Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-09-11
Tho Taxation Of School Children.

Now that we are taking up the work
of another school year. it is good time
to think, not only Of the things we
ought to do in the schools, but of what
1t would be better to leave undone. In
the latter list may surely be placed the
practise of taxation by the teachers of
the children in their charge.
This practise which doubtless orig
mated from innocent and amiable mo-
tives, is nevertheless utterly wrong in
principle and cruel and harmful in its
influence. 1t should be stopped
A teacher conceives that it would
be mice" to buy picture to hang on
the school room walls; to send flowers
to an absent pupil; to have ribbon of
"the red, white and blue" to tie her
memorial day program, or something
else equally desirable to her. So
she asks the children to contribute
toward a fund for her purpose, penny
five cents, a dime or a quarter, as is
needed. No compulsion is used. of
course, but it is well understood that a
contribution is expected and desired.
The injustice and cruelty of this pro-
ceeding lies in the fact that there are
always, in our public schools, some
children who have no money; some
who are obliged to be absent at times
for want of proper clothing: others
who could only give money through
absolute sacrifice on the part of their
parents. Either such sacrifice must be
put to the humiliation of refusing and
of being dubbed either "too poor or too
stingy" by their thoughtless mates of
the playground. So the practise.
meant perhaps to teach generosity and
the joy of giving, fails every way; for
there is no deep meaning in the giving
of money easily obtained from parents
who have plenty, as most of our chill
dren give it.
A practise like this, clearly making
money divisions, is out of place in pub
lie schools where attendance is COM
pulsory. If it is desired to teach chill
dren the art of spending money pref
tily. they should be sent to private
schools where such branches may be
taught. In our public schools
where the masses of or coming citi-
zens are being mouIded, let there be no
riade or suggested. no ia
vor given Or implied except such as are
earned by good behavior and scholar
ship. If pictures, or gifts, or ribbons
best influence. money should be pro-
vided for them with the other school !
expenses But teachers should never
be allowed to take one penny from the
pupils.
At first thought this may seem a
rival matter, but a child's world is
small. Little things influence him and
lelp to shape his character forever
After he gets out of school he will have
enough for the develop
nent of snobbishness and perhaps the
bitterness and humiliations of poverty
will not be spared him. But rather than
oster these unhappy qualities in our
chools let us have bare walls and do
Without the mice" things.
All children have a right to personal
consideration and respect, whatever {
he social or financial status of their
arents. In choosing her plans for s
eautifying and enlivening school life 5
he teacher should reject all that may {
OF be freely participated in by every s
hid in the room. This is the true gen. S
rosity to teach, the real good breeding r
human character. I