The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-11-02
ATTENTION ClTlZENSi
CASTOR DISTRICT

In view Of the fact that | have heard
so many arguments pro and con rela-
tive to the pending school tax cleo
ton in Ward S, | am submitting this
article for publication at the urgent
request Of friends, with the hope that
its contents will be given careful con-
sideration.
The petition asking for an election is
not in my possession, but have read
il. II asks for an election in Ward 5
for the purpose OF voting on the
proposition to levy $75,OOOOO bond
issue for building and equipping a brick
school building to be located prefer
ably east of the l.. & A. railway in
Castor. Due to the opposition OF the
patrons at New Ramah, the board
amended the proposition to read all
Of Ward S except the new Ramah dis
trict, and the amount was reduced 10
read $65,OOOO. This, in the opinion
Of the writer, was the wise thing to 90
as the high school students from New
Ramah are nearer Ashland and should
attend there. The 100000 reduction
is equivalent to the amount that would
have been paid by the New Ramah
district. This tax is to run for ~
years, and the building is to be used
for all the white children of Ward 5,
except the New Ramah district The
petition also requests that the two
frame buildings at Castor be sold,
and the proceeds be used on the new
building, or the material in said build
ings be used in the new building The
writer has reliable information that
the buildings be sold or used to ad-
vantage. The sale Of these buildings
means only those at Castor This
statement is made, because OF some
Interpretations that have beer
made.
The second proposition petitionet
for, is to vote on three
mill tax for the purpose OF employ
ing additional teachers, and to trans
fer pupils to Castor high school VIII
live over two and one-hali miles. Thl
petition, as we'll as the order for tn
election, plainly states that one-hal
Of this tax is to be set aside to pa
patrons who transfer their own chill
dren, or to put on transfers from com
munities where the number justine
such action. The petition requests tina
no teacher be taken off OF one OF tn
rural schools except by majority vol
of those patrons OF said school. N
tax to be collected until 1928.
This is self explanatory. The wri
er learns, however, that the entil
parish viii be called upon next sprin
to vote on an 5 mill tan as the prese'
$ mill tax expires. This 8 mill mail
tenance tax is to take the place OF II
present S mill inadequate tax. As lor
as the assessment was almost IS mi
lion dollars S, mills was sufficient
hire teachers and maintain the schoo
at their present standards, but stint
the assessment has shrunk to abo
9 million the S mills is not suficie'
to finance the schools. The numb
OF children who attend school is gro,
ing larger each year, which niece
states the employment Of more teac
ers. 1t is true that the salaries
the old teachers have not been G.
but the new teachers do not DIR;
the salary that was paid two ye;
ago. The teachers could hardly 81
fer a cut in slary, due to the IA
that the requirements for teaching
being raised, and the time is aim
at hand when only the normal a
college trained graduates will be
lowed to teach. This preparation
ours considerable expense. But to
kesk IN tha fhvee mill tax Whv si1O