The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-11
THE COUNTIES MUST HELP.
SCHOOL COuNiI >SIoNER GLENN
WANTS THEM TO TAX ron ED
UCNTION.

IN the state Are 1uNtng Tor tue
support of Their acknowledgements
sioncr Inspected the Coiored Col
lcEc ut ThunderboIt and Was
Pleased.
State School Commissioner G. n. Glenn
reached Savannah yesterday morning and
spent The day as the guest OF supt Otis
Ashmore In the afternoon Commissioner
Glenn was seen by a representative OF IN
Morning News and gave an interesting In
terview. rejecting his Views on the sub
1ect OF local taxation Tor the support OF
local schools.
The Morning News has already discuss
cd locally and odhorially. the position
that Commissioner Glenn has taken on
this question In brief his plan couiem-
plates the introduction az the next scs-
sion OF the General Assembly % bin r.
quiring the several counties OF the state
10 levy county taxes for tho support OF the
system OF public education and making
it obligatory upon them to raise az least
twenty-five per cent. Of their proportion
OF the school fund OF the state. before they
are permitted to draw this proportion
from the state treasury. The project is
receiving the enthusiastic endorsement %
that portion OF the body polite whose ac-
quaintance with educational problems en-
titles their opinions 20 the greatest re-
spcct
There are reasons. various in their ma
ture." said Commissioner Glenn. 'wnlch
think should urge the Legislature ="
PASS the bill embody4ng this change III
the school laws 81 tho state. Just az
present there are but three counties that
levy a tax for the support OF their schools
These are the counties Of Chatham. kich-
mond and Bibb Giynn county did Tor a
time do something in this direction. but
its efforts have been spasmodio and II Is
now doing nothing. Fulton county. out
side OF the city OF Atlanta. expends Tor
public education only the $1,000 which is
It's share OF the state fund
There are now about 81 counties In the
state that receive from the state treas
ury more than they put IN. While mis- -
a great and marked Improvement upon
mast conditions. Il Is yet typical OF the
fact that many counties are doing but
little Tor the support OF their own schools.
II emphasizes the necessity for some
such change in the general law, as the
bill / expect 20 have introduced contem-
plates.
.-rhe bin embodfes the principle Of
local self-government and local support
OF local utilities that has become very
slognn OF Democracy. II IS fair too. and
puts the burden OF education upon the
shoulders OF those who ought TO bear II.
In part al least. Lastly. the additional
money &. needed. IN the country districts
especially. and needed urgently.
In many counties OF che state said
the commissioner, many 81 the girls are
being denied the benefits OF an education
because their parents are not willing 10
trust them on the public highways with
out projections. Hence. there has arisen
the problem OF transportation. and in
some Of the counties. with the help Of
voluntary contributions from those in
tereste'i. the problem IL being solved.
AN Instance occurs 10 me. IN Washing
ton county there were four weak schools.
In one section. which I advised be con-
solidated. To effect the consolidation u
was necessary 10 bring the children from
outlying districts 10 school. and this re-
quircd the expenditure OF some money.
However. II was secured. and the eXDerl-
ment has proven very great success.
Instead OF four weak schools there Is one
strong one. 90 which the children are
brought IN three spring wagons. main
each The additional expense thus incurr
ed has been borne by the people OF the
county. and they have borne Il gladly.
Good schools" said Commissioner
Glenn. "are the essential OF success In the
solution Of the Industrial problem. Given
n people who are thoroughly intelligent.
who understand OF can be taught the
handling Of machinery. who are skilled
laborers' IN the best sense Of the term.
a Hsaa. II
cess OF that people Is assured. Instruction
in the schools Is necessary to bring this
condition about. and 60 render the in
struction adequate 10 the needs OF the
state more money must be used. I be-
lieve the people are ready for the change
In the laws that Is contemplated IN the
bin ! expect to have introduced. and
thinks It's passage will help 20 solve the
problem.
Commissioner Glenn spent the morning
In an inspection OF the Georgia State Id
dusirIai college for colored youth and was
earnest IN HE praise OF the work that IL
being accomplished BY President Wright
and HIS corps Of Instructors.
The condition OF the college II more
encouraging than It has ever been he
said Il ind that Industrial education is
being stressed more and more and that
the students are being given opportunity
10 apply thc instruction AiAL AHft tt''Affs
The work OF the corps OF instructors Is
earnest and devoted and l believe that the
Institution Is destined 20 accomplish
very great good.
''Thc stressing Of Industrial education
said the commissioner. delights me par
ticularly. ] have been criticized by some
OF the negro preachers for what they call
my encouragement OF the higher educa-
ton OF their race. II IS possible that they
have correctly understood my position.
however unjustiiied their criticisms Of my
a atoms may be. Thinking. as / do that
almost exclusively Ia industrial pursuits
lies the ncgros vocation, FOR the present
AZ least. Il seems 20 me the duty Of the
state. to III him! for the life he 81 TO Head.
The ddty OF giving him higher education
may rest some where else. The state ought
to give him that education which IL best
calculated to make him "a good citizen, and
/ believe that to teach him a trade &C.
complishes this end"
Commissioner Glenn says that the out
look for continued encouragement OF ed
ucatlonnl projects throughout the state
ts bright Renewed interest Is being taxi
en- everywhere and the people are begin
ming 20 renNze how essential to their pros-
perfty D. the education Of their children.
IL Il because the people have reached thls
frame OF mind that he has venturcd 10
urge the passage Of the bin providing for
county taxation for the support OF county
schools and making ~ prerequisite 60
IN the state fund.