Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-05
SMITH MAKES PLEA
FOR BETTER SCHOOLS
Continued From PAGE One

gia are raised in rural districts. If they
are to be fully prepared for their oppor-
tunities and responsibilities as citizens.
OUR RURAL SCHOOLS MUST BIZ
MADE THOROUGHLY PROFICIENT.
As many of the rural children will not
have access to schools other than rural
schools ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL
GRADES SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE
RURAL SCHOOLS AS SOON AS Pos
SIBLE.
Agricultural training should be part
of the education of all of our children In
the state, but especially of those in rural
sections. 1 hope to see every county In
Georgia add as a part of its rural school
system practical experimentation In farm
work To stimulate this would be glad
to see at least one day set apart In every
county in the state for gathering to-
Eether of the children from the rural
sections with exhibits of the work in agri-
culture of the boys and In domestic
science of the girls who are being cduca-
ted in rural schools. PRIZES FOR THE
BEST WORK THAT A BOY CAN DO
IN CORN RAISING, IN COTTON RAILS
ING AND IN OTHER LINES WOULD
BE AN IMMENSE stimulus and a great
help to interest the boys while they are
attending schools to seek information to
aid their capacity to develop Georgia's
greatest resource, her soil. The same
course ought to be applied in suitable
way to the girls.
AGRICULTURAL STUDY.
Nor should the study Of agriculture be
limited to the schools. The most progress
I've sections of the world have found out
how much can be learned about the soil.
The capacity of the soil for production
is still to a great extent closed book,
and investigation through state appropria-
- onnTnnTiQ ftnnd
right and proper to aid in gathering infor-
nation about what can be raised from
the soil and how II can be raised and how
IL can be most profitably raised.
THE wISEST CRAFTSMANSHIP
THE WORLD OVER IS TURNING ITS
ATTENTION TO THIS GREAT problem.
The population of the world is in
creasing. The territory OF the
world has all been discovered. The
value Of the land must immensely in~
crease. The productiveness of farm
land must be made to respond to the
needs of the people of the world. No
state can do more for her people than
by contributing through investigation
that information which will help the
farmer make more net profits out of his
farm. That people will reach the high
est standard of citizenship WHERE THE
LARGEST PROPORTION OWN THEIR
WHERE THEY OWN THEIR OWN
FARMS, WHERE THEY LIVE UPON
THEM AND MAKE A LIVING OUT OF
THEM. . b..
To encourage such a policy is to help
make possible a population thrifty ana
prosperous, not OF men of great wealth,
but Of a great number of men OF sui
ficient means to be independent.
long to see Georgia rank first among
L.
Der of citizens owning land IN propUr-
ton to residents.
You cannot expect the most proficient
work from your rural school teachers
unless they are paid better and paid
promptly. 1T is THE DUTY OF THE
STATE TO PAY PROMPTLY THE
MONEY PROMISED TO ITS TEACH
Frs. 1T is NOT DIFFICULT TO AC-
CCMPLISH SUCH A RESULT.
Your appropriations are made each
year payable in part from ad valorem
or property taxes levied for the current
year. These taxes are collected in De-
cember, while the work Of the teachers Is
performed in part prior to the time.
The state starts the year with a surplus
Of over s2,0o0,ooO. This surplus gives
out in the summer. If we would mako
part OF our taxes payable the first Of
September there would be no difficulty
about meeting promptly the pay due To
the teachers.
REGARDING TAXES.
HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE
TAXES DUE FROM RAILROADS AND
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANIES BE
MADE PAYABLE THREE OR FOUR
MONTHS EARLIER, SAY THE FIRSI
OF AUGUST OR THE FIRST OF SEP
TENDER. A discount of one per cent
might be allowed these corporations on
account OF the earlier payment.
with this done every liability Of tho
state can be met promptly the year
through, including the money due to
teachers.
We have a great state with vast re-
sources still undeveloped, and our great
est undeveloped resource is the capacity
OF our soil to respond with larger prof
fits to intelligent cultivation.
Let us turn the energies OF the state
and the energies of the people to this
great work. BY so doing we will bene-
fit not alone the farmer but every class
Of citizen.