The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-04-01
LET US VOTE WITH OPEN MINDS

LIE Us VOlE With OrEN mlNDS
The HenderSonville school district cleo
ton comes up next Tuesday and there are
a number of facts in connection with this
election which ought to be considered by
every citizen Of the district before election
day! in preparation for the discharge of
the duties of citizenship on that occasion.
II is generally known that according to
the rules of the election citizen can vote
against the adoption of the school tax by
not voting, the proponents of the measure
being in the position of voting against the
special registration in order to secure en-
dorsement of the special tax. The proposed
tax must secure the affirmative vote of
majority of the registered voters whose
names remain on the rolls on election day.
1t is believed that a large part of the anti
tax vote will be cast by citizens who re-
main away from the polling places.
This course should not be taken by citi-
zens. who value the franchise and appreci-
ate the privileges and obligations of citi-
zenship. All who can get to the polls
should go there and vote; and those who
cannot for any valid reason visit the poll
ing places, can vote absentee ballots. Mere
negative opposition of the character under
discussion is a poor substitute for good
citizenship.
This election and the tax proposal pre-
sents matter of far reaching Importance
to the school district. 1t should have the
candid and unprecedented consideration OF
haUinU plVpn
this every voter should be sufficiently IN
terested to go out and cast his or her ballot
on election day. All who cannot freely de-
eide to support the measure. after giving
it this consideration, should vote against
it. However, each voter should make GER
tain that he or she is occupying position
in relation to the matter that is free from
misunderstanding, prejudice or the influ-
ence of Interior motives. The proposal is
too closely connected with the future well
fare; of Hendersonville and the surround
ing territory to be lightly disposed OF, or
to be made political football.
Another thing to be remembered is that
the issue is DOT a partisan or party issue,
The public schools belong to all the peo-
pie, serve all the people, and must be
kept out of party politics. HendersonVIlle
schools are controlled and supervised by a
nonpartSan board and the plan after years
of trial is endorsed by large majority OF
citizens of all parties.
Another thing to be remembered before
casting your ballot is that the public
schools belong to the public and serve all
classes of people, but are the foundation
of the educational and cultural hopes and
welfare of the masses. Common school
education is education for the children OF
the poorest and most unfortunate families
as wen as the children of the wealthies'
and most favored residents of the schoo
district. . 5l :.
Common school education is education
for many who would obtain no education
whatever but for the opportunities afford
ed biz this system and for many more who
would find It exceedingly difficult to avoie
the ranks of ilIiteracy without the advan
tages made available to all by this system
The common schools are the schools O
the common people, as this newspaper pr
marty considers them; but, of course the!
belong equally to all classes OF people. W.
repeat they afford the only educational ad
vantages within reach of a large proper
ton of ounrpopulatiOn. nltsracy woul'
soon sweep over this community at fioo