Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-08
TrarsDortatIon to Rural Schools.

- OW that September Is here, and
N the children are preparing for
school work. IL makes ones heart
ache 10 know that many white
children in the country viii not go
10 school: simply because there IS no
school 70 60 to: and they win go through
the fan months just as they went through
the summer months. without the chance
that nearly every negro child enjoys about
cur towns and cities-nOt having TO pay
tuition
We have no school in our vicinity. have
not had for a year and our only chance
Il 70 hitch up a horse or mule and take
the child 70 Gainesville and pay a dollar
a month for the privilege OF seat in
public or private school We are taxed
between two and three dollars on every
thousand dollars worth Of property We
own for schools. and we are as barren OF
schools as II We lived with the Ashantee
tribe in Africa. unless We pay at the rate
OF a dollar a month and upward 70 at
tend the Gainesville schools
with corn at a dollar bushel IL costs
in the neighborhood OF ten dollars
month 10 feed a horse or mule as IL
ought 10 be fed and not counting the time
consumed in going 10 the town school
twice a day. This common school busi-
ness is becoming a very expensive AFFAIR
q poor country people.
II Is desOIating the farms OF their own
ers- Country people have a hard time OF
Il with some return for their tax money.
but they cannot AFFORD TO dilly daily all
the time with no schools in the country.
50 we ind a great many pulling up stakes.
f0rsakfng the farms and going to town to
live for the sake OF their children
II you want 70 get acquainted with the
the rural districts and hear the people
tell OF the privations they endure and no
public advantages coming their way.
I notice state Superintendent Glenn is
still talking about conveyances to haul
school children TO school. II means also
tw0-horse wagons and drivers TO haul
negro children 10 school. for I'll bet my
bottom dollar that they will clamor for
and get as many privileges as the white
children get in this part OF the country.
I've been looking out for the offer OF
chrome TO induce the children to attend.
but maybe the go-carts and twO-hOrse
wagons viii supply their place for awhile.
When the state gets ready to feed and
cIothe the school children the system viii
be complete. and the lazy no account IA
Tiers can chew tobacco and talk politics
al day with nothing 70 do but multiply
and replenish the earth TO keep the go
carts and two-horse wagons busy.
Just run up the figures in your mind
and see how many wagons IL will take
in the state OF Georgia with its ten thOus-
and common school teachers and that
many common schools. II the state foOts
the bill as the commissioner proposes. IL
viii be a better business than farming 70
engage 10 the state and draw pay for
your team and wagon and haul black and
white to school. The country is nearly
consumed already with salaried officials.
and when the six hundred thousand
school children are supplied with trans
portation I'd ike 10 know who will be
here TO plow and to raise the taxes TO pay
for the teachers and the hauling.
The salaried people are the only ones now
who make any clear money. and although
there is n perpetual vail about the poor
pay 70 teachers. they do more sightseeing.
visiting OF summer schools and general
travel and handle more money than all
the formers and their wives do in Geor-
Eia. because they have no money after
tax paying
The latter must buckle down 70 II TO
keep the sheriff or from their homes
and / repeat IL is a crying shame that
IN a county ike Barlow. which has be-
tween seventy and eighty school teachers
these poor farmers that I am acquainted
with must send their children TO town
and ray monthly tuition to get in reach
OF school privileges
bespeak a place TO drive school go
cart when that business starts. because
Il viii pay me 10 let the land grow UP in
weeds II the state assures me OF a team
ster's place. for I can drive cart, while
am too old TO plow.