Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-04-25
For Better Schools

Every one. il may be safely as
slmed, is DESTROYS OF seeing the best
schools IN Henderson and Vance
county that the people can finance.
And the full measure Of interest in
the question was not demonstrated
by the attendance at the forum meet
ing Tuesday night, when speeches
and questions conferred around what
the needs are and what should and
could be done toward improvement.
Perfection is never reached in the
development OF the public schools.
and if the educational people had
all that they are now asking. they
would probably ask for still more.
Talks and discussions at the forum
gathering were interesting. but there
was little OF specific character
either as to what is actually desired
OF proposed. OF the precise sums
of money that Will be required and
the extent to which the tax rate will
be affected in providing the cash
year after year TO assure a definite
program And until that is made
clear to the people who will be ask
ed to tax themselves to produce the
money. it is not likely that an cleo
ton will turn out favorabiy.
So far as we can recall. this was
the first general open meeting to
which the public has been invited
70 receive information about condi-
tions. Ii may De regarded as a
mere laying OF the groundwork for
an intensive campaign, and other
similar discussions may be held to
map d program of enrichment" and
plans for achieving it.
Many voters will probably desire
accurate data that will set down the
exact amount Of money that will be
required and the tax rate necessary
to produce it. 1t should be borne in
mind, too, that if an extra twenty
cents levy on a countrywide basis
will produce the estimated $4,000
mentioned as needed, it will take at
least half, possibly twice, as much
more of 4 levy if only the city
schools are going into the enrich
ment' project. That is due, of
course, to the fact that the basic
property valuation is SO much more
when the entire county is included
than if only the city, or maybe Hen
derson township, is involved. The
alternative costs and tax rates should
be furnished to the voters.
We take it that full information
will be made available in due time
And that should include an elabor-
alton on the precise additions con-
templated, with an itemized listing
Of the purposes for which the money
is to be expended and where it will
be applied.
The mere fact that the commun-
ity is proud OF apd friendly to its
schools, and is anxious that they be
the best possible, does not mean that
all the people are going to be con-
verted and committed to the project
overnight. The cost item is going
to weigh tremendously with proper
ty owners, already haraSsed with
high tax rates, and burdened by ex-
actions of State and Federal reve-
nue. gougers almost to the point of
exhaustion.
After all, the issue is going to re-
solve itself into one not alone of
school pride and OF desires for i'm
provements and expansions, but also
equally as much a question of abil-
ity to pay. II the program can be
carried out satisfactorily on tax
rate the people think justified and
fair, and which they are willing to
accept, success may be assumed
But our guess is that Il lot of people
will wish a lot of questions to be
answered before they make up their
minds.