Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-10-27
SHOULD BEDFORD COUNTY
HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL?

The Wartrace, Tenn, Guardian-Tribune
advocating a county high school. Once
upon a time an effort was made by the
owners Of Sequachee to give a 100000
building here for the purpose, but the
measure was obstinately fought and de-
feated to all intents. ED.
The state provides that each
County Court may create one or
more County High Scho, Is with the
privilege 10 levy Especial tax not 10
exceed 10 cents on 500, or to draw
from any other county fund except
the pubic school fund 1t turtle
provides that there shall be in these
counties, Il county board of educa~
ton. who shall decide the higher
limit OF studies, number of teachers
and many such things, while the
state decides the lower limits, that
there shat he not less than three
teachers, that all free grades shall
be taught except the first five or
primary grades, that all persons of
school age shall be entitled to its
benefits and all other ages and all
persons of other counties may be
permitted to attend at reasonable
rate
Now comes the question, will
it pay?" Are we not forced to
the conclusion it will pay, when
we think of the advantage NUNS
cipa government has by own-
ing its franchise, when we think Of
the average amount paid per month
for those attending public schools
in Tennessee, which Is only 84c
while in the private school the tu~
ition and incidental expense range
from So to So for the same grades,
In like comparison one person can
pay the tuition of his child and 4
others as cheap as his one in a pri-
vate school, though the millionaire
is poverty stricken when the tax
assessor comes, while the sluggard
is lord when he has clean shirt,
5 cents and visitor.
Suppose we take the final limit
of taxation, 15c, for the high school
on the IS 293, 104.97 taxable prop
erty in the county of which S542,-
108 At are in railroads. telegraph,
telephone and other such compane
les. 1t will give S9.439 66, which
is enough to employ an elocution
and vocal teacher, grammar and
history teacher, language teacher,
mathematical teacher. and science
teacher at 500 each for 10 months,
and leave 81, 439 66 for incidentals
at $443.97 per month. The build
ings, library, laboratories, fixtures
and other apparatus could be paid
from money drawn from other
funds.
The taxpayer is never heard to
say, at is unjust for the poor man
to work the road for him, or to pay
the same poll" Neither do we be
lieve 1t is unjust, as the tax payer
supports all other protection, builds
the courthouses aid the jails
bridges and foot logs, supports the
schools and county houses. There
are only few who would pay more
than $3.50 tax who would not have
child to attend school, thus re-
ceiving a direct reward.
As $50 is about the average cos
of tuition per month in Il private
school of this grade, it would tak'
the taxes on 1888 33B to pay
the tuition on one chIld, or for
children it takes the taxes on $40,
600 Beside this the money is KEEP
in the county, while as it is Bed
ford county sends out OF it at leas
every year S17,50O for every 1OI
pupils attending schools out OF tn
county, and $4,000 Tor every 2!
families. who own property in tn
county aud have moved to som
place to educate their children, l
thIs is a saving to Bedford county
let US sell all the corn, wheat, pea
and hay, then rake the stalks, weed
and stubble, and ship It from on
farms that they may become rich.
We know the county has grea
natural resources, and if we WI
preserve ii soon the county will b
a gold, so let us cry for the hig