Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-07
SOME CHANGES NEEDED IN
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

the discussion because It has reached a
place In this country where the taxpay-
ers must get q better return from the
school fund or something more than dis
cussion viii intervene.
recognize the fact that / am not as
young as used 20 be. but that Is dim
Guilty which viii also overtake my critics
When they refer TO my age. i may be
thankful that they dolnot complain that
am also ugly or disagreeable 10 their
school pets or bosses. II they can present
an argument which viii show the perfec-
ton OF the present system II properly ad-
mtnistered. nobody win be more apprecia-
tive than your present scribe. Tor heaven
knows we have poured out an immense
amount OF school funds IN Georgia WITH
precious little benefit 10 the taxpayers up
70 date.
i understand perfectly well that we
have about 1000 teachers who are get
ting a living out OF this school fund
We are paying out sixty-odd thousand
dollars for county school commission
ers Zone to each OF the ~ counues.) II
requires over $4,000 10 disburse the school
fund-to keep the machinery in motion
They are all interested In holding on
An these things have nothing TO do with
nv age or what I did at school before
the war. or my failure to keep up with
the progress OF educational thought
during these later days. as interpreted by
the people who are being supported at the
expense OF the taxpayers. II was an oc-
togenarian and had never paid dollar
OF tax money under compulsion BY the
state authorities, I would have right 70
complain that we have ten regiments OF
common school teachers traversing the
81 counties OF Georgia and supported by
immense amounts drawn from the state
treasury while my own neighborhood has
no schooIhouse. no school teacher and If
my neighbors' children and my grand
children get 10 q school they must travel
TO Gainesville and pay regular tuitior
in a public school so-called, or be denied
q seat In the buildings
What has my age to do with that COM
plant. which can be verified any day IN
the week IL the proof Is wanted2
Let as look into the history OF this pub
lie school business After the war an idea
prevailed IN the constitutional convention
that we must educate the colored race to
make them worthy OF citizenship. We had
. hne lot OF northern advice on this sub
1ect. The states north OF Mason and Dix
on's line had been educating the children
by compulsory taxation We were told 70
copy after Massachusetts,
Il use Massachusetts, simply 20 avoid
mention OF all the statesl.
The negro was a great pet with Masss-
chusetts. and as our southern people were
AHETEE 10 G4ANAAAAE AAAGAE MMAAC the
DOOR whites were left without education.
Massachusetts, plan was slapped on 70 us.
az least half OF Il was forced upon us at
that time We raise the money by compul-
sorry taxation as they do in Massachu-
sets. but we fail 20 compel the children
70 30 20 school as they do in Massachu-
sets.
Even IN Kansas the delinquent parent or
guardian Is fined $50 II he fails to send the
child 70 school three months In the year.
They must accept the benefit. We pour
the tax money into the treasury and when
Il Is turned loose II fails 10 bring the
child 10 the school house.
Although the sheriff can sell me out Of
q house and home, and make me a pau
per II I refuse 20 produce tax money on
demand. / ind there Is no authority 10
place a school house on a spot OF ground
where my own kindred can patronize a
school. nor supply US a teacher. nor COM
pei the indifferent people about me 70
keep up the requisite number OF pupils.
We see a great flood Of tax money rolling
along like a river. and We are furnishing
for a few drops Of the outpour where l
live. Because my head is white with pass
Ing years. and because have no child OF
my own TO send TO these schools. and be-
cause do not care to leave this world
with such a pretense at education. after
enjoyed the benefits OF another educa-
20 be good for all other children. dare
70 rise in my place 10 say one OF two
things should be done. namely: 1st. Per-
feet the present system, as copied from
Massachusetts,. BY using the same agen-
cies that Massachusetts employs 10 Sc
cure educational benefits or
ID Abolish the Massachusetts, system
and adopt one which win not bankrupt the
tax payers OF Georgia and yet give some
results that are satisfactory to everybody.
as well as the commissioners and recipi-
ents OF the school fund who now get the
money. II IS simply preposterous to say.
that the state should be given authority
10 compel you BY extreme penalties to
produce a stated amount OF your income
20 support the thriftiness and indifferent
who refuse 20 accept the benefits OF
public school education. especially when
the state declines TO infict a fine or
penalty on those who disregard this bene-
1T after the money Is supplied.
X is a mortifying condition when the
state Of Georgia is not able to disburse
this enormous amount Of tax money with
out making itself a tyrant TO the produc-
ing class and an incapable guardian OF
the children who are, 20 be educated.
Compulsory taxation Is based on cum
pulsory attendance wherever IL has sue
ceeded. Anything else Is tyranny 20 those
who support the civil government. I'm
less we can compel the children to at
tend the free schools then abolish the
system. and educate those who will or
can attend without such tyranny and in
Justice But 1 am told we cannot afford
70 stand at the cabin doors and make the
negroes send 20 school. that they get more
than their share now. and the mountain
child or the factory child or the wire
grass child has no education because It
must work while the others play and live
By their wits.
Then I say 20 you. dear readers OF The
journal. the time has come fer some
thing better" in Georgia. II you are in
evitably opposed TO compulsory attend
ance. then drop a scheme which can sue
coed with nothing else, wherever Il has
been tried
Some Of my critics ten me crime has de-
creased Tile records do. not say so. The
last report OF the prison commission tells
OF fc00 negro convicts and about 100
whites. We had between three and four
hundred convicts OF both colors when this
public school system Of Massachusetts
was forced upon the southern whites
(Then the heel Of the tyrant was still In
sight. even II Il had been taken from our
necksl We have had thirty years trial
ct the system, and Il has filled jails and
chain gangs and convict camps 70 over
flowing.
The educated negro aspires TO easy cali
fngs and professions like his white broth
er. He forswears the farm He cannot
stoop 20 mental labor after he goes TO col
lera We have been our own undofug and