Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-06-05
Why Was II?
Dear Editor:

higher education,
We take it for granted from it's
editorials of the past that the Re-
corler stands for better schools and
for whatsoever is for the benefit of
the masses
We therefore feel nc hcsitancy
in asking the Recorder please TO as
sist rs in investigating WHY the
people's and the school trustees
petitions from Blne Grass District
were ignored in the State Senate,
or why our Representative there,
Mr. Reverend did not push
through the Senate the bill prppar-
ed by Mr. Garrett and pushed by
him through the House.
About tie first Of last February,
petitions were circulated in our
district asking our Representatives
in the Virginia Legislature to aid rs
in having passed a bill authorizing
the Supervisors Of Highland Coun-
ty to make an extra levy Of not ex-
cteding 70 cents on the one hun
bred dollars taxable property in
Blue Grass district for the pay Of
teachers in said diStrict-a bill SIM
liar in its provisions to the bill
passed for StonewaIl district a few
years ago.
With these petitions went also
statement of facts well known to
rs here if not to all the people Of
our county, that our schools are
not all opened any year and those
that are opened run only four
months in the year; because our
Trustees have not funds available
to do better. &c.. and that an extra
levy of 10 cents or II cents would
raise fund Of from $500 to $3.50
winch would enable our trustees to
open every school in the district
where IA school can be made at all
and run it at least five months in
the year and very probably some
years six months or more, and
might enable them to increase the
teachers salary some.
Over two hundred citizens and
taxpayers Of the district signed
these pettions-a few refused to
sign-many others could not then
be seen and were not solicited or
we believe the list Of signers would
have reached three hundred or
more in number.
Amongst these signers were
many Of The most intelligent, in
fiuential, and largest taxpayers Of
the district.
Soon after this petition was sent
to our Representatives, another,
asking for the passage Of the bill
was sent them by our district
board Of education.
Mr. Garrett prepared the bill and
presented it in the House and after
some delay it was passed by that
body.
Now why Mr. Revercomb did not
take up the bill in the Senate is
the question that puzzles our peo~
pie, and we are very DESTROYS to
know why.
We think that either the peoples
or the trustees petition was strong
enough to have had the bill passed
and we do not hesitate to say that
the two together should haye pass
ed such an Act i'll anv Legislature
in the United States and against
almost amy opposition that could
have been prescribed.
We have understood that where
the Act was passed for Stonewall
there was nothing required bat a
simple request from tie school
Loard Of that district. Why the
difference? Perhaps d little thought |
on these question would give US
the key to our puzzle.
If the majority of the intelligent
citizens and the Board Of Educa-
ton combined are not capable Of
representing the educational inter
ests Of oGr district, We want. to
know through. the Recorder, if
possible, who the one or two or
possible three wise men Of the
county are who alone can repre-
sent her interests
Let the people know wlro are OPP
posing their highest and best inter
eSts and who Illustrate nearly
every move for the education. and
social and moral uplifting Of our
masses.
"What! educate the common peo-
pIe-the farmers and laborers'
What! put them On the same
educational and social plane with
ourselves?
Never! that would put an end to
our ruling them and domineering
over them. Ihe only way we can
hold our position over them IS bv !.
keeping the masses down. II we
educate them they will become too