The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-20

North Carolina is imposed by the Leg
islature, less than twenty communities
experimenting this by @ self imposed
local tax. Here again we are behind
in educational progress. Two thirds
of the school funds in the United States
are raised by local taxes. Thirteen
states, including Massachusetts,, have
no state tax. All their school taxes
are local. As a rule the states that
have the best schools support them
mainly by local taxes.
OUR LARGE GENERAL SCHOOL TAX.
This is our need now in North Caro-
lima. Oar state tax is already n of
the largest, only six other states hav-
ing a heavier one. But when we come
to count the local taxes and the
general tax North Carolina drops to
the lowest of all but six.
LOCAL TAXATION IN AGRICULTURAL.
STATES.
There are objections that local taxa
ton may suit Maine, but it will not
suit our condition as an agricultural
people. We hear men saying that
good schools cannot be maintained
among a population so scattered as
ours. Local taxation is not peculiar to
the north or to cities. Kansss and
Nebraska are great farming states and
settled only about half as thickly as
North Carolina. Kansas has 10 state
tax, and Nebraska only 8 10 c., but by
local taxes Kansas keeps its schools
open six months and Nebraska seven.
Arkansas is not as d9nsely settled as
North Carolina. Its tax rate for
schools is two and a half times as great
as ours, and two thirds Of it comes
from local taxes. Arkansas school
term is nearly twice as long as our
None Of the following states are 81
thickly settled as North Carolina and
they raise all OF nearly all their school
funds by local taxes, and all have an
average school term of from five to
eight months: North Dakota, South
Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Wiscon
sin, Minnesota, Florida, Louisiana.
Compared with other states south
and west North Carolina is we'll popu
lated. Scarcity of population cannot
excuse our illiterate condition.
THE NEGRO IS NO EXCUSE.
Nor can we plead the negro as an
excuse. Seven states South Carolina,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida,
Virginia, Alabama) have a larger share
of negro population than North Caro-
lima, and they all have a longer school
term than ours, and all but Alabama,
have a heavier school tax. Georgia
has 300, 900 more negroes than North
Carolina and a school term ten weeks
longer. Virginia has seventy five
thousand more negroes than North
Carolina and a school term twice as
long and a school tax nearly twice as
great as ours.
THE EXAMPLE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Mississippi, is a poorer state than
North Carolina. It's per capita wealth
is SO 90 less. Over half the ~poulation
of that state is black; in North Caro-
lima about one third. Mississippi also
has fewer towns than North Carolina
and less persons to the eqlare mile. In
spite of these facts Mississippi offers it's
children a five months school term,
North Carolina a three month term.
Mississippi does this by paying money
for it. It's school tex is more than
twice as heavy as North Cardinals.
As a result there is not half as much
illiteracy among it's white population
as we have.
81 TIME FOR ACTION Has COME.
Let us stop trying to excuse our
ignorance and selfishness, and narrow
miudedness. We are behind all other
states in education of the people. The
sooner we recognize this fact, the
sooner we may hope to change it.