Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-20
The Injustice and Uny;sdom
of TAXING the Berry Schools

of Taxing the Berry Schools
w yHATEVER the Iegalistic quirks in the
M lately raised question of taxing the
Berry schools, there can be no doubt
that Georgia's deeper sense Of justice and OF
right would be sorely aggrieved should that
noble institution, with it's unmeasured and
wholly unselish service to the Common
wealth, be penalized merely to enforce the
churlish letter of law which in spirit was
never intended 80 to apply.
For more tn n twenty years the Berry
schools, of Floyd county, which had their
genesis in a cabin by the roadside, and their
inspiration in the great heart and mind OF q
woman whom history will rank With Ogle-
thorpe have been a beacon of cheer and
progress for the mountain folk of Georgia
and neighbor States. It was on January the
18th, 1902, that the first Of these schools
was established by Miss Martha Berry, OF
Rome, to lrovide industrial education for
poor boys from the rural highlands Of the
South. She had begun her labor of love
years before in little Sunday school, which
soon developed day-school interests that
spread from the near countryside over the
hills and into far valleys of the region
around, kindling vision splendid" for eyes
wont to look no further than the days toll.
Few IL any then foresaw the destined range
OF blessing and renown to which her en-
deavor was leading. But today there are rep
resentative men and women in distant cor
mrs of America and of Europe, as well, who
think of Georgia principally as the seat of
the Berry Schools, where seven hundred pu-
pills, from little children to workers in their
h0ip adn toH in, q
Christian atmosphere, for larger usefulness
to their own mountain hons and commun1-
ties, and thus for greater worth to Themselves
and their country.
1.-THE primary purpose" runs the official
statement of the school for boys, lis the
training of young men for country life. The
entire course of instruction is planned with
this in view. Various branches of agricul-
ture and such branches Of mechanics as are
particularly useful on the farm are given
especial emphasis in the course, which in
cludes all the essentials of a well-grounded
grammar or high school education. Much
attention is given to the study Of the Bible.
The instruction in all lines is thoroughly
practical The students lear to do any
thing and are taught to apply what they
learn to actual home conditions" Think of
this sort of education applied year after year
to mountain lads, and in a kindred school to
their sisters. Think of the quickening and
growth and enrichment it confers. Think OF
its value to hum. lives and to the Common
wealth those lives are brought to strengthen
and ennoble. Think, too, what it means that
this work is carried forward with never
penny of selfish gain for those whose Shout
ders are at the wheel and with never dol
lar of endowment save what is given by gen.
frio nj ndncatiOn and humanity.
"A tax upon the service and the growth OF
such an institution would be in truth what
the lamented Chancellor Walter B. Hin once
called IAN infamous window-tax upon the
human SOUL Far better could the State of
Georgia afford to appropriate hundreds or
thousands of dollars to help the Berry
Schools forward than to exact from them one
cent of unwarranted tribute. A single youth
trained and fostered under their character
building, withdrawing influence Is worth
incomparably more to the common veal TAIN
all that generation Of tax gatherers might
wiring from their modest material assets. De-
pendent wholly for expansion and chiefly FOR
maintenance upon gifts from liberal believ-
ers in their cause, the Berry Schools are hard
pressed for funds and unable to answer half
the needs that crowd constantly upon TENN.
This autumn there are upwards of four hun
dred applicants who, intensely eager as they
are for admission, can be given nothing bet
ter than place on the waiting list.
Shall the State of Georgia levy tax upo-.
the hopes and the rights of these waiting
hundreds, and of hundreds more coming on?
Shall she say to the benefactors through
out the country. without whose donations
the Schools could not survive: "You must
pay tax to my treasury for the privilege OF
giving to an institution which serves my
own highest ends?"
Surely, so ungracious and unwise course
will not be pursued! Whatever the techhi-
calities Of the law, the matter can properly
be held in allegiance until Legislative action,
assuring equity and expressin the peoples
true will, can be taken.
:. That is the more rightly urged inasmuch
as the Schols heretofore have not been re-
quired to pay the taxes which it is now sug-
gested the yowe. To Compl them to shout
der at this juncture burden Of taxes &C
cumulated through a period Of years during
which no such demand even limited
would be extremely disheartening and nfair
This is not the Georgia way; il is not the
Georgia spirit. "Be litter, not leaner,'
runs the motto of the Berry Schools, which
the State we'll may transfer to itself in this
wise: "Be helper, not a hinderer!"