Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-10
SUGGESTIONS
FROM OTHERS
WHERE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
MONEY OF GEORGIA GOES


MONEY OF GEORGIA GOES
To the Editor Atlanta Journal:
In the announcement of State School
Commissioner Glenn appears the follow
ing statement: Every dollar that the leg
islature appropriates for the common
schools) goes Immediately back into the
pockets of the people"
In your issue of February q, 1902, Mrs.
w. III. FELTON, criticises the language of the
commissioner in an article headed, Where
Does the School Money Cor" Great en-
phasis is placed upon the word back,
likewise upon the word people" She de-
cides that the whole common school sys-
tenn is failure, and gives illustrations
from her home county TO prove II. Sne
prophesies an inevitable "revolt,N ana
concludes by saying, 1.-THE thing will event.
ually break down with its own weight"
Her article, think, does great injustice
to our common school system. Here are
some extracts: Some people do get tax
money back in their pockets very quickly,
but they must be commissioners, members
of school boards, teachers, or persons who
sell school supplies at enormous prices 10
the patrons" Again, 1.-THE great majority
who pay taxes get nothing and less than
nothing" After giving the expense &C
count of 1900 for the public schools. we
And this comment: This Is the common
school account nothing but the
commonest kind Of very common schools.
Again we find, ut is unnecessary to say
a revolt Is obliged to come, and that De-
fore many years"
The article closes with the following
language:
Unless the majority of the tax payers
get some return for their tax money the
thing win eventually break down with Its
own weight"
Are these criticisms Of Mrs. FELTON, just?
Are they true? Is the public school sys-
tenn of Georgia as badly managed as the
writer of this article would have us be-
lieve?
let us seeL Let's be wise enough to find
the truth and good enough to proclaim IT,
II is easy to criticise. 1t seems to be along
the trend of human nature to ma fault'
IT Is very easy to examine a thing super
ficially and declare that 1t is bad; but II
Is sometimes quite difflcult to give a thor
ough and impartial examination In order
that we may discover truth and be gov
erned nv IL. The public school system OF
Georgia Is of vital interest to every man,
woman and child in the state. II was
founded for the purpose OF assisting the
homes of Georgia in making our boys ana
girls wise, good, and useful cluzens. II
was founded for the purpose OF assisting
the children of Georgia to realize in them
selves true manhood and true womanhood
Is n successfully serving this purposeT
Official reports show that we nave TODAY
an Georgia more normal trained teachers
than ever before, that the standard OF
scholarship is higher. that there are
greater number of children IN the puuuc
schools. that the percentage OF hhteracy
| is less that children are reading more,
that libraries are being established In the
rural districts, that there is a heaEthy.
growing sentiment in Georgia in favor OF
Education. civilization and Christianity
Are we getting nothing and less than
nothfng?' In 1898 there were In Georgla
A Gas illiterate white children, IN 1898 tneEe
were only 22,e1T; a decrease or H'Izi. IhiIiA
of the illiteracy OF our STATE pei1 -, e.
creased more than 80 1-3 per cent in nve
years. And yet Mrs. FELTON, Wouio nave
ne believe that the great majority OF
tax-payers get nothing and less tnan noth-
| tngn for the money which they pay TOT
| the support of our public schools.
Not only a majority but a great ma
| 4orftv. get even less" than nothlns'
what a reflection on the ability ana IN
| +agritv Of our school officials ana every
member of the leglslatuFe "H" 49,
the appropriation! -,
In 1900 there were IN Georgia 1870 chli-
dren An the public schools. Did these pu-
nils receive less than nothingE Does
man who has no children receive less tnan
nothing when his neighbours boy Is ecu
Gated and trained to industry ana user "
| citizenship? In 1900 the schools OF Georgia
| cost s., Al, 1888. Where did the money go!
II went to pay school officers and teachers
ana to build and equip school Duiidlngs,
Should 1t have been spent other WIS., se,
| Does not every civilized country on eartn
nav for the education Of its chlldren
would Mrs. FELTON, have commissioners
| and Georgia school teachers serve the
| state without pay? Are their salaries too
high? In 1900 the yearly salary OF the
| school teachers of Georgia averaged less
| than $3.50. Does Georgia pay more Ior
schools than her sister statesg give pc
low the ofacial table showing the sums
| dieraraut states provide annually for the
l N---- Ia - nnhnlac tAc az