Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-01-05
INFRINGEMENT.
(FoR THE GAZETTE J

Oh THE CAZETTE.
1t is comfort TT see the effort hat
is being made t, curtail our expenses
and increase or revenue. Many are
sinc rely hoping hat an ocl will lie
passed requiring the payment of at l. asst
a p ll-tax as a requisite to tue excrc SO
of he right f suf age OF course
such will meet wi h strong opposi ion
at tho hauds of those who vote and
never pay cent in tie way of taxes,
an the man VINO 'pu's the bell on the
Cat" may lose deal the ha DIS of
5 me such in he future, tin tue
conscl-ncous DIT charge of such duty
Wi b IA sci in tn est Ia ion of q
vast IN 10 iiy.
In hunting for places to make cuts
to lessen our expenses it seems strange
that our LegisIa ors have never seen
that we in the first place have no need
for county superintendent of Schools
when our schools could be run much
more cffieienilyif placed entirely un or
control of tue District Boards with the
County Clerk a. medium between
them and The State Superintendent
The members of the Boards are for he
people and with tAS people and can
have constant kn9Sfeuge Of the work
ings of the schools, whereas thrs are
many schools us the matter now stands
that run the whole session without
visit from the Superiuen EN-.
In the second place, il there is need
for Superintendent why HAYES so many,
when several colntie. could be laid off
into one ID stric. &ld let one Superin-
Asndent have jurisdiction over all. In
his way one third, or less, o The pres
int expenses would fill the bill.
Iu the next place if made to appeal
necessity in any shap why shoplI
so much be paid for s. little ser lie
and such meagre results? Our State
is now paying but little. if any, short
of fifty thousand dollars u year in
salaries of county superintendent.
Surely, when we are so hard up for
funds, that we can run Our schools at
most but five months in Twelve and ply
our teachers such n pittance, som
change could bo made by which the
amount thus paid out would rot be so
en- rely oct of proportion to the
amount nov plid our tea .h9rs
In my opinion, as one having no
personal interest, whatever in schc OILS,
another change is necessity. We
should by al! means, have compulsory
his would be in no way,
On personal or family right
A I er all of our trouble and expense. 1T |
8 well attested fact that great many |
our school population are growing |
up in total ignorance,-never attending
school at all. Many others attend but
lalf or less, of the session. In jus ice
10 all such and in view of the act that |
t costs just as much to ply our teach
RS to teach part Of The children as
II, there should be u law compelling
parents to send their children when
YER circumstances are such rs to allow
Another good thing would be to
ave law to the eflect that after ihree
ears irom its passage no man upd,r
he age # Is years at the time OF such
shall C allowed t. vo 'e
niil he can III intelli gently and writ.
legible hand. This would give three
ears at least for all who have hitherto
eglected their education to learn to
,al and write. The incentive would
@ such that none would be left out but
few without any capacity 10 learn
hich few ought not to have the piivi-
ge of vo'iag any way, A good end
ould thus be accomplished without
lie least infringement On the rights Of
lybody. As to the plan for the females
hose education is being neglected to
o same extent as that of tie males, 1t
III leave it for some one more COM
tent to solve difficult problem.
SENEx.