The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-05-06
TO TRUSTEES OF ylsc dcae
'l.qf STATE AID SCHOOLS:

My Dear sir:
AS State superintendent, my most
constant and earnest work has been
for the rural schools. Texas has as
good a system OF city schools as any
state In the Union. II is her rural
schools that cause our state to rank
as thirty-ninth in education.
Governor Neff has vetoed the bill
which provided for an appropriation
Of $4,000, 900 a year to aid the rural
schools. This was the best rural
aid bill the legislature, has ever pass
ed. The Governor has pormised to
submit this bill again at the special
session, IL other sources OF revenue
can be found, besides the tax on prop
erty. The purpose OF this letter Is
to inform you as to this matter, and
TO ascertain your wishes. IL your
schools can continue to prosper with
out special state aid, htere is no need
OF my making a struggle to get the
=. the bill passed second time. II
they really need this help, desire
to know this, and to carry out your
wishes please write me your opinion.
The following may be said to the JUS
tice of some OF the taxes proposed:
In Texas, property bears nearly the
whole burden OF taxation. Many
prosperous people pay nothing for the
support OF the state government.
This is not so In many other states.
Natural resources such as oil, coal,
sulphur, pay very little revenue TO
our state. These belong, in a way
TO the whole people. Much OF this
wealth pours out to enrich others
states, and we chould place on il suf-
ficient tax to retain at least small
portion TO educate Texas children.
A tax on amusements, such as the
atrical attractions, picture shows, and
baseball games is Just People are
able to enjoy these through prosper
ity of the ,cityr,r The country helps
to build the city, and the city should
help 20 build up the country. Country
people, as we'll as city people, are
patrons ofNIhese attractions and their
money helps TO keep them up, and 10
support city amusements. The best
way to build mp the country is 10
provide good schools.
The following are some OF the re-
suits suggested TO me, If rural aid is
discontinued:
/. Many schools will fall back to
a three or four months term. We
have just now reached the six
months term required by the
constitution.
2. Probably one-third Of the rural
schools will close their doors, because
teachers can no longer be secured for
a three or four months term.
4 The work OF building up a strong
corps of rural teachers will be dis
continued. The rural aid laws offer
special inducements to rural teachers
10 improve themselves and remain in
country schools
=. II cuts off the rural schools from
the states. There will be no rural
supervisors TO visit them and help
them in rural work
8 II deprives most of our country
children Of a chance OF higher educa-
ton. The short-term schools and
secondhand teachers cannot prepare
them for high school and college.
:. 1t cuts off the special inducement
TO vote local taxes.
S Country children produce fair
proportion of the wealth OF Texas,
by their labor on farms it will depri- !
We some OF them OF even the proper |
9 advantages OF short term Of school.
because they will be able TO secure
only inefficient and immature teach
ers for short terms, II any at all.
9. Rural teachers will cease to try TO |,
raise the grade OF their certificates.
because no enducement for improve ,
ment will be offered.
When big business has before the
legislature bills in which II is inter
ested, ii keeps committees in Austin,
constantly at work. The country
people frequently cannot do that,
because they are not so well
The Government and the Legisla-
ture. like myself. desire to carry out
the wishes Of tie people. II you
convince them that the country peo-
ole OF the state need and deslI/ this