The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-12-16
TAXPAYERS WILL
NOT FEEL BURDEN
IF LEGISLATURE ADOPTS FlTZ-
HUGH's PLAN OF FlNANc-
ING SCHOOLS
President State Board OF Education
Explains To Governor
RitchIe.
DR.. HENRY M. FITZHUGH

DR.. HENRY M. FITZHUGh
Westminster, Md, Nov, 2S, 1921.
Governor Albert c. Ritchie,
Annapolis, Marylandi
My dear Governor Ritohie:
At the time of discussion of the
school budget in your Office last We'd
nesday, you stated that the money
raised by direct taxation is by law
dedicated first, to the bonded debt re-
quirements of the State, and secondly,
to the schools. The conversation then
developed the fact that public educa-
ton is the only State activity that Is
supported principally out of the di-
rectly levied tax, and that the mstitu-
tions caring for the sick, the INDECENT,
the criminal, the insane, agriculture,
higher education, etc., are supported
by funds raised by indirect taxation.
Later you asked me if l thought that
the public would stand for ten-cent
raise in the tax rate in order to carry
out the proposed program of the State
Board of Education. The implication
carried by this question was, 1 take
It, that the demands of other State
managed social activities would SO
reduce the general fund that the
schools would be obliged to go direct
ly to the people for additional money.
l have, since leaving your office,
been considering the status OF the
school budget under the existing meth
cd of providing funds, and it seems
that the situation, which possibly
might embarrass the Executive, the
Legislature, and the school system is
substantially this:
Everything but bond and school re-
quirements Is provided out of the fund
raised by indirect taxation. If, after
everything else is provided for, any
money remains in the general fund,
that money goes to supplement an
amount raised by direct taxation for
the support Of the schools. The schools
then are sustained from two sources,
both variable. The first source, name
ly, the general fund, contributes
small proportion; and the second
source, namely, the direct tax, large
proportion The first source is not
under the close scrutiny of the taxpay-
ers; the second, because 1t is on the
tax bill, is at all times under the
critical scrutiny not only of the tax
payers but Of the politicians as we'll
AS both sources of income vary, and
as the first is by custom and law the
one that supplies the other social &C
tivities of the State, 1t naturally fol-
lows that the schools, by reason of
being the residuary legatee, SO to
speak, are forced to levy taxes in dt-
rect proportion to the degree of ex-
pansion that the necessities Of the
other organizations demand. When
the schools, in order to meet the de-
mands of progress, are forced to fall
back on funds derived from direct
taxes they are in position to be at
tackled by the uninformed public as
being extravagant and as the sole
cause of the increased tax rate. The
first source depends on and varies in
proportion to the needs of other &C
LlNIL10Sy InS SSCOlIO ucpcAuS Ou oLO
varies with the experience, inclination,
and sense Of expediency of those who
decide at any particular time what
the rate is to be.
Now there are some features about
the school system Of the State that
are perhaps, occasionally lost sight of,
but which by reason of their import
ance must be recognized:
First: 1t is in direct touch
with q majority of the families of
the State.
Second: 1t deals directly with
about a quarter of a million chill
dren and is under the most critical
scrutiny Of their parents.
Third: 1t Is means provided
by a democracy to produce and
maintain such a constantly rising
level Of intelligence and informa-
ton as will insure a progressive
improvement In the general char
acter Of our national life.
Fourth: It employs seven thou
sand persons who to very large
thoughts and characters of
quarter Of million children dur
ing the most impressionable
period Of their lives.
Fifth: 1t is the only institution
charged by the State with a uni
versal compulsory obligation,
namely, that of compelling the at
tendance at school of the children
between the ages of seven and
seventeen years, regardless Of the
sect, color, social position or f.
nancia1 status of the parents; and
most parents send their children
to the public schools.
With the foregoing in mind, as a
member of a Board the function OF
which 1t is to represent the people in
the matter Of public education, to see
to it that the school facilities are ade,
quate, and at the same time sensible,
uniform and progressive, l wish to
protest against the method 10y which
the schools are financed because il
seems to be poor state policy to per
nit so fundamental an obligcti lion as
the education Of children to remain il
g less secure position as regards its
revenue than are such other activities
Gs the care of the sick, INDECENT, the