imperative. The
constitution makes It so. The grand juries
and county authorities may, in their dis
erection, build roads and bridges and ex-
tend such public interests as these, but II
is their imperative duty under the con-
stitution to see that every child in Chat
ham county is given educational advant-
ages. The former is optional, the latter
is imperative"
Col. Mercer said that a meeting of the
board Of education will be held within the
next few days for the purpose of consider
ing the action of the grand jury in cut
ting down the school fund. Until that
meeting is held he is not able TO tell
just what viii or can be done to reduce
expenditures where they will fall lightest.
He said, however, that in his opinion it
is not the sense of the board Of education
to allow this reduction to effect the sala-
Ties paid the teachers.
Superintendent Ashmore, when seen by
Morning News reporter, said concern
ing the action of the grand jury, and the
effect il will have on the schools, both
of the city and county:
''The amount of the appropriation will
affect the quantity rather than the quail
tty of our educational work. The schools
belong to the people, they are maintained
by the people for the people and ulti-
mately 1t is for the people to say to what
extent their schools shall be supported.
With the appropriation granted by the
grand jury the schools can be successfully
operated next year so far as the quality
of the school work is concerned, but Il is
quite plain to me that there can be no
legitimate expansion of our school system
20 meet the demands of our increasing
population, indeed II the debt which the
board has been compelled to incur during
the three or four years past, is to be dis
charged. / very much fear that il will
be necessary to economic along the lines
of very doubtful and unwise school pol
ley. Our school room Is now taxed to its
utmost capacity, and If there be no pro-
vision made for the increasing population
IL is almost certain that there will be
three or four hundred white children in
the city next year who cannot be accom-
modated an the schools, to say nothing OF
about one thousand colored children now
unprovided for.
Il had hoped that the board Of education
would be enabled to carry out its wishes
In regard 10 adopting a more liberal policy
towards the county schools. These schools
sadly need assistance, and public policy as
well as common justice demands that the
educational interest i'm our rural districts
receive due consideration.
In all the schools this year the strictest
economy has been observed, and We're IL
not TOT the payment OF QeDt incurred for
school buildings, which We're absolutely
necessary, no embarrassment would be
felt
But few persons realize the rapid In
crease in our school population, and he
further fact that those school buildings.
which cost the city nothing reached the
limit Of their capacity a few years ago,
and every expansion OF the school system
since that time has meant the outlay OF
money for both lots and new buildings
The city may congratulate itself. however,
IN the fact that these new buildings are
OF most excellent character and so sub
stantially built that they will be OF little
expense 90 the board hereafter The wis
dom OF the board In this respect, / think.
cannot be questioned.
Savannah Is very fortunate In having
board of education composed of gentle
men Of the highest character. who Sre
worthy OF the entire confidence OF the
people, and the public may rest assured
that with the means placed al their dis
posal the very best possible will be lone
for the educational interest Of this city
and county. In this they will have the
earnest cooperation Of the superintendent
and OF every teacher IN the system"