The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-05-25
PLAN FOR SIX MONTHS
PUBLIC SCHOOL TERN
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FIND for those years prior to- 1900 was
properly ana fairly compared with the
total school, fund since that date
In estimating the cost OF running o;
public schools for one day for the diff
ferent years given. we have compared
the total school fund for each OF the
years given. and this ia fair and proper
for the purposes OF comparison
The other statements appeared In
the state superintendent articles
which We desire TO comment upon are
as follows:
In the article appearing In the News
AMI Observer In January 8th he states
that the balance OF the school fund on
hand uneZpended on July 1st. 1908. WE
IS cents. and that the balance on July
1st. 1904. was s259.97387 In his article
in the same paper appearing on the
18th OF January. five days later, he
states that the balance on hand unex-
pended on July 1st. 1903, was s214.6S2.-
G2. and that this balance on July 1st.
1904. was 1852. 1906. Which one OF
these statements are correct. we are
unable TO state. but certainly both can
not be. for there is a vast difference
between the balances reported
But II there was a balance of only
G8 cents on July lst, 1903. and a bal
ance OF s259,973S7 on July list. 1904,
unexpended. after we had been given
school term Of So days, which Is five
days more than the constitutional re-
quirements, then IL appears to us that
we should either have a longer school
term in our State or we should cut of
a part OF that 5000 900 we annually ap-
prGpriate to public schools out OF the
State treasury.
One half OF this appropriation, or
SEQ. 600, is required TO be held by the
State to be given to certain counties
in the state which do not have a four
months school term from the funds
which they receive from the general
school tax and other sources. Great
in Injustice can be done certain counties
in the state in spending this special
appropriation. For instance certain
counties can by an economical expendi
ture OF their school fund run four
months school and more. while other
counties by paying their teachers more
and using less economy in expendi
lures for their county board OF educa-
ticn. their county superintendent and
other purposes, fail to run their schools
four months but they lose nothing by
their extravaganza, for all they are re-
CURED to do Is to certify to the State
what amount of money they need tc
make up their deficiency and it is
forthcoming from the State treasury
out CT this 100000 appropriation.
The motive of the legislature in max
ing this appropriation is to be COM
merded. but in practice it is OF doubt
full exnediency.
In order to throw some light on the
expenditures for 1904 for public edu-
cation and the uneXpended balance on
hand, we find by reference to the
State treasGrer's report for 1904, oD
page 16. that the total school fund for
1904 was $3.50 96537 and the total dis
bursements to November goth was ST.
9542l29o leaving a net balance on
hand unexpended at that date of S256.
1928 Whether this is the proper bal
ance. or the S3S6,64225. which appears
as the unexpended balance from the
report OF the State Superintendent,
which appeared in the Raleigh dailies
Of the date of November 18th, 1904, or
the $3.50 1887 which was stated to be
the balance on July 1st, 1904 in the
the News and Observer of January Sth
or the 1852, 1906, reported to be the
balance On July LIST. 1904, in his article
in the News and Observer of January
18th, which of these various amounts
was the correct balance unexpended
sc. CT course. cannot say. These re-
ports are very conflicting, but. at any
rate. any one Of them represents quite
a. healthy balance, and it is rather TN
fortunate for the department Of public
education that he should have reported
recently through the press this large
balance unexpended, when his report
recommends the continuance OF the
100000 annual appropriation out OF
the State treasury. We do not oppose
this annual appropriation, but do ask
that better showing be made with
this money. First change the method
of appOrtiOning this appropriation &C
cording to the plan suggested by US
and provided for in a bill which we
introduced in the legislature. Reduce
| the expense of our school machinery.
| Cut down the expenditures of county
superintendent and county boards of
| education, and lastly divide by two the
| the increasing expenditures annually
| for "Other Purposes thereby giving
| the children of the State six months
| school term. Trim down the curricu
lum in our public schools by eliminat-
| ing studies in science, ancient langua
ges, the classics and higher mathe
MATES and teach all of our children an
| elementary education, for which the
| public schools were intended, qualify
ing them for citizenship, and you will
then meet the demands and require
ments of the people. and will at the
same time lift our State from it's low
| place in the scale of illiteracy.