Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
penomInatIonaI -sehooIs-PubIIe Fundl


Under date or December % a CORES
pondent writes:
Dear Mrs FELTON,: IL Is not possible
that YOU do not know that denomination
al and cooperative schools receive money
from the public funds?
Mr.. Glenn can tell II there are schools
IN Georgia drawing pay from public funds.
which are not entitled TO IL.
I understand so much money Is sent
10 each county and county commissioners
put that money wherever they choose 70
place IT,
atiOnal schools in a county all viii keep
silent. for fear they viii lose their hold
on public. money. IL may be all right l
hope Il IS all right. for good men are con-
ceTned in IT,
Public funds are in great demand be-
cause farming never paid so little as now:
but do you not think these matters should
Be better understood?
Hope We may long have the pleasure
OF seeing your views In the paper.
There are a great many things pertain
ing 10 the disIrsoutiOu Of school FUNDS
that I am not informed about. but all
these matters deeply clncefn our people
ard there shall be a full and complete
understanding about Il ALL
ANY information which Will help Coun-
try Homes and the taxpayers to bet
ter understanding Of the public school
system will always be welcomed
Section OF the states constitutional
law on public education says:
Nothing contained IN seCtiOn ! shall be
construed 20 deprive schools in the state,
not common schools from participation
in the educatfon fund Of the state as 10
All pupils therein taught in the elemen-
tarv branches OF an English education"
Therefore UNCONVENTIONAL schools are
enabled 10 draw the same rate OF tuition
from the public fund that z scholar IN the
public schools would receive. that much
and no more
school fund must be used only for the
education OF children in the elementary
branches Of an English education Wnen
a pupil Is being taught other studies IN
any school beyond the elementary branch
IS that pupil is clearly not entitled 20 re-
ceive the benefit OF the common school
fund
n UNCONVENTIONAL schools are not con-
siaerablv superior 70 the common schools
IN the rural districts they are very poor
things indeed.
II child has aschance az another SORT
~ a school than the miserable things l
have seen in rural districts and called
pubIic schools. II Is perhaps thousand
times betfer 20 allow a denominational
school "a have the tax-mOney allowed 10
that child than the other school,
So many Things are not UNDERSTOOD
about the workings OF the school system
- S.s,rgf. thst a movement should pre-
van 10 90 down into the business anu
get the facts before another approprla-
ton Is made next winter
n sooIiId be examined with rigid de-
termination 10 make the system OF 70
abolish II in behalf Of something Oet-
ter. ..,.t.,.,
n Is impossible 10 endure the conditions
now existing without some change
T-na town schools I know but little
snout but the country schools are anom-
Unable pretenses towards edueation' anu
+rsre has never been a time in Georgia
.-5er there were so few inducements 70
rrsen = family OF children in the country
hscsuse OF the barrenness OF the results
OF our system OF education
For nearly a year the entire state has
been filled with rancorous complaints
about the states mean treatment OF
public school teachers. and yet nearly
million. SIX hundred thousand dollars
are now flowing like food tom the
state treasury to pay their bills before the
year Is out Many farmers will have 10
wait another year TO put good shoes on
their wives feet. and plentiful good FOOD
IN their own mouths. and keep roof over
their chfldrens heads. IL Is reaching a
place where people must give up their
real estate because OF this enormous tax
alton II will pay 20 own nothing that
car be u-rsnched away from you when
such unreasonable demands are made Tor
school funds and so little is allowed the
farmer for HIS own children's education
in the country places
There is a revolution coming unless the
demand for tax money Is not either
abated. or some benefits are allowed TO
those who must raise the taxes.
Public schools IN Georgia are confined
Nv statute 20 the education OF children in
elementary branches. but my neighbors'
children who have no country schools
provided for them are forced 20 pay from
one dollar 20 two dollars and half every
month TO get a chance in town schools.
aud you may travel for six or eight miles
on the road IN the direction we live from
the county town before you strike even
miserable country school.
with q new year there should be a new
leaf turned over. II the supreme court
decides that the public property fund
must 20 10 purposes hitherto not paid in
that way. We may expect TO see the next
legislature called on 20 double the school
fund and instead Of relief or reform.
"Rehobosm's little finger will be thicker
than his fathers loins."
The opposition 10 present methods Is
getting 10 be intense. Something vii drop