The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-07

dollars. This is divided as follows:
For State expenses :. p cts
For pensions :. -. 4 cts.
For schools -. ........ IS cts.
For county expenses ......23 2-3 cts.
Total 80. -. ....66 % cts.
Then there is always a special tax for
the support Of the chain gang or for road
Improvement, or for building improve
ments, or for charitable purposes. This
tax ranges from 90 to SO 1-3 cents.
In order to increase the school appro-
priation it is possible to take from
county expenses" and increase the spe-
cial tax. 1t is on record in Clarendon
county that a special tax for school i'm
provements has been defeated twice,
while a special tax for the support Of the
changing, for building improvements.
etc, has never failed to roll up a hand
some majority. 1t takes about 5 cents
on the hundred dollars to run the schools
in Clarendon county one month; that is.
when the other revenue is cOnsidered,
but after four months it will require nine
cents. To be palmer, if there were no
public lands, fines, liquor tax, ETC., 1t
would require nine cents on the one hun
dred dollars to run the schools one
month. All this extra tax is used with a
5 cent tax on a four months school, and
if it is the desire to increase the length
of term another month in Clarendon
county it will require a 9 cent tax in adj
dition. So, if this State should increase
the Is cents tax to q cents, it would de-
crease the county tax to IA 2-3 cents.
which would be entirely insufficient, and
the special tax for chaingang, road i'm
provements, etc., would of necessity be
increased 9 cents. This the people must
vote on. Should it fail to pass public ap-
prevail. Then what? Insolvency.
The legislative committee on education
turned to the committee from Clarendon
county and demanded an account of their
stewardship, and this is the question
asked:
What have you done-what has Clar-
endon county done towards establishing
a suitable four months school? Has the
money been put to the very best use?
Is there nothing for you to do? Is money
the only thing needed?
The legislative committee nswered its
own questions.
eve give you SIS, ESQ, and the first thing
you do is to employ a S20O man to secure
the best educational advantages, and
this man generally knows nothing about
teaching, nothing about supervision, takes
liz L IL at ~ rCrooe
houses, has no suggestions about beau
tifying the grounds, rarely ever knows
what subjects. and how many are taught.
You have divided and sub-divided the dis
trictS and have dotted over the county
so many cheap, uncomfortable unattract-
i've houses, located in the edge of the
woods, gloomy and uninviting. until it is
impossible to secure even good teachers,
to say nothing OF the best. For, if by
chance you secure a good teacher for one
term and it is known that she has talent
for instructing the children, her ability
is soon known and she goes to town
where the advantages are so much bet
ter. AS q result your schools arc taught
by those who are seeking a little extra
money to further his or her own private
interest. What do your school boards dc
besides divide the money and locate {
few more places for houses, or settle dis
putes as to who shall teach? How many
school houses have ever been condemned
in your county? Who Superyises thu
school? Vino passes on the grade 0
work done? Who knows whether Mis-.
May in Round Knob township is a goct
teacher or not? In fact, who knows any
thing about the grade Of work done
Your 5000 superintendent should know
sonething; but you have ia schools
that run four months, or so days. ]
will take your 5000 men, good driving, t,
visit all these schools once in the eight.
days. 1t will cost him So q day or $24
to visit all the schools and spend tw'
hours in each. Two hours supervision
for a four months school. If this is al
that can be given the visit is practicall
worthless. except to observe the sur
rOundingS.' This you say cannot be rem
edied because of q lack of money. The,
your superintendent is worthless, and h
becomes a mere clerk and gathers to
gether a few statistics for general re
port.
But you have come here to ask 70
more money. What for? You can't tel
us whether it is well spent or not. Yo
apparently bury it as the worthless ser
want did, expecting some day for you
Lord to come and ask you for it. If tn
State could possibly give you 500, 90
where it gives you $40, 900, and you wpoul
employ a superinte ndent at 81 900, wha
difference would that make except t
prolong the time? Your superintenden
couldn't tell whether the work was don
properly, because he couldn't superyjs
it He could visit each school twice an
give four hours personal supervisio
where he gives now only two. He coul
issue a few more circulars and might cal
ry on an educational campaign tina
would eventually amount to something.
Then the board made a few figures 70
the benefit of the Clarendon county gen
tlcmcn.
Eighteen cents on the one hundred do
lars gives a four months school; or So,
2SG IS appropriated.
The first thing needed is better schoc
houses. This viii cost your county Ct
provide a house with equipments in ai
o''ioh TO what they already have) SIC
70 the school, or s1l, 400. There shout
BE q supervisor for each township at
salary OIL 5000 a year. for ten township
s'''VV' Inns would give each supervise