Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 1, 1898 Page: 4 of 16
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tub southern mercury.
September 1,18$.
Ü
Piblic School System.
By Prof. B. W. Williams.
To those conversant with the facts
In the case, it would seem a self-evi-
dent proposition that the Democratic
party of Texas has botched our school
law and mismanaged our school fund
and failed to carry out the constitu-
tional requirement concerning the
length of school term.
Prior to the civil war they did not
provide any general system of free
Bchools for all the children in the
State, but established only a few
small schools for indigent schildren.
After the war they adopted the "com-
munity,'systera—a sort of hybrid cross
between the old-time subscription plan
and the modern free school. Amend-
ments to this system were subsequently
made, but they were crude and imper-
fect, and conflicted more or less with
each other.
State Superintendent Carlisle, writ-
ing under date of December 10, 1892,
said: "We have now no uniform, con-
sistent system of public free schools,
but a multiplicity of partial and incon-
sistent systems, at complete variance
with the foregoing language of the
constitution. Under the existing law
the growth and efficiency that would
result from a system harmonious in all
its parts, as contemplated by the con-
stitution, are altogether impossible?"
(Eight Bi-ennlal Report, State Super-
intendent Public Instruction, page
xxvi.)
The school law of 1893 clearly indi-
cated that its framers were Ignorant of
the educational system of the more ad-
vanced States, and had no intelligent
conception of the educational needs of
a jgr&nt and growing State like ours.
It was a piebald of legislative patch-
work, made up chiefly from the old
law, with a new provision incorporated
in it here and there. It was just such
a thing as we might expect an aver-
age committee of clerks to produce,
aftr having been given a few old bills
from which to select portions.
The Twenty-Fifth Legislature did
make some improvements in the school
law, the most important of which was
the provision for the adoption of a uni-
form series of text books. This, how-
ever, was a Populist measure, which
had been repeatedly demanded in the
State platform of the People's party,
but never so favored in the platform
of the Democratic party. In fact, Dem-
ocrats generally opposed this measure
until the favorable sentiment created
by Populist agitation forced them to
adopt it.
After all the efforts made to patch up
our school law, it still contains many
crude, imperfect and conflicting pro-
visions.
Some of the counties are placed un-
der the district system, while a num-
ber of others are left under the old
"community" system.
The provision concerning the pay-
ment of teachers is inadequate, so that
they often have to wait several months
for their salaries.
That part of the law which relates to
the issuance of teachers' certificates is
complex and incongruous, and should
be simplified.
The office of county superintendent
is made optional with the commission-
ers' court, Instead of being placed on
a level with other offices.
Where there is no superintendent,
the county Judge, who is a lawyer In-
stead of an educator. Is required to
supervise the public schools.
Regulations concerning summer nor-
mal institutes and left entirely to the
State superintendent, instead of being
clearly prescribed by law.
Two trustees are to be elected one
year, and one the next, thus not al-
ways retaining a majority of the for-
mer board, and thereby rendering it
not a continuous body.
Public schools in our cities and
towns are granted certain privileges,
advantages and immunities which are
not granted to such schools in the ru-
ral districts.
The county superintendent is requir-
ed to give bond in the sum of $5000
but the county judge, when acting in
the same capacity, is required to give
bond for only $1000.
By reason of an unwise Democratic
policy concerning the investment of
the permanent school fund, a large
amount of this fund often lies idle in
the treasury, uninvested, which results
in a corresponding loss to the schools.
On the 21st of May, 1898, according to
Governor Culberson, there was $924,-
283 of this money hoarded in our State
treasury, from which we were drawing
no income. This, at the usual rate of
5 per cent, would yield $46,214 annual-
ly to help support th& public schools.
Formerly much of the available
school fund was diverted from its in-
tended use in the payment of teachers,
and spent for other things. The Su-
perintendent's Ninth Bi-ennial Report
(page 244) showed that nearly $700,-
000 of this fund had been applied to
other purposes than that of tuition.
But we Populists prodded the Demo-
crat so unmercifully about this that
they finally passed a law to stop these
raids upon the school children's mon-
ey.
Superintendent Carlisle says: "The
State has not since 1891-92 been able
to pay off an apportionment during
the year for which it was made. It
failed last year, notwithstanding the
extraordinary efforts made to reach
this result. On August 31, 1896, a bal-
ance of $217,571.87 on the apportion-
ment of 1895-96 was still unpaid. In
other words, we had at the close of the
last school year a deficit of $217,571.
(Tenth Bi-ennial Report, State Super-
intendent Public Instruction, page
xxxiv.)
Our State constitution provides that
the public schools shall be maintained
for "not less than six months in the
year. This is named as the minimum
for any school, and not as the average
for the State. It is contemplated that
every child of scholastic age in the
State shall have an opportunity of at-
tending school six months in each
year.
The constitution algo declares that
the Legislature shall enact such laws
as may be necessary to carry out this
provision concerning the length of
school term. Yet with this imperative
mandate staring them in the face for
more than twenty years. Texas Demo-
crats have signally and persistently
failed to meet the requirement.
On page xxxiv of the Tenth Bi-ennial
Report of the State Superintendent of
public instruction it is shown that for
the scholastic year ending August 31,
1895, the average term for the country
schools was 4.04 months; but by ad-
ding long term city schools the aver-
age was brought up to 4.67 months.
For the next year it was 4.28 months
for country schools, and 4.61 months
with city schools included. (Ibid, page
330.)
On page xxxv of the same report,
Superintendent Carlisle says: "It is
vain to suppose the constitutional re-
quirement has been met when the aver-
age term of the country schools is but
little more than four months, when
there are hundreds of these now run-
ning for three months or less, when
the payment for teaching are more
than all the State funds, when with
the addition of over $1,200,000 of local
funds to the State funds, the average
school term is less than five and a half
months."
BRASS BAND
Instruments. Drums, Uniforms, Eaulp*
menta for Bands and Drum Corps. Low-
sst prices ever quoted. Roe Catalog. 401
Illustrations, mailed free; H gives Band
Music ft Instructions for Amateur Bute
UONAHEALY. 46 Adams SUCWOMS
Another Affidavit.
W. M. Skillern, a member of the 24th
Legislature, of La Nana, Naoogdoches
county, Texas, makes the following
statements before a notary public of
Travis county:
The Governor's Mansion and grounds
surrounding the Mansion, 360 yards
around the entire grounds. The size
of the Governor's garden, 30x50 yards.
The condition of said garden on the
11th day of May, 1897: There had not
been a plow, hoe or spade used in the
garden; the weeds, Johnson grass and
a few bunches of oats had gone to seed
and had been mowed down with a hand
mowing blade and were laying just as
the mower had left them. Another
crop of weeds and Johnson grass was
growing up again Wm. A. Skillern,
LaNana, Nacogdoches Co.,, Tex.
I was excused on account of sickness
and was at home with my family when
the Legislature voted to take those
excursions to San Antonio, Houston
and Galveston. I met them on the
18th day of February at Houston. We
went that day to see the San Jacinto
battle ground. We went a part of our
way by rail and a part of our way on
a barge. We were about three or four
hours on the barge. We emptied only
21 beer kegs in that short time, be-
sides we had every other kind of drink
known to Texas civilization. Every-
thing was free, including board and
lodging at the finest hotels.
Wm. A. Skillern.
The State of Texas, county of Trav-
is: Before me, J. M. Caldwell, a no-
tary public, for Travis county, Texas,
on this day personally appeared before
me Wm. A. Skillern, known to me,
and being duly sworn upon his oath
says that the foregoing statements are
true and correct. Sworn to and sub-
scribed before me this, July 28th, A. D.
1898, at Austin, Texas. /
(Seal.) J. W.'Caldwell,
Notary Public, Travis county, Tex.
For the governor's mansion and fur-
niture, including repairs to mansion,
and improvements to grounds sur-
rounding mansion, contingent expen-
ses, the State allowed for two years,
commencing Feb. 28, 1897, and ending
Feb. 28, 1899, $2,500. In addition and
to be expended as follows:
For labor, and keeping up grounds
surrounding mansion $700
Water and ice 200
Fuel and lights 450
Contingent expenses 200
Total $3.050
Now, why is it that the condition
of said garden and grounds surround-
ing the executive mansion on the 11th
A SWELL TURNOUT
of any kind in Dog Carts,
Buggies or Surreys, can
be furnished by us in the
latest designs, handsome
trimmings and finish.
They are not only pleasing
to the eye, but have all
the virtues of lightness,
strength and durability
combined, and are the
acme of elegance and com-
fort. Our display in this
line will attract the atten-
tion of the connoisseur.
Write for our 1898 cata-
logue, which will be sent
free of charge.
PARLIN &0REND0RFF CO.,
Dallas, Texas.
solid trains of
WA6NER BUFFET SLEEPERS
AND
free reclining
KATY CHAIR OARS
TO
ST. LOUIS,
CHICAGO,
KANSAS CITY
CLOSE CONNECTIONS
TO ALL POINTS
EAST, NORTHMWEST.
First Class Meals
AT OUR OWN
DINING STATIONS
50 Cents.
I
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Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 1, 1898, newspaper, September 1, 1898; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185768/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .