The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-05-17
THE SPECIAL TAX.

court house IL Was ueClueu " IohS
steps looking to a vote on the ques-
ton of increasing the school levy in
this school district. The work of Sc
curing the necessary petitions was
turned. over to the ent-Teacher
Association, the only organization
connected with the schools. Immedi-
ately after the meeting the petitions
were circulated in some parts of the
city and the same were generally
signed, but as yet we have not heard
of the election being ordered.
On inquiry the Press and Banner
is informed that the work of secur-
ing the petitions has somewhat lag
ged. The ladies who are the officers
and appointees of the Parent-Teacher
Association have so far not secured
the necessary signatures. Perhaps be-
ing citizens with the vote is some
what more of burden to them than
they had expected. At any rate they
are proving about as slow as some
men we know.
Laying this aside, however, it ap-
pears to the Press and Banner that
the matter of ordering this election
should be pressed at once. In fact
it is absolutely necessary that the
matter be given immediate attention.
The schedule of teachers salaries for
the next year as outlined at the meet
ing while considerably reduced all
along the line, cannot be paid un-
less the two mills taxes are voted.
That much is certain. We shall not
be able we think to secure teachers
for any less than the sums proposed.
We believe, as we have stated, that
teachers should be paid reasonable
salaries, and no more than is reason
able; but it is foolhardy to expect to
secure teachers for less than they
can earn in other callings where the
work is not so irksome.
Perhaps it would be a good idea
for the trustees of the district to CO.
operate with the Parent-Teacher
Association in this matter, at least so
far as IS necessary to ascertain the
wishes of the public in the matter.
The Press and Banner has no di-
rect interest in the matter. We are
for low taxes always unless the pub
l;c good demands higher taxes. The
owner of the Press and Banner
would profit perhaps if the two eX-
TIA mills We're not authorized. But
we cannot stand in these matters on
the effect such measures will have on
our .pocket-books. We must remem-
Der that there are many children in
the city whose parents are unable
financially to send them to schools
other than the public schools; there
are widows with children, and men
with so many children that good
public schools are absolutely neceS-
sary in order that these children may
cccure a proper education. In many
cases the parents are doing all that
they can. 1t is a considerable charge
on man in moderate circumstances
TO keep four OR five children in
school, even when the buildings are
furnished by the public and there
are no tuition charges. The design
of the public schools is to help all
the people to educate their children
and especially those who need and
deserve help. In forming our opin-
ions in matters pertaining to the
schools we need to think of the pub
lie good and not of ourselves too
much.
This school district is poor finan-
cially as compared with the school
districts in other towns of like size.
We have few manufacturing enter
.prises in the district and the income
is small. Notwithstanding this our
tax levy for public schools is much
less than it is in many other towns
whene schools of only ten grades are
operated. We do not believe there is
a town in the state with eleven grades
in its schools where the tax levy for
schools is lower than here. We really