The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-14

A LETTER FROM SUPT.
JOHN WASHINGTON
Answering Supervisor George Lyon on
WOOdfOrd School.


visor of Port Royal district. 8" in
winch ne begs space Ito correct some
facts" in a former letter of mine.
While have carefully read his letter.
do not find any statement of mine re-
tuted. My one object in writing was
TO state facts. If / made an incorrect
statement. or misrepresented any one.
l certainly did not intend to do so. and
am not aware of having done 80. Any en-
hghtenment will be thankfully received.
As to the interview between Mr..
Lyon and Mr.. Reeves, the clerk of the
Port Royal school board" l can but
feel he failed to understand Mr.. Reeves.
In first place, no promise of Mr.. Reeves
could obligate the school board" In
second place, it has been the unvaried
ruling of this board for last few
years TO apportion the building fund so
as 70 give $500 to a two-room house.
and Sl5O to a one-room house. This is
evinced by giving Guineas, Mica and
Port Royal each $500 FOR their two
room houses, and $50 to the one-room
house at Wildwood.
The only way the board" could give
$500 to Woodford, would be for a two
room house and this could not legally
be done, as the board is not allowed
70 build two-room house and employ
two teachers unless 40 or more pupils
have been enrolled, or there is a petit
tion guaranteeing that number. In
case of Woodfod, the enrolment for
last two years was %, and so far as /
know no guarantee of 40 or more pupils
for next session.
In the meantime our worthy SUPER
intendent was doing his very best to
get his salary increased" ." / can not
understand how Mr.. Lyon can charge
me with this, and entirely ignore the
important point involved.
In first place, the salaries OF. division
superintendents are fixed BY law.
Code, Sec. 1888 TO divide the State in
TO appropriate school divisions, shall
make up the same so as TO insure TO
each division superintendent a salary
of not less than $500 per annum. f"
Code, Sec. l43S-''The board of super
visors' or the county school board may
OF the local school fund supplement the
salary Of the superintendent Of schools. "
Law fixes the amount of salary and re-
quires the entire time Of the ''division
superintendent 10 be given to school
supervision.
The point to be decided by board of
supervisors or county school board.
and IN a circular sent out by State Edu-
cation Department ] was instructed to
call their attention to il, was this.
Shall Caroline county remain a school
division, receiving the entire time OF
her superintendent? II so, she must
pay $325, the State paying S575.
AS superintendent of the schools of
Caroline it was my duty TO do what /
believed was for the best interest Of
the schools.
At my request the chairman Of the
board of supervisors" very kindly
consented 20 give me a hearing. While
l have not mentioned the matter to one
of them, know them 70 be honorable.
high-tone men, and have no hesitancy
in saying / believe they will do me the
justice TO state that in my talk to
them / said my term would expire July
!, and Of course l had no idea who
would be appointed for ensuing term;
but no matter who was appointed
knew the work was such as TO de-
mand his entire time. In nv opinion
the county could not possibly more
wisely invest 1926. 90 than in retaining
Caroline county as a ''school division, y
by this means, and this alone, securing
for her schools the entire services Of
the division superintendent" after
July 1st, 1909.
That was my conviction then. 1t is
my conviction now. Had | known at
the time that some other than myself
would be appointed superintendent, my
action would have been the same. Nv
position is one of sincere, honest con
viction as 10 what is best for the educa-
tional interest of the county.
That expressions of approval of my
position have come to me from many Of
our most influential and intelligent citi-
zens is gratifying.
When the board of supervisors" de-
elined to make provision by which
Caroline could remain. a ''school di-
vision with entire time of superinten-
dent given to her schools, / felt | had
failed to impress the supervisors with
the matter as | saw il, hence | wrote
each of them personal letter, hoping
might do by letter what had failed TO
do in person.
As chairman of county school board
it was my duty (see Form X, No. 59) 10
bring the subject before this board,
which, did, making the same statement
made before the board of supervi-
sors." The motive prompting me in
both cases was to discharge my duty as
! saw it, perhaps also inspired by coun-
ty pride, and certainly by a very deep
interest in the education of the children
of Caroline.
Paragraph of Mr.. Lyons letter
would lead one TO believe he cut the
school levy ''to the limit" to comply
with the wishes of ''the people of our
district, ''very many of our best citi-
Zens," but, alasl Notwithstanding
this. | would have let the district levy
remain at 10 cents il the school board
had lived up to its promise. - Giving
this as his reason for the reduction Is
an acknowledgement that he realized
the justice and the need of the said levy
remaining at is cents. Surely our super
visor nd not intend to acknowledge he
''cut to the limit" the school levy of
Port Royal district" through revenge
for imaginary wrong done Woodford
SCHOOL, He is even more severe on
himself in giving revenge as a motive
than are those who say "he lowered the
school levy TO 10 cents, and raised the
road levy to 35 cents, because as he had
no child to educate, he was not interest
ed in the schools, but he had an auto
mobile, TO enjoy which he must have
good roads. 3"
To cut the school levy Ito the limit
can not possibly hurt the school hoard. -
but II does very decidedly and seriously
affect the children of the district.
When you remember the public school
Is the sole means of education for many
child, that without the public school
he must grow up in ignorance.
that lower school levy meant no
school for many of them, cannot un-
derstand how anyone can get pleasure
or qualification In the reflection that
the one who had the power to deprive