The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-10-19
KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN.

Here's pretty how'd'ye do, anC
we don't like It. While The Sun re
iterated its declaration that II would
make a clean cut fight for schoo
bonds just as soon as II was assured
the money would be used for the pur
pose for which the law says il should
be used. II was accused of standine
on a technicality. II was argued
that the deficit In the school funds
Originally was created in erecting
buildings, and that, therefore. bal
Of the eye would transform the pay
ment of money on that obligation into
an original investment In a new
school building We plead guilty to
being technical and take pride in 1t.
A newspaper cannot afford TO wink al
anything, nor can the public afford
to have II close its eyes.
But while We have held separately
the two questions of issuing bonds
and keeping open the schools. apathy
or Indifference to the necessity of
keeping open the schools has been
manifest on the one hand, while
those who, like The Sun. appreciate
the gravity OF a suspension of the
schools, seem to have swung to the
bond issue as the simplest way out,
and We must acquiesce; or, in the
event the bond Issue fails, bear the
stigma, deserved or not, OF taking
part In closing the schools.
Now. Just a word about that.
There is only one thing worth while
in the discussion of the schools clos
ing. Six months in the life of a child
can never be made up. Fifty per
cent Of the boys in the High school,
IL they should be out a half year.
never would go back. That talk
about the disgrace of closing the
schools is bosh. The disgrace was in
getting the schools into this condi-
ton.
The Sun stood out against the
original expenditure, and went so far
as to make an approximate estimate
,f the resulting deficit, missing 1t
only about 5000, We are told that
Is all past. now. and this board is not
for the condition. Even
20; but II The Sun had come out un-
for the bond issue, wip-
Ing the slate clean. letting bygones
be bygones, what lesson would have
been learned? The school board has
learned its lesson, they say. II isn't
the school board that needs the les
son; II is the public. Former trus-
tees were nominated by factions, for
their sentiments in a school feud.
and while the public was being edi-
fed with an assault on the superin-
tendent, the trustees we're plunging
the schools into debt. II was The
sun that made the fiPht for most of
the present board, realizing that
the trouble with the schools, lay not
In the character of the superintendent
but the general character of the
board. although there were a few
good men on the old board.
This school bond fight, more than
anything else that has happened in
years, has focused public attention
on the school board, the character Of
men on 1t, the necessity for having
there men OF probity and judgment
In business matters. Regardless of
the result OF the bond election, that
benefit can never be lost.
These trustees gave their individ-
ual notes to pay on debts last spring
and naturally redeemed those notes
with the first money that came to
hand and there is a deficit already In
the years revenue OF 500 900. Some
81 500 must be paid as soon as any
more revenue comes In. The trus-
tees won't pay out any more OF their
own. money, or give any more per-
sonal notes.
Now, what are We going to do?
The Sun could get no response to Its
suggest .0Bs.plFhose who take an in
terest In the matter at all, seem 10 be
for the bonds. expecting 10 use part
Of them in wiping out thls, old debt.
There you are. For the Lchldren's
sake let's get the money to) keep the
schools going; the trusted cannot
hokroW any more.