The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-05-31
Years Grace for Schools.

Deputy Superintendent Of Public In
struction Stewart, in conversation
relative to the cut in the public school
fund, said: "There seems 20 be a mis-
understanding in the minds of many
people as to the State appropriation
made for the support Of the public
schools fer the current school year,
which ends on the first Monday in June,
1899. In view OF this fact it would be
proper for School Directors and others
who are interested in the public schools
to be rightly informed on the subject.
''The Legislature at the session of 1897
appropriated $, SOC, 900 for the support
of the public schools for the two school
years ending on the first Monday in
June, 1898, and the first Monday in
June, 1899, respectively. The spprO-
priation of S. 800, 600 made by the Leg
islature of 1897 for the school year end
ing on the first Monday in June, ls9S,
has been paid in full. The appropria-
tion Of s. ,500,GO for the school year
ending on the first Monday in June,
1899, will be paid after June Of this year
at such times as the State Treasurer
will be able 20 meet tine obligation
WON'T HAVE EFFECT FOR A YEAR.
"The 5,5oO,OO0 which the school dis
tricts will receive for the next ensuing
school year, beginning June 1899, will
not be due and payable until after the
first Monday in June, 1900. There can
be no excuse, therefore, for any reduc-
ton in the wages Of teachers for the
next school year, beginning June, 1893.
On the contrary, school officers and
Others who are interested in the educa-
tional welfare of Pennsylvania ought
to do all they can to maintain adequate
school facilities in all Of the school dis
tricts Of the Commonwealth, and to
make such liberal provision for eOmpen-
sating teachers for their services As viii
justify the employment of the best
teaching talent that can be procured.
One other point which seems to be
misunderstood is in connection with
the fact that some districts have not
levied any school taxes whatever du-
ring the current school year. There
are probably less than one half dozen
districts in Pennsylvania which did
not levy any taxes for school purposes
last year.
EFFECT OF SEVEN MONTHS TERM.
"Soue districts DO not, Of course, levy
a building tax every year, as such spe-
cial tax is not necessary, but with the
exception Of three or four districts, al
levy school tax annually. II is true
there are townships which have con-
tinued year after year 10 levy a very
low tax rate. Many Of these districts
have provided only for the minimum
term of six months, but the Legisla-
ture, at the last session, enacted law
to extend the minimum school term 10
seven months. This act goes into ef-
feet at the beginning o. the school year
Of 1899, so that majority Of the town
ships will doubtless increase the tax
rate in order to meet the demands of
the recent act Of ASSEMBLY which re-
quires the schools to be kept open seven
months year.
"The statement has been widely pub
lished that many districts receive more
from the State than is raised in the dis
trict by local taxation. This is true in
many instances, but with the extension
OF the school term these districts will
doubtless raise an increased local fund
for the support of the schools if neces-
sary 10 do So"