The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1920-07-23

The cost of running the schools of
the county for 5 " months last year
was $22, 100000, and no one will say
that the salaries were what they
should have been. 1t will be admit
ted that we had a few teachers who
received all they were worth but the
average teacher did not receive suf-
ficient pay. If we ever supply our
schools with good teachers we must
pay the prices that will appeal to
such teacher. The best teachers are
quitting the profession and will con-
tinue to quit so long as teachers sal
aries are so much lower than the sal
aries of other positions which these
teachers are capable of holding.
Other counties are realizing this
and are preparing to retain these
good teachers. Uuion County has
just voted a three mill school levy.
Madison County voted a four mill
levy. Pontotoc County went from
zero to five mills last summer. The
school levy in Copiah County is seven
mills. But it is useless for me to go
on enumerating what other counties
are doing. The question is, what
are we going to do?" Just last week
two excellent teachers were in my
Office to see me about schools. | told
them thee very best l could do, which
resulted In their leaving my office
saying they would accept places Of
fered them, in Pamela County, at SAL
aries about 50R higher than the
best I could possibly offer.
Under the increased appropriation
made by the last Legislature, Yalo-
busha County will receive $10,000.00
more this year than last, but this a
mount is guaranteed for only one
year. The Legislature voted $1,250-
10000 to be distributed over the state
in addition to the regular appropri
alton. 1t also appointed the State
Superintendent, the Attorney Gen
eral, and the Secretary of State as
board to distribute this fund. This
board is giving every county chance
this year but has frankly said that no
county will participate in the ''f1oat-
ing fund" as it is called after this
year unless a satisfactory levy is
maintained in that county. In other
words the state will hip those that
help themselves
The board has been asked by he
county superintendents of the state
to define what they mean by salts
factory levy to which the board ans
wered, "any levy sufficient to insure
a six or seven months term with suf-
ficient salaries. Yalobusha County
carries one mill levy which brings in
a revenue of a little better than
100000 year. This amount
would not support the schools one
month at the rate we paid last year.
1t will not support the schools one
half month at the rate we ought to
pay this year Surely the state board
will not say this is a sufficient and
satisfactory levy, and as result we
will lose 100000 from the state
next year.
Have you stopped to think what
you would lose by not getting this
$1O,O00.00? 1t means that the taxes
you are paying into the state for the
support of schools will be paid to the
teachers of Union, Madison, Copiah
and other counties while our schools
will continue to run for 5 " months
and be taught by incompetent teach
ers. The United States government
is saving to the state, 'If you meet
certain requirements, we will help
you" The state is meeting these re-
ouirements and is making the same
kind of proposition to the counties.
If we fail to vote the levy and in
sure for our county the state aid.
the taxpayer loses the taxes he pays
into the state fund and the children
lose the advantages of longer term
and better qualified teachers.
It was wise man who made the
statement that if we need thing, we
pay for it whether we get or not Ii
the farmer needs mule, he pays for
him in the loss of production, If we
need good roads, we pay for them in
the loss of time and the wear and tear
of our teams and vehicles in getting
to the market, if we need good schools