The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-10-14
School talk by the
Superintendent.

cnr issue Of Sept. goth. l I
o-t-> r. or appeal from some Of
the cOlored tax payers of your
county &c your Board Of Super
visOrs for additional funds for the
public schools. in winch they ask
the board to raise the school levy
to the maximum. fifty cents.
| am glad to see that the coll
ored people of your county are
taking such deep interest in the
education of their children. as to
not only be willing to. but have
appealed TO the supervisors. to
rise the school levy. and thereby
increase their taxes. 1t shows
they are public spirited, and good
citizens.
want to appeal to the white
citizens, parents Of the twenty-five
hundred or more white child 81
OF Mathews to know if they are
not willing to paw more school
taxes for the benefit of their chill
dren9 If so. let them do as these
colored people have done. inform
your supervisors that they want
the school levy raised to fifty
cents. if this is done by any con-
siderable number, feel sure that
the levy will be raised, as your
! present board are broad-mInded
and progressive gentlemen who
desire TO see the public schools Of
their county be second to none in
the state. These gentlemen, as
you very well know, are good
business men who expend your
county funds prudently. but pro-
grcsslvelv, and if they are assured
by the people that they desire
more funds for school purposes
and that the school boards will
spend it juditiously, they will be
glad 10 give it to us in the way of
an increased levy. | wart to saw
here that | promise the people
and supervisors that as long as
am superintendent they shall
know by published statements,
how the school funds are used.
While in your county the past
week. | examined Some of the
school buildings in the lower end
OF the county. and if l were TO
carry out the school low strictly
l should have to close those
schools. as the buildings are not
suitable for white children Cor any
other as for that) to go to school
in. | would very much dislike to
close these schools. but unless
something can be done soon
shall have TO close them. don't
meaU this rs a threat to punish
'.' ne, but they ought to be
"."" simply in :he interest of
.ae cn.drens health and eye-sIght
Oneot yCur prominent physicians
(Dr. hoskins. who l know will
not object to my using his name)
informed me that those crowded,
badly lighted, and not at all VEN
tilated buildings were the direct
cause of great deal of nervous
diseases, and impaired eye-sight
among the pupils who attend
those schools. You need better
school buildings. properly lighted |
and ventilated. They must he
mad some way, and l want to no.
tlty you that | shall continue to |
agItate this subject until they are
built. You cannot wait until the
raise in your scdool levy provides
the money to build these houses.
tins would be too great a risk to
your children as nervous diseases
ard impaired vision sill .0.,.s.
them through life. still We shaH
need the increased Ievy TO equip
the school buildings with proper
furniture and school appliances
and extend your sessions longer.
The people of Mathews will
have to build these houses largely
by private subscription. These
are yours. and you owe
1t to them. to give them decent
and healthy houses to be educa-
ted IN. In riding thrOuph Matb-