Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-15
Joining the Schools
To Zmbroved HighWays

BY linking together bond issues for the
two purposes, Georgia counties are proving
their realization of the fact that better high
ways and better schools go hand in hand.
Recently letter was addressed to the
county school superintendent of the state by
NJ L. Britain, state school superintendent,
urging them to insist that bonds for school
buildings should be coupled with bonds for
paved highways in every case where high
way bonds were being proposed.
One of the first county superintendent to
put this suggestion into effect was F. M.
Greene, head of the schools of Houston coun-
ty where the voters will shortly pass upon a
bond issue of $500, 900 for highways and OF
100000 for new school buildings.
Just at this time great wave of highway
sentiment is sweeping the state. Bibb coun-
ty recently voted several hundred thousand
dollars for highways and with them liberal
allowance Or modern school buildings Hous-
ton county is preparing, as stated, to have
bond election for similar dual purpose.
Thomas county will shortly vote on large
bond issue for highways. Sumter county,
which has been for years a leader in good
roads will now go forward to still better
roads with proceeds of bond issue of $780,
900 which was recently approved by prac-
tically a unanimous vote, only 70 votes out
of 1000 beinS cast in opposition to the
bonds. Many other counties are discussing
bond elections for highway improvement.
The sentiment seems to be sweeping the state
like a tidal wave.
Just at this time, therefore, it is specially
important for the friends of education, as
Urged by State Superintendent Britain, to
link their cause with the cause of good roads.
Certainly no proposed bond issue in any
county in Georgia for the purpose OF high
way construction could be weakened in favor
by adding liberal provision to build bet
ter schools. On the contrary, highway
bond issue ought in reason to be made more
popular by coupling with it school bond
issue.
Georgia's need for better highways, both
in the counties and as statewide system. is
fundamental and primary to all other needs
Hence it is a great thing for the state that
the people are becoming aroused with de-
sire for progress on a large scale. But bet
ter schools cannot be had until the state has
better roads. By the same token better
schools will be among the first if not the
very first of the many forms of advance
ment and public improvement that will i'm
mediately follow the construction of modern
paved highways, and tkis is why it is so i'm
portant to insure immediate educational
progress by coupling school bonds with high
way bonds.
county that issues school bonds hand
finland with highway bonds will not have to
wait for better school houses. 1t can &C
ahead building them while the highways are
being constructed. When the highways are
finished they will be finished and ready fol
use.
One of the factors which has held back
progress in Georgia i the past two decades
is the very marked contrast between living
conditions the farm and living cond1
tions in the towns and cities. Owners OF
land prospecting the farm, nave moved
their families away from their country
homes to homes in town, so as the better tc
educate their children and provide them with
the various other superior attractions OF
community life Life en- the farm has beer
made dull by it's isolation, by inferior schools
by lack of the conveniences of modern life
In the next decade the state OF Georgia is
going to experience a far-reaching movemen,
in the opposite direction. Paved roads anC
automobiles will enable country people tt
live in the country and enjoy country life
without being isolated from social centers
They will enable county authorities to dc
away with old-fashioned, isolated, one-teach
or school houses and build consolidated
schools where the classes are graded, where
school room facilities are adequate and scien
tific, where the pupils have Fairgrounds anc
athletic sports. They will enable enterpr1s
ing farmers to sell for cash in neighborlns
towns and cities great quantity Of vegeta
bles fruit and other farm truck that used tc
be wasted Home-ighting systems will en-
able farmers to provide for their families a
comparatively small cost the essential con
veniences of Watarworks and sanitation
electric lights in house and barn and grounds
electric fans, fire protection. Telephones
will link the home of country people togeth
er in a general community of 1nter-com
munication Churches will improve. A rea
social tone ill develop in the country. AnC
then the class of land-OWning, intelligent an(
successful farmers who have been moving
away from their farms will go back and live
where life can be enjoyed in it's fulles
measure.
The map of Europe now waits on the peace
conference.