Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-09
OF Fundamental Importance
To Georgia Common Schools.

educational interests is presented in the move
ment under way in BulIoch and Brooks
ties for the adoption of a system of local, county
wide taxation for the maintenance of public
schools. This system prevails in most States; but
In Georgia, curiously enough it is established in
only forty-One counties. The others, with the
ception of certain and districts in them, de-
pend entirely State appropriations for school
purposes Ia the country whole nearly seven
ty-sx per cent OF the school fund raised through
local taxation in Georgia less than forty per cent
Is thus raised In the country q whole, respon-
sibilfty for the upkeep and development of common
schools rests in the first instance the county
local district, and is supplemented by funds from
the State But in Georgia this rule is reversed;
the State bears the bulk OF the burden while most
of the counties add little or nothing by way of
funds drawn directly from their own resources.
The result is what would be expected. Scores of
communities, lacking responsibility in raising
school money, are apathetic 10 school interests.
What the State sends them, they take as though it.
were aims and, having spent il, wait for the
dispensation. No wonder their school houses are
ramshackie. their school terms a beggarly few
months and their teachers underpaid. Georgia's
Legislative appropriation for the common schools
is unusually liberal; only ten States provide
in that particular. But in only two States is the
proportion of local funds to State funds lower than
in Georgia. Thus it is that North Dakota spends
$3.50 per capita for common schools, Minnesota
$3.50 Nebraska, $50, Oregon $3.50, while Geor-
gia spends S1.9S per capita. Evidently
State appropriation for schools, liberal though it
is, does not suffice to keep Georgia educationally
abreast of States much less fortunate in
Moreover no State appropriation however great,
could produce the local initiative interest and
pride without which county acquire good
schools Failure to make the county responsible
unit in the matter of school finance and to require
that it supplement with local taxes the funds
ceives from the State is unjust and as unwise
for the county for the Commonwealth, because
this policy ignores if indeed it does discourage
the priceless Of self reliance and the price
less value of self help.
Georgias urgent need of more schools better
schools and longer school terms, its need of more
teachers and farer salaries for them, its need of
free text books and means of living squareIy up to
the compulsory attendance law, all lead at last to
one grimly practical quessiOP-where is the money
coming from: It cannot from State funds
which already inadequate to meet the bare
necessities OF State institutions. DR.. Joseph s.
Stewart has pointed this connection that out
of the five mills COnstitutionally allowed for tax
alton, the State levies approximately two and
a quarter direct tax for common schools, in addi-
ton more than half million dollars of perma-
nent funds. and yet" says Dr. Stewart while
we are giving two million, seven hundred thousand
dollars from the treasury. can run our eIe-
mentary schools only FIVE months in the year" The
State does not give a penny than it ought to
give for common schools but the counties give
only a wheezy pittance of what they ought to give
The State in present circumstances cannot give
more; the counties can and must give more if
GeOrgia's educational needs are to be served
II all the counties had system of local, county
wide taxation for this purpose the funds thus de-
rived together with that from the State. would be
enough establish excellent schools in every COM
munity rural and urban alike enough to Iengthen
the average school term to nine months year
where it is less than fve enough to pay the
teachers promptly and well. enough to make Geor-
gas educational character worthy of its material
wealth.
The shortest way to that end would be Consti-
tutiOnal amendment providing that every county
levy a local for schools. That is the
plan in most other States, and it is the plan 20
which Georgia eventually will come. The least
that the next session of the Legislature should do
in this regard is to the legal difficulties and
discouragements that now stand in the way of
adopting a local countrywide school tax system
Under the existing law, a twO-thirds majority of
the qualified voters is required for the adoption of
such plan, after an election has been petitioned
for by One-fSurih Of the qualified voters The two
thirds majority requirement. as Superintendent
Britain has repeatedly insisted. is fagrantIy unfair
to the forward-Io0king, patriotic element of a COM
munitys citizenship.
Progressive counties like Brooks and BulIoch
however will wait upon special Legislative ac-
tiOn TO meet their school needs IN those two
counties the leading citizens and the constructive
newspapers, notably the Quitman Free Press and
the BuIIOch Times, working thOUghtfuIIy and
with high enthusiasm for the adoption of the local
countrywide school tax system. The Journal con-
graduates them most heartily and wishes them
speedy success in the splendid in which they
have enlisted