The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-05

Total -. ...66 2-3 cts.
Z 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 20 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
proyements has been defeated twice,
while a special tax for the support of the
changing, for building improvements,
etc, has never failed to roll up 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., it
would require nine cents on the one hun
bred dollars to run the schools one
month. All this extra tax is used with a
) cent tax on four months school, and
If it is the desire to increase the length
of term another month in Clarendon
dition. So, if this State should increase
the IS cents tax to 81 cents, it would de-
crease the county tax to IA 2-3 cents,
which would be entirely insufficient and
the special tax for changing. road i'm
provements, etc, would of necessity be
increased cents. This the people must
vote on Should it fail to pass public ap-
prevail. Then what? Insolvency.
icia on cd, inp
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 answered its
own questions.
I'VE give you ST., $50, and the first thing
you do is to employ a 5000 man to secure
the best educational advantages, and
this man generally knows nothing about
teaching nothing about supervision, takes
no interest in improving the school
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 result your schools are taught
by those who are seeking q little extra
money to Rurther his or her own private
interest What do your school boards dc
besides divide the money and locate q
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 the
school? Who passes on the grade OF
work done? Who knows whether Miss
May in Round Knob township is a good
teacher or not9 In fact, who knows any
thing about the grade of work done;
Your 5000 superintendent should know
something; but you have ia schools
that run four months, or so days. II
Will take your 5000 mon. good driving, t.
visit all these schools once in the eighty
days. 1t viii cost him SO a day or S2it
to visit all the schools and spend two
hours in each Two hours supervision
for four months school If this is al
that can be given the visit is practically
worthless, except TO observe the sur
rouEdings. This you say cannot be rem
edicd because of lack of money Their
your superintendent is worthless. and ht
becomes a mere clerk and gathers to.
gether few statistics for general re.
port
But YOU have come here to ask fol
more money. What for? You can't tel
us whether it is we'll spent or not You
apparently bury it as the worthless SER
want did, expecting some day for you,
Lord to come and ask you for it. If the
State could possibly give you $40 0OC
where II gives you $4,000 and you would
employ a superintendent at 81 900 what
difference would that make except tc
prolong the time9 Your superintendent
couldn't tell whether the work was done
properly, because he couldn't supervise
H. He could visit each school twice ant
give four hours personal supervision