The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-02-10
POINTED REBUKE TO OUR
LACK OF CIVIC PRIDE

LACK OF CIVIC PRIDE
Oeala,s Inadequate High School Build
ine-Paper Read Before Educational
Cenmattee Of the woman's Club,
Feb 4, by Mr.. l.. w. Duval.
Madam Chairman, Ladies': When the
chairman OF your committee requested
me to appear before you and discuss
with you the school situation in our
city, as Ii exists today, / accepted the
invitation gladly, not because 1 felt
myself equal to the task, but because
our local board of trustees has been
considering for several months how
certain facts could be brought home
most forcibly to the citizens OF Ocala
and the patrons OF our schools. You
have solved that problem for US, for
we feel. that if we can get the situa-
tion before you and then through you
enlist your splendid club. the solution
of the greater problem, which has
been sorely puzzling US, Is not far dis
tant.
I confess to you that, while I knew
that our condition was a deplorable
one, yet, until I began investigating
the subject in preparing for this ad-
dress, did not fully realize how
serious is the situation we face. We
have been too long Indifferent. Prid
ing ourselves in the possession of an
excellent facu1ty-and l have it on the
best authority that no school In the
state has a more capable and efficient
principal and a stronger corps of as
sistants than have we've have been
content to sit idly by and see every
town in the state Of the same class
outstrip the one little city. which by
virtue of its citizenry and it's prosper
fty, ought to lead the way, in the
matter of furnishing adequate build
ings and modern equipment. We boast
ourselves Of civic pride; and. forsooth,
point to our court house with its
beautiful and well-kept grounds. and
OF this we should be proud; we show
our visitors magnificent Federal
building. but it came as a gift; why.
we even tell the stranger OF $4,000
jai1-the home Of our felons; and yet,
the children Of Ocala seek an educa-
ton within the walls of an antiquated.
barn-like structure that would scarce
1y do justice to the educational needs
OF the famed Los Kis.
Now / need not prolong this strain
ing as I am. and demand no argument
to convince you that we must have a
modern structure. We have met here
this afternoon. not so much for the
purpose of bewailing our manifold
shortcomings in this respect, as to
consider frankly the situation, and, If
possible, devise ways and means by
which Ocala can soon possess a school
building in keeping with our other
public buildings. To get a thorough
understanding of the problem we
must deal largely with statistics
But first let me briefly explain the
laws upon which our school system is
established and under which it is
maintained. In doing this you will
pardon me for calling your attention
to some matters with which you are
already familiar.
The public school system OF Florida
Is based upon the provisions contained
In article TX and xii of our state con-
stitution, adopted in 1882, and upon
the laws enacted in conformity there
with. The first of these articles de-
fines the duties of the state superin-
tendent Of public instruction. We need
not further consider it. The chief
provisions Of article xii are:
1. Power is given the legislature t.
and the maintenance thereof;
2. Establishes the office Of state
superintendent OF public instruction
who has general supervision of the
s. Establishes the State Board Of
Education, composed of the governor
secretary of state. attorney general
tendent of public instruction, which
has under its control the management
and investment of the states schoo
l. The state school fund to be de.
rived from the following sources:
anas tba leeds h from the sale lie Of al
ed by the United States to the state
for school purposes;
:, (b) Donations to the state wher
the purpose is not expressed;
tc) Appropriations by the state;
I'D Proceeds from estreated prop.
erty or T forieitu res Nor can't ., -,
sales of public lands owned by the
s, The principal, of the school FUND
6; Provides for special tax of one
mill on all taxable property, levied
annually. and annually apportionet
Z. The apportionment and distribu
ton Of the interest on the state schoo
FUND and OF the one-mill tax to bt
made in proportion to the average at
ferent counties:
s. Counties are empowered to as
sess and collect annually not less thar
three nor more than seven mills OF
all taxable property within theil
limits for the support of their schools
9. Provides that the county schoo
fund, in addition to the county schoo
tax. its proportion OF the interest OF
the state school fund and of the one
mill tax, shall consist of,
(a) The net proceeds of all fine:
collected under the penal laws of tn,
state within the county; and,
(b) All eapitation or poll taxes col
1ected within the county:
10. Empowers the legislature t.