The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-09-10
THE GRADED SCHOOL
QUESTION.

ditional lax.
To the Editor of The Robesonian:
In the discussion of the local
school tax proposition now be-
fore the people of Lumberton
some erroneous impressions have
been made on the good people of
the community, and l deem it
nothing but fair to myself as we'll
as to the graded school board that
these false impressions be met
by fair and square statement
of the facts relative to the va
rious charges. l shall take up
the charges as | have heard them
and shall give an honest treat
ment of every charge.
l. The first charge is that the
present school board is extrava-
CANT, (too) with public money.To
prove their charge three things
are brought forward: 1st, That
too much money has been spent
on the new building; End, that
too high salaries are paid to
teachers; Sd, that the janitor re-
ceives too large a salary.
AS to the first statement, the
graded school building speaks
for itself. Not a better equipp-
ed nor more substantial build
ing in the State and l do not
believe that this board has
spent any more on the building
than any other board of progress
sive business men would have
{ done. However, this has no
) connection with the extra ten
, cent levy now under considera-
!, ton, the extra levy being for
4 the running expenses of the
school and not for building pur-
l poses.
AS to the second statement,
that the salaries of the teachers
are too high, am not the one to
pass on whether this is true or
I not. l will say this, however;
the class of teachers that we now
d have cannot be had for less
money-especially in a town
: where the living expenses of
teaches are as high as they are
in Lumberton. Only a small
: per cent. of the graded schools
: pay less than $45 per month tx
/ experienced teachers, and
7 know of no small town where
n teachers have to pay 500 pei
e month for board-as they will
t have to do here this year. The
: people of Lumberton want the
t very best teachers, and no first
class teacher will come here
d where expenses are so high, TO.
e less than $45 per month. Some
S say that we could employ home
l. girls to teach for $50 pei
It month. Where are they? TIVE
= local teachers from one famil,
e applied. One was elected. On,
n from another family applied
=. She was elected, notified ant
e she declined, on the ground tina
l. she could not do the work.
l. AS to the janitor, he gives hi
j. whole time, except Saturday
l. afternoons to the work at school
e and it keeps him busy. If ;
: cheaper man that will do tn
e work as we'll can be found,
:, don't suppose the board woul'
s. refuse to make a change.
J. 2 The charge is made again
l. that the superintendent is re.
@ ceiving too much for his work
l. Here too, three statements ar
circulated as proofs: LIST, tina
L his salary is 81. 200; End, that tn
g dormitory, which was worth t.
n him $500, was given without an
n rental; Sd, that he does no teach
81 ing, but simply superintend
lie the work.
as The first statement as to sa
c. airy is correct. He receive
r 81, 200 for his years work, an
k pays all his expenses out of hi
I'd own funds-such as visitin
other schools, attending inst
I'd tutes and summer schools an
or so on. The statement that tn
n board paid his expenses to tn
ly summer school at Knoxville thi
e. summer is false. A part of tn
ID second charge, that he had tn
u. use of the dormitory withou
IT. rental, is true. But the part 8
n, to it's being worth $500 to him
1g false. It was not worth a cent
a. him-as it was run. The boar
he requested him to stay there an
S look after the property an
81 conduct a boarding departmer
ed for teachers and boarding pupils
ke and agreed that no rental shout
We be charged on condition thu
e. good board be given at SIP. 81
r., That condition was equivaler
IS to rental, for any one know
al that table board, room, lights
ng fuel and all living expenses can
be furnished in this town fl
ne $3.50 per month. The supe
p, intendent is ready to max
In affidavit that the transactic
*, cost him more than it would hay
raj cost him to have rented frs
Y. class house and stayed out of tt
Is, dormitory. The dormitory
to, for rent. Those who have CLAIM
ev- ed that it can be rented for $3(
In a year will please let the boar
Ole know where to find some one
IN: Jake charge of it.
ed The last statement, that tt
mt superintendent does not teach,
nd untrue. He has a grade, as ha7
Oh the other teachers. He w