Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-13
ONLY ONE ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION.

In spite of all the row that is beng
Kicked up just now about the public
schools and in spite of the action OF
the council in practically declaring
that the board of trustees must main
tain the schools next year upon the
proceeds of a levy OF 20 cents on
500. this paper does not believe for
minute that there is any real dan
ger of having the schools handicapped
during the coming session by lack
Of funds with which to conduct them
on a proper scale and for the full
nine months. Some OF the council
men may believe that the trustees
have been extravagant and the board
and council will have TO get consider
ably closer together before serious
disagreements can be avoided. but
when the question is put squarely up
to the council-"Shall we cut teach
ers' salaries or shorten the school
term" there will be but one answer.
No member OF the council Is going
10 vote to do either OF these things.
In the first place the members Of the
council realize the importance of
maintaining the schools upon high
standard OF efficiency and win not in
tentionally do anything to injure
them. no matter what may be their
feelings toward the individual mem
bers OF the board OF trustees. And in
the second place. any member who
does vote to shorten the term or re-
duce the already inadequate salaries
of the teachers. will retire to private
Iife at the next election.
The councils determination to fix
the school levy at % cents was reach
ed without consideration of The CUES
ton of whether or not special school
levy, may be laid in addition TO the
general levy provided for in the
cbarters-and the maximum OF %
cents vas agreed upon because ihe
remainder OF the levy the city is Pc
mitte6 TO. make under the charter is
needed for general purposes. Tn p
council did not 60 into the situatioa
thoroughly and fin ! out as It will La
or on. what the trustees must have
TO run the schools next year S''hsat
reducing salaries or cutting short the
term.
As The Daily Press sees IL. this is
the situation briefly stated: This year
the school levy was % cents on sIGo.
end the council has supplement
ed or viii supplement the funds
so as to make the amount
practically what would have
been derived from a levy OF % or %
cents, ard the board xiii finish the
year with a deficit Of something Ike
$1,000 carried ever from last year
still on their hands. This year there
was an increase Of about 500 in the
enroIlmert Next year there VIII be
some Increase. though perhaps not 50
mach. n a levy - Is or p cents
would not have provided enough
nlo-sy to run the schools this year
bow are the tr-stes 20 run them next
year on a 3 cent levy with an in
creased enrolment ard deacit 81
$1,000 to meet. That Is she question
The courcii ought 70 answer before
axing an arbitrary maximum q funds
60 b. allowed the board
Il Is al very vel b. say that the
beard i extrsvaEant In mainta ming
Hasnnsl training. cooking classes. etc
Pvt when n r. knovn that an Of
.hese special cour.es 10 which there
Pas been objection DO not cost more
than abouf fi.san OF s2.soo IN the
zez=eEa.s X appesrs thst ~hatever
a1y b. tcne sbouf them III not
Acct ne situation materially. n