The age-herald., 1900-04-08
MIR. FOUNTAINS POSITION
He Explains It and Discusses That of
 His Opponent

To the Editor of the The Age Herald:
 In the News of the 3d inst. appeared a card from I. w. McAdory, relating to the administration of the county schools. He opens his remarks by saying that he held the office for a number of years Yes he held 1t for five years and yet Is not satis- fed-he must think that it belongs to him. He proceeds at length to argue the ques- ton of funds and methods. stand flat up- on the assertion that I have used only $1. 5 per child, and have had free public schools in numerous instances. He had available last year $1.97 per child-44 cents more than l have used-and did not have any free schools. I have used but about three fourths as much per child as he had, and yet look at the difference
 As far as methods are concerned, let us compare his with mine. Mir McAdory says that he is "a believer in free public school. Let us see If he is-the records do not show it. We will take as an illustra- ton his home school-Jonesboro. MT. Me- Adory is one of the local trustees of that school, and sends two children to it. How Is 1t run? On the supplement plan. They employ teacher and allow him to charge four grades of tuition, $1 per month for the hrst grade. $.25 per month for the sec ond grade, $1.50 per month for the third grade and $2 per month for the fourth grade. The teacher gives each pupil $1 per month credit from the public money The first grade has no supplement to pay, the second pays 9 cents per month, the third grade pays 50 cents per month, and the fourth grade pays S1 per month. In other words, if I were sending children to school-one in each grade-at MT. Me- Adorys place, l would be compelled to pay .15 per month In an eight months school it would cost $14. There are lots of working people that this would fall too heavily on. I ask the question is 1t honest to put such a tax on the people when they can have free school? Let me give aou my plan. I paid the Jonesboro school $500 January and $400 April l. There will be at least $l0o more-making $S00 The teacher at Jonesboro can be employed for $6O per month-he has taught at it for several years. His assistant has been paid $3O making a total of 800 per month for the two teachers. The rent (with all Mr. Me Adory's boastfulness about what he has done his community, has to pay rent for the school building) and fuel would not cost more than S1o per month. The total ex- pense of the school per month would be $1O0. At this figure the school could be run eight months for the $500 public money absolutely free, and everybody would send to school The school at my place-Mary Lee-is being run on this plan. and we are having eight months school taught by a normal school graduate without the cost of one cent to the patrons. We cannot afford to go back to the supplement system.
 MT. McAdory in his article talks about one man power. He Is a living example of one man power: he wants to hold an office for terms and then cry out that he was mistreated because he wasmot appointed to the sixth term. Numerous representations are being made by him and his crowd as to what I will do if elected. They made the same when I asked for the appointment but the people have found that they were false, and will not listen to them any long CT. JERRY FOUNTAIN,
 **f Superintendent Education.