The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-10-25
One phase Of the School Situation

places as well. At any rate, there is
something rotten in Denmark, but [
am not attempting to place the blame,
because | am not sure where to place
Iit yet. If the people is the govern,
ment, the people are to blame But
| am not sure that all the laws gov
erning the public school system in
this state are by tAe willard I
might say or knowledge of the peg
pie
A case in point is this: In my COM
munity we have only one teacher
school-amply large for one teacher,
however. Three years ago we (the
patrons Of the schooDs began a drive
TO improve our school and make it
sufficient to meet the demands which
we saw coming. We voted a subschOol
district, made some rather extensive
repairs On the building virtually at
our own expense and employed a first
grade teacher for two terms-one OF
the best in the state-with decided
Improvement in attendance as a re,
suit. Last year the school did not
come up to our hopes and endsav0rs
but with renewed efforts we have
attempted this year to secure again
a first grade teacher and save the
situation.
The board will not contract with
teacher for the school holding less
than a first grade certificate for more
than So per month. Such a teacher
will not meet the demands of our
school. We agreed to cut off one
month of the term, employ a first
grade techer for six months. instead
Of seven, at $40 per month. Based on
last years average. which was not
what it should have been, the county
will pay $50 and the sub-district $40.
Again the board, through the super.
intentent. comes with the informa-
ton that even a first grade teacher
on the above terms cannot teach high
err. than eighth grade.
Here is where one injustice comes
in
Il we must stop the children OF this
community when they have reached
the ninth grade we cannot build up
the average. If We cannot build Up
the average our salary is cut dow1.
And there we are. How t&en, are
we to ever build up the rural
schools?
Again. it is very inconyenielt for
u to send cur children to the towns
and cities just because they have
reached the ninth grade, pay bo>rd,
extra clothing expense. taking them
out OF their homes just when we
need them most. and Just when they
need US parents most
If We are willing to pay the price
for a teacher who is competent 20
each our children why should We be
deuie1 this privilege?
The possible reply might be that
one teacher hasn't the time to give
to the ninth grade. All right. In the
larger schools when the corps OF
teachers is not sufficient to do the
work. what is the proceo9re, An
other teacher is employed As l said
in the beginning I do not place the
blame. 1t may be the people II 50
as one OF the people | am DONG my
bit to correct this injustice
Injustice Number Two
In discussing our school situation
with superintendent Brinson this
week I asked him the following ques-
ton.
Should it so happen that we did not
get a teacher for this term of school
and eur school remained closed for
the entire term. would the funds that
should have come to this school stand
to its credit?
His reply was that such funds
would go into the general fund Now
that isn't just We of this school
district are supposed to have paid,
through the various different channels
an amount sufficient to meet the edu,
cational expenses. For this money
to go into the general fund means no
raise in salary. no better teacher here
when we 60 open the house. If our
children are entitled to this fund
it has already been credited to us-it
is ours and no other source has j
right to use it.
Long Hammock in Sumter county
closed their school for a term or SC
while building a concrete building