The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-06-07
HIGHLAND SELECTED.
Continued From Page one.)


teachers with laudable ambitions
when the people are willing to pay no
more than they are now paying in
Highland county.
An examination of the tax duplicate
In Highland county aud the crop re-
turns will show that the county Is
more prosperous now than 20 years
ago. Better prices for farm produce
are obtained. One farmer In Union
township says he cleared s1,400 last
year on farm of but little more than
half a hundred acres. Yet the teach
ers of that township could make only
$3.50 a year, out of which board ard
all other expenses had to be paid.
The farmer also got nearly his entire
living In addition to the 81, 400, which
was Eve times $3.50. Is 1t any wonder
that ambitious, energetic teachers
quit to go to farming or enter upon
other pursuits? Meanwhile, what will
become of the educational interests
of the children? Which Is of more
concern, the pigs and turkeys and
cabbages on mans farm, or the chill.
dren In his home?
If the answer Is that the schools
have become so small that the people
can not afford to pay more for teach
ers, would suggest that the schools
be consolidated, the pupils transport
ed, and fewer teachers employed.
But the same acres are there with
the same productivity as twenty years
ago. If the answer is that the levy
will not produce money enough, my
answer would be to let the State pay
the difference, just as it has agreed to
do In the Duvall Law. But 1t will be
seen by the above table that Concord
township levied mills last year and
paid $50 a month for months; Mar.
shall levied I mills and paid s35 a
month tor 5 months, etc. BY levying
IL mills, Marshall could pay more than
$50 month If necessary. Might as
well expect race horse to win on a
hay diet as to expect to get the best
teaching for $3.50 year, as In Mar.
snsll township, or $50 a year as in
Jackson township.
Look at Penn township for a minute.
Here is the garden spot of Highland
county. l know every acre of it. It
Is one of the finest agricultural town.
ships In Ohio, or In the Middle West.
Here the levy last year was but 36
mills, and the teachers received on an
avcrage of only s36 a month, and
probably some of them we're paid less
than that sum-s2ss a year, or 10
cents day for every day in the year.
What farmer in Penn township would
accept such sum for his services
for one year, out of which he should
pay his board and all other expenses !?
Is 1t any wonder that board members
often regard teachers as weak men,
bers of society who are afraid of their
Jobs? One of the best things that
could happen Penn township would be
for every teacher to resign and stay
out of the township for five years.
Then these good people, and they are
good people, would realize that their
own children at least are worth the
services of the best teachers obtain
able.
Twenty years ago Penn township
was employ irg some stalwart men in
her schools Ind paying them s45 and
$50 per month. These men have since
made marks for :themselves. There
was then some encouragement for
young men of ambition and hope to
give their services to the school room.
What does Penn township mean by
this lethargy and levy of 36 mills,
or 80 cents for schools on each 900
on the tax duplicate ?i'Perhaps there
are men in that township paying 3s
cents school and $500 dog tax. Ihave
known even worse cases
With Brushcreek, Clay, Dodson,
Jackson and Washington townships,
the problem Is different. The tax
duplicate is small, but the great State
of Ohio says that the saloons and COR
porations In our cities shall help edu.
cate the boys and girls In these town.
ships. Let them make the levy ~
mills and the State will make up any
deficit arising from continuing the
schools 8 months with good teacher
at $40 a month.
What does Highland county need ?
That's easy. Her teachers are noble
lot of as fine people as live anywhere
They should call meeting at Hills.
boro at once, organize a county
branch of the Ohio School Improve
ment Federation, and then their duty
will be plain. Every teacher who
aids board of education In Its deter
mination to disobey the Law and re-
fuse State aid, should be read out Of
the profession.
Fellow-teachers, this 10 your
problem. What will you do with II
Fellow-citizens of Highland county,
1t 10 not for the interests of the teach.
ers but for the interests of your chill
dren, the real sovereigns In Highland
county few years hence. They are
crying for bread. Will you give them
a stone ? Thev are v6,,Ir chfIdren mt