The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-07
FREDERICKSBURG AUGUST eoo
TO COMPLAINT
FROM CAROLINE


undtr date OF July 23rd. 1909, It was
stated IN The Free Lance by "Kickerr-
foor children suffer FOR the want OF n
public school near Woodiord." ." This r.
true. am sorry TO say. But who l. TO
oiane Tor these condition. First. kick
OF TOR tins Is the name he gives himselfl
states there are about 30 children be-
tween the ages Cf and l3 Years. who
are dependent on the public school for
an education. II this is correct. where
have they kept themselves the past two
years Last session the average attend
ance was about II. The largest enroll
ment II and that only for the month Il
Dece moer Two years ago they did not
90 as we'll did canvas part " the
District two years ago with the View Of
getting the district levy raised We were
successful Ia this, but we did not prom
lse Noodford any more help than any
other locality In need OF school.
Kicker states they voted for a raise Of
levy. To my knowledge. the people
never had the privilege Of voting on the
question. Is v as simply a petition to
Mr.. Campbell Chandler, then our super
visor
What becoms OF the money! The Rrst
year $500 was used To aid in building a
q two-rOOmed house at Liberty. to -.
t'e-N- NAN OhN AhAl nufucus i MA DAIFOUe
furnishing about the same amount by
private subscription. WeRlso used Al 80
TO build a house in my own neighbor-
hood. patrons furnishing a ike amount.
This is IN locality that had never had
school. The second ear we used $500
at Guineys, TO aid IN building a two
roomed house. Patrons raising more
than like amount.
We also used 5000 at Port Royal. to
aid In building two-roomed housa
Patrons completing Il by private sub.
scriptiOn. The house cost 81 BOO. In
each OF the se places they were sadly in
need of a schoolhouse.
During this time WoOdiord agreed To
furnish house free OF cost for school
purposes, II school board would furnish
teacher, with the understanding that
they tthe patrousl were to maintain a
legal school. which they failed @ do both
sessions. | then went u our supervisor
and asked him 10 raise the levy Sc, so we
would not be compelled 20 ask the pa-
irons Tor private subscription to build
houses. as ] thought Il should be done
through the district levy and let every
one help. He did not agree TO this. Said
he thought we were doing very well the
way We bad been doing He then asked
II the board would help Woodiord TO
build "A schoolhouse. 1 told him that
was whAt we expected to do II We had
the same levy; that there We're three
other houses that ought 10 be built.
On first Saturday In July, after three
weeks notice TO patrons Oi Woodford. q
OF the school officials met on the pro.
posed schoOlhouse site with OF the
faithful lew To make necessary arrange
ments FOR building IA house.
Alter the matter had been discussed.
we told them we could give them $50,
the same as we had given other localities
Tor the erection OF one-room house
This is the plan a. indorsed by our su-
pervisor, who lives at Woodford.
ibis proposition was not accepted by
the Woodf0rd people, and shortly after
the district school levy was reduced TO
the minimum, 10c, and the amount re-
duced added TO the road levy.
Please tell me who failed So co. operat.2 p
Kicker says the people have offered their
services. Yes, one noble lady Il she vi
cinity offered TO give the eite and the bal-
ance had subscribed so and said they
could raise some more, and here the mat
T. dropped.
do not believe any iair-minded citizen
knowing the condition OF the school
houses In Port Royal district. as well as
the people OF WOodford should, will saw
that We should give nearly all the fund
to build a houee IN one locality when
there are others that need it as much as
they, and Gre Anxiously awaiting an
opportunity to accept the same PROPOSE
ton we made WoOdiord. Kicker asks n
they are to stand still and take what
ever the board chooses to hand them.
say no, a thousand times no. Look for
your penny where you lost IT, Call an
election. Demand q school levy sufficient
TO build the necessary houses, at least
two each year until We have these
shacks replaced by respectable houses
that are fit TO be seen, and | assure you
that the board VIII be only too glad So
build q first-class house at WoCdfo-d. or
any other place where 8 house is needed,
without q dollar Of private subscription.
am not opposed TO a 35c road levy
only when placed beside g 10c school
levy; 35c Is not too much for road levy.
But | believe our children should receive
as much consideration as our mules.
The recent reduction of the school levy.
has not only deprived 30 children at
WoOdfOrd Of school privileges, but twice
that number IL the district, and about
60 more are compelled TO assemble in
houses that are not fit to house a second
class hound 1t is not my intention TO be
personal In this matter. am simply
stating facts, and any one that chooses
can find out for themselves.
A. j. Reeves.
5. Clerk, Port Royal District.