Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-03-21
STUDENT TELLS NEEDS
Of GEORGIA SCHOOLS
State Stints Appropriations For
All Educational Branches,
He Says

than is illustrated by recent speech
delivered at the University of Geor-
gia by w. A. Lundy, a student in
that institution, which goes to the
heart of things, revealing a eondi-
tion obtaining in this state which is
truly alarming.
Everywhere, not only in the higher
branches, the State University and
the schools directly under its admin
! istration, but on down rhe line to
our public school system the same
can be said, crowded school houses,
/ poorly paid instructors and equip
ment insufficient to do the best
work.
So illuminating is the address
above referred to, that the Times
Recorder wishes to use it in con-
nection with recent cartoon which
illustrates so well just what this
University student had in mind when
he said:
am speaking to you this morn
ing as a Georgia boy, one of the
age of adolescence or just approach
ing this period in their lives. 1t is on
these boys, the citizens of tomorrow
that the future of the State is rest
ed; for tomorrow they will take
up the burden of the States prog.
ress and assume the responsibility OF
it's citizenship.
The state expects service from its
people, and we believe that it ia
right that it should. But we also
believe that in this case the individu-
al has the right to expect something
from the State-tne opportunity to
serve to the very best of his capac-
ity.
Gentlemen, the means by which
men are made capable of serving
their state, and their country are
through developing their mind, then
ability to understand their ability
to interpret nature, 30 anticipate
truth and to put it into serviceable
form for the uplift of humanity.
In proportion as the state cultl-
Yates this, so shall it prosper.
Have / the opportunity that other
fbovs of other States of the South
have to obtain an education? Can l
get as good an education as they,
with as little expense? Can as large
a per cent of our 100000 boys have
the same advantage as the boys OF
other States?
We shaT all know that State in.
stitutions must be supported by taxes
from the State treasury, and that
these taxes must come directly or
indirectly from the people, But
Georgia today imposes a higher prop
erty tax and apropriates less money
for the Improvement and mainten-
ance of her State Schools OF high
er learning than any other State III
the South, and ranks as 4Oth when
compared with. the States of the
Union.
Virginia has lowered her ad val
orem tax rate below that of SIeor-
ola and has bought the intangibles
to the tax books. Why can't we 90
the same? Why not tax some OF the
foreign-owned capital in this State
which sends its proceeds to other
States to educate other people cnli-
dren? A 2 cent tax on every gal
ion of gasoline sold in this State
would net a million dollars every year
for the upkeep and support OF our
university and normal schools, While
a / cent tax on soft drinks would
net MANY millions. AS it is, this
State is making annual expenditures
for all higher education, $445,0 900
less than our annual expenditures Tor
chewing gum!
I don't care to bore you with fig
ures, but il. order that you may get
a clearer idea as to the real sltua-
ton. listen for moment to TINS
data;
For Improvement alone, Louisiana
gave her State University S750,000;
Mississippi is spending the $150,Ooo;
Tennessee, $1,O00,000; Alabama
$500 600; North Carolina, $1,45O,-
600 and South Carolina gave to Glenn
son alone 100000, Where is Geor-
gia, YOU ask? In the last ten years
we gave our State university only
$40, 900 to use for new buildings and
other improvements And this IN
spite of the fact that last year we
i had at the University of Georgia u
500 applications for admission, and
with dormitory facilities, 3 to room'
for only 25O. That's the record
And, gentlemen, the history OF our
Georgia State College of Agrlcui-
turf is even more humiliating. IN
the last 16 years we gave It to only
$4,000 for new buildings on our
campus in the face of the fact that
our enrolment for all classes and
courses for the year 1928 VIII
approximate 1900. The State only
appropriates $4,000 for our MAIN
tenance. This sum is so small as TO
be manifestly inadequate to support
our college on a basis to enable 1t
to render the best service to our
farmers and young men and women
of Georgia. -
Not single State in the South
but gives at least twice as much as
Georgia every year to her agrlcuii-,
tural college. Mississippi, small
State with predominating negro pop,
ulation, appropriates for agricultural
college maintenance, experiment sta
tions and Smith-Lever extension
work. total of $415,000 per year,
while Georgia appropriates My
| S217 900. And Mississippi ranks next