The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-16
THE DUE WEST SCHOOL.
Protest. Axainss the Repeal Of sh'
Special school Tax.

Protest. AxalnsS the Repeal Of tne
special school Tax.
The writer desires 10 reach the people OF
Due West by way OF Abboviile. Our county
papers, 10 is supposed, represent every part OF
'es county ana 70 ,n am M n, ,n!e,s on,s 4, nm. or
moro vital concern than any regarding pros
pective railroads or other material interests-
IL has to do with the intelligence Of the rising
generation, and OF the coming citixsnry ci
thus section Next TO morals and religion this
/. the most important issue. and both morals
and religion are afTected oy II
IL 10 well known fact that before the pres
eni school was started there we're no adequate
facilities for the training OF our children BE-
fore they reached the college. There vas no
suitable building. and no sufficient funds. IL
was subject OF common remark thst young
tges here with better preparatory training
than Old the youth Of Due West.
Much Improvement has been made since
the new school was begun two and ball ball
hoped for. But now all thet has been gained
In threatened by an effort 10 repeal the three
mill tax. During the time this tax was pay.
log ier me property me sceoor ise nsnose1 hS 20
charging tuition, through the use Of 500
which came over from year when there vas
no public school. In the Two years and hslf
The copdi,ions facing us are those: To pro-
Vide school such m We have had costs ten
hundred aud nfty dollars. The sum available
for this school from the com mon schooi tund
Will probably be about four hundred ,a % snd al. ni.
some yesrs past because OF the large falling
OF In the number OF pupils In the colored
schools of the district. How can The deficit
Of ak hupdrend dollars be met:
The wise way. which 10 now beiIg 80 gen.
orally adopted. 10 to raise this by o special
tax, then charge no tuition. and seek 10 oring
all The white children OF the district Into the
NJ hA nho % mi a0
good school. Otherwise such school can oe
run only by charging very high tuition. Dli.
ncult and unsatisfsctory hRs been the tiIort
heretofore 10 raise about three hundred aud
1ny dollars for supplementary tuition. Can
we hope 10 succeed hereafter In Raising ihs
much larger amount by charging much
higher tuition That Is extremely doubtful.
II the tax 6e repealed. !he only thing tnat ,, Gao
month"; out of the public funds. and then u
the school runs longer. then every scholar
will DO required to pay In advance the higher
rate OF tuition. This Will probably result 10
20 reducing the nsmben that the school will
be compelled TO close after hession oil not
more than i've or six months.
| Anticipating this trouble. the trustees elect.
ed two OF tho teachers for next session Tor
it is not q pleasant thought that a commun
! uy ike ours is moving, through . long list ol
Tor The education OF our children and our
Ineighbors' children, when In the same paper
In which the petition In published are iound
petitions from two country com mmunities ask
| ing for an election TO raise three mill teS
that they may the better educate their chill
dreD. Already there are nine OR more dls
trictH In the county enjoying such special 10.
come, and, with others moving In The same
direction, Due West will soon occupy, u she
repeala hsr tax. the unenviabie position o
being almost alone In not supplying adequate
means for the education OF hor youth.
There arc several names on that long list o
petitioners of those who do not believe that u
il beat TO repeal the tax. and " they were no
bound by certain paper which they signec
liun wisely, they now ieei) two or three year
ago, they would heartily support the specia
tax. Among these are several OF our trustees
II who are all In favor OF q special tax. and ART
of the belief that nothing lees than The In
come from a three mill tax In sufficient u
keep up a school Such N We need.
With these facts before our people, II u
hoped that those who are Interested 10 IN,
real prosperity OF our com munity. which u
linseparabiy connected with the education o
our children. viii do their outy on eleotios
day. ). n. brown.