Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-26
THE COUNTRY HOME
BY MRS. w. H. FELTON,

COPY of these printed exhibits, and it remains
fact that this legislative body was so man1p-
ulated and managed that this most important
matter was cleverly shunted off out Of sight,
and the people could not and did not hear the
subject discussed and of course it had no
chance to be voted upon by either house or
senate
This was extraordinary, of course, but
have had the opportunity of reading some
things which the people of Georgia should be
allowed to know and to see and then they Will
comprehend where their money goes! The
day is surely coming when an outraged public
will revolt and look into their own business
through courageous and loyal and pledged
representatives
State and county taxation for schools would
puzzle a Solomon, while the cry is abroad IN
the land. More, more money! hundred
times more" Like the horse leech's daugh-
tiers who had nervous prostration, always cry
ing more" there is obliged to come revolt
from the people who must raise additional
millions every year to teach many millions OF
children who are too young to go to school,
along with those who go piddllng along, doing
little or no good as students With baseball
and such like there is little time given to
study. In my county we were taxed to the
limit in Gainesville to keep up city schools
We have had local school tax two years to pro-
vide new schoolhouses and pay teachers In
various other school districts | was taxed
several dollars per thousand each year because
white schoolhouse in that district has been
built in two years. No negro schoelhouse was
built in reach of FELTON, farm. The negro ten
ants were told to go to Gainesville schools.
They paid $3.50 per month in grammar
school, 81 month in colored high schools.
I found negro tenant of mine was paying
$11.50 cash per month for his children, while
1 was abating my rent to help him do better
in 1928 with his crop and had to lose nearly
half what he owed me in 1922. I'm asked
how he could do it? He said he was told the
county would pay cash back, as there was no
colored schoolhouse in reach. l went to the
grand jury to know where the local school
money went that had been forced to pay to
provide free schools fer negro children in
country schools because thy were tenants on
my land. Then grand 1uryman, also county
demonstration, rose up to say these negro pa
irons would only get 81 per scholar, no mat
ter how much the Gainesville schools recev.
ed. What farce the whole thing proved to
be!' What sort of free schooling was being
done? And how were We to live with poor
crops and such taxes?
1t struck my old mind that I was being
crucifed by tyrants and that the local tax of
SIS per thousand for country school was puz-
zle could not understand, or enjoy.
/ do not live in that country school districts
Having no child to send to school, and nearly
lightweight years old, l demanded to know
why free negro school patrons were made TO
pay Gin one instance $11.50 per month"; and
the county was making me pay for public
schools in Gainesville and also public schools
in the local school country district, and using
my tax money to educate these negro pupils
at these enormous school charges (and really
paid to Gainesville managers) when had al
ready been taxed to the limit of asssAsupent 10
support county school institutions?
This is public school taxation to the very
limit! And also enoromus waste OF school
tax money with vengeance! And this is a
travesty on free school education, and the
state of Georgia seems to be overrun with ac-
tive school managers, paid to the limit, TO use
local country school money in town schools
that was assessed to pay negro teachers in.
country school districts. Don't it make you
tired?