Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-02-19
The Forty Cent Assessment

oOCh dooCoocu ioitJ NChto pOi pup
for the session, for hot air to warn
our little ones while they are get
ting enough in their little mugs tc
enable them, when they get big, tc
vote and be presidents.
Some of the patrons do not take
kindly to the little wood bills. yet
we cart help admitting they are
quite modest and timely.
We, who have children. must
not expect to get everything free
in the school line. We should be
willing to make some effort and
sacrafice in order that our children
may not haye to depend entirely
upon unframed muscle in after
life. If we do not take some IN
terest: if we do not make some
sacrifice and if we do not more
fully appreciate these advantages
then. we fear, the free school Will
fail of blessings to our children.
We should not be like The High
land, man who, some years ago.
when informed that compuls Dry
school law was being contemplated
remarked that if they made his
children 90 to school, they had to
buy clothes for them.
Suppose we didn't have a young
ster in the world to send to school
and at the same time paid a whole
lot of school tax to help in the ed
ucation Of the children OF our
neighbor who, possibly, pad but
few cents school tax. DO you
think we would kick then? More
than likely. Would we have !"
right to kick? Well, its just tins
way: A fellow who don't, has got
TO be entirely void Of selhshness
he must have attained that poln'
in high experience that it Is tht
privilege of humanity to reach
. where he can see the beauty IN Inv
ing for others, and can bellev'
that the bread be casts upon tn
water will return after many days
And he must believe too, with tn
scientist, that the bank note i
teeming with deadly microbes and
for the sake of health. must shoV
it along. Since the time of Christ
how many have been born into tn
world and raised to be full grown
who have lead thoroughly unset
fish lives? :,
The rich pay the most Of tn
school tax and send the fewes
children to school. They are no
wholly dependent upon the fire.
school for the education OF thel
children, but the poor people are
Il must be clearly demonstrated
then. to those who pay the bulk Q
the school tax, that they should d
so, not for the direct returns the
NAV get individually. but for tn
public good. and indirect indlvlda'
good. .. -
One way of demonstration. o
the part of those dependent upo
the public school, is to show AZ
probation. Such patrons shout
do all in their power for the schoo
because they are being direct
benefited. They should let thel
children know that what is place
before them is all thev will ge
and that they may receive tul
benefit, should see that they ar
at school every day and are stud
OTIS at home. A little extra wor
coming on, if the parents can pos
sibly get through. should not kee
the children at home for a day. |
those who are being directly hene
flied do not help along and sho'
appreciation, how can we expeec
those who are but indirectly IN
terested to exert themselves to an
great extent? This interest o
the part of parents would sho'
that the public school is wort
looking after.
Those who have made choice o
teaching for livelihood can he'll
along ~ being equally as niue
interested ia the school as they ar
in drawing their pay.
School officers can help by care
forethought and judicious expen
dture Of money.
All these things 60 toward max
ing the school system of value tt
the taxpayer, whoever he may be
and will incite general interes
in the matter, even to the exten'
that should more money be requlr
ed for more effective work, the
"powers that be" will grant it.