The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-08-22
ANNUAL REPORT.
County Superintendent, J, Emery ThOm'
as Submits His Annual Resume Of
the Schools of tuItOn County.

chapter in the history Of the
schools of our county. We do
not claim that all has been eXcep-
tional brightness. The schools
have had their triumphs, but as
well their discoursfements,
Some mistakes and failures
came through causes unforeseen
but far the greatest obstacles in
the way arose from conditions
over which we had no control.
| fad that the percentage of
attendance Of school children is
lower during the year that has
just closed than the preceding
year. This is matter over which
we had no control. Nearly all
our schools are rural. Many of
the pupils have a distance of three
miles or more to school and are
outside Of the compulsory attend
ance law. The winter was eX-
tremely severe, the township
roads being impossible a great
part of the winter and some of
the state highways in our county
being impossible practically all
winter.
The result was as stated above,
a lowering in percentage of at
tendance throughout the county.
This, of course, had its effect up
on the schools.
The greatest difficulty which
confronts our county in the fnan-
cial means with which to run the
schools. School boards have to
use too great economy in order
to m eet financial conditions.
This necessarily brings about in
efficiency in the schools and re-
tards progress.
This financial difficulty compels
most of our school boards to pay
the minimum salary to teachers.
This salary gives the greatest
number of our teachers a fraction
over two dollars per day. This
is less compensation for services
rendered than any other class OF
laborers in the county receives.
Such a condition is driving our
experienced teachers, both male
and female into other occupa-
tons. Their places must be fill
ed by inexperienced teachers.
This results in lowering the
standard of the schools.
The Millage in one of our dis
tricts, at least, is nearly the limit.
but the decrease in the valuation
of taxable property is partly re-
sponsible for the high rate Of
millage.
It must he borne in mind that
Fulton County is unique in many
respects. 1t is a fourth class dis
trict and nearly all its schools are
rural. We have no means of ac-
curing money for school purpos-
es except by direct taxation and
state appropriations. The mill
age is generally on the increase
and the districts generally in
creasing their Indebtedness.
! notice that the assessed vaIu-
alton in some districts is about
sixty percent. of the real valua-
ton. A re-adjustment of these
valuations upon cash values would
produc abundance of revenue
with which to run the schools,
but the complaint now through
out the county is excessive taxa
ton and the raising of taxes by
increase in valuation would not
alleviate the condition of the
taxpayer, but would cause the
cry of excessive taxation to be
even more marked than under
present conditions.
The Code imposes upon school
directors certain requirements.
1t fixes the length of the school
term, building specifications, the
teachers salary, etc. The ex-
ecutive authority sees to it that
we comply with these require
ments. About this we raise no
complaint. But if present con-
ditions continue until next years
school letting, it is beyond my
power of comprehension to see
how we will be able to fill the
schools even by lowering the
standard of qualifications.