The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1917-11-30

J larger state aid Tor elementary edu
cation. This statement In spite oil
the fact that each succeeding legis
lature since that time has added
largely to the school revenues and
steadily perfected the system of the
state. Tennessee now has a com.
plete system, the elementary schools.
the county high schools, splendidily
endowed University and the teacher
training normals. There are no miss.
ing links except in a few counties
where no county high schools have
been provided. but under an act of
the last legislature high school tax
Is compulsory and every coxtov must
provide this essential feature of a
complete public educational system.
Among the remarkable statements
made by DR.. Weaver Is the following:
1.-THE last Tennessee legislature
gave the state university $1,000, 900
in bonds, to the normal schools $500.
900 in bonds, and made an appropria-
ton to the university in addition
which equals nearly one half of the
amount which the state gives to
elementary education"
The legislature made absolutely no
appropriation to the university for its
support and maintenance except the
levy Of a special five cent tax. Out
OF the proceeds of this tax levy the
interest on the bond issue must be
met, sinking fund provided for its
retirement and the amount of inter
est on state bonds owned by the uni
versity must be paid This is the
sole and only additional" appropria.
ton made for the university.
Now let's see II this is equal to one
half of the amount appropriated by
the state for the elementary schools?
The state levies fifteen cent tax
for the elementary schools, with the |,
provision that every dollar of it must |
remain in the counties and be used |
for elementary education. This levy
Is just three times as much as the
levy for the state university. But !,
this Is not all. it is hardly half. In
addition to this fifteen cent levy,
which will raise an income of ap-
proximately $1,t00,o00 per annum,
there will be paid out of the reve-
nues of the state this year, a little
more than $1,100.OOO for elementary
education, distributed to the counties
under wise and beneficient system
which helps those sections least able
to help themselves.
These actual figures show that in
stead of appropriating only twice as
much for the elementary schools the
state gives them six times as much
as its appropriation to the state uni
1t must be remembered that
the elementary schools receive the
major portion of their support from
local levies, while the only support
that the state university receives
rom the people of Tennessee comes |
rom the special five cent levy. 4
DIR. Weaver also makes the state |
nent that Tennessee has county local |
option education as opposed to state 1
vide education, all unmindful of the |
act that this state not only pays the =
elementary school six per cent on an
imaginary bonded debt, but bodily .
axes one dollar out of every three !
hat goes into it's treasury and appro- 4.
,riates it for the support of a state
ystem of education. Not only that {
t arbitrarially levies fifteen cent tax :
or the elementary education. But =
hat is not all. The state provides :
/ uniform standard for the entire
,ublic school teaching force. 1t also
provides uniform text books. The
county superintendent are also re-
CURED to meet certain st ndard pre- ]
crihed by the state. Not much 30 Z
al option" about this. Assuredly the i
counties are permitted to select their n
ocal education boards, their county
to make their local n
ewes, etc, and in the opinion of The /,
Ierald it will be an exceedingly cold h
lay in August before Dr. Weaver, h
Eloquent as he is, will be able to con- II
'ince the legislature of Tennessee i
hat the people demand the sur a
'ender of these local option priv !,
leges." d