Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1916 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

In Reference to the Union Township High School .Mandate. Primarily I am representing a few .school patrons who desire to have their children as well educated as those of other patrons of more fortunate circumstances who have autos to transport their children to and from places where adequate schooling may be had; nor can they afford to pay their children’s board or car fare to and from. Don’t forget, it is no sin to be poor, but it is a decided handicap at times. No one of today would think of doing away with the common schooling that is provided free of charge by the state but apparently balk at continuing that education to a point where it will be of some benefit to the scholar, or at least to a time when such scholar is old enough to continue by his own efforts. Now, the state justly realizes that as a rule the value of a citizen to a state is in direct proportion to the amount of education he possesses, and has provided a law such that the aforementioned obstacle can be overcome. Some object to this law on the ground that it is not representative.

to which I give as my opinion that a law passed by the representatives of a state is presumed to be representative and is generally considered so by the courts, otherwise a statewide prohibition law as now stands on statute' books of several states, would be unconstitutional, as there is not a doubt that communities can be found in any state where they would prefer their saloons. If any one doubts this fact, let them show me state-wide prohibition under local option law. Personally, We are working for a high school building .because the trustee informed us before we began action, that if he were forced to build a high school he would build a consolidated school at the same time as there is not how adequate schooling facilities in the township for the common pupils. Parr politicians are trying to convince supporters of a consolidated school that a high school only will be built. We have the trustee’s promise otherwise.

If a consolidated building was not built at the present time, according to the trustee it will necessitate the building of new buildings at both Parr and Fair Oaks. If built, the surplus from each school will go to the consolidated. We asked the trustee .where he would place the proposed building. He said, “I would put it in the center of the township where it will give an equal chance to all.” It was these assurances from the trustee that caused us to bring the action, and we believe that the trustee will carry out his promises. Some are now proposing to place the new building at Fair Oaks, saying that the trains would accommodate the pupils from Parr and vicinity and Virgie and vincinity. True they would, for a price, but for the same price or less, under the plan as proposed by the trustee, of running a wagon so Parr high school pupils could be taken care of. The same could easily be done for Virgie. Moreover, it would only be a healthy walk from either Parr or Fair Oaks to where the building should be located for a high school student. There are plenty of small grade pupils who walk over half the distance at the present time. ,The placing of the building at Fair Oaks would leave the central eastreri, and southeastern part as bad as heretofore, as far as educational facilities are concerned, and will in time necessitate the building of a third building on the east side. Don’t forget that the present district school houses are not very healthy places, nor will they last many more years, to say nothing’ of the fact that no teacher can teach eight grades of pupils and do justice to them all. Moreover, these houses cannot be rebuilt for a mere nominal sum and comply with the regulations of the state board of health. Some say, “Where would O«S’ board? ’VI have/ not hbardf of closed /because the teachers cduld not obtain board. They have not found it necessary to be in a town.

The chief difficulty in regard to the centralized plan is the lack of good roads. But it is a difficulty which can be remedied in a very few years. I regretted very much having to take the necessary steps at the present time, but according to the trustee it was now or never, owing to the crowded condition of the schools. T, as well as others, would have preferred waiting for better roads. Moreover, we have outlined a plan for better roads, that is meeting with considerable favor. This will divide the township into four sections and solicit donations of hauling from the residents of each district, the township furnishing the material, and beginning at the different ends of the two main thoroughfares, put them in shape to turn over to the county. We are now paying enough money into the county road fund to sandpaper ail the county roads in the township, if the money was expended thereon.

Returning to the topic under discussion, we wish to state that everyone with whom we have discussed the location of the building when they have not been personally interested, have said, without excep* tion, ‘‘Put it in the center of the township.” R. l. BI'DD. Postscript. Xow conies Bro. Healey in the Republican of February 25, with flights of eloquence that are far above us. Wo shall not try to emulate. But he says, this law looks like taxation without representation. In view of the recent articles and affiliations we are rather surprised that Mr. Healey would infer that we were not represented in the legislature when this law was passed... If I remember right, he seemed’ to have had the same sentiments toward the subsidy bill. We agree that a large part of the population lives in Parr and Fair Oaks, but by no means the majority, and it takes wagons to haul enough pupils to these schools to make up the estimated 50 per cent spoken of in his article.

And Bro. Healey calls attention to the excellent high school advantages of Rensselaer, but he does not state the cost either to the township or to the family sending the scholar Nor does he state that it Is rather unfair for a man to pay his share of taxes to help send another’s child to a school when he cannot afford to send his own. Nor does he state that the people of Rensselaer are paying three-fifths or 60 per cent as much extra taxes for their special school advantages as the entire tax of Union township. You cannot get something for nothing in Jasper county any quicker than any <place else. We have noticed that Bro. Healey is generally a booster for any project that will in any way be an advantage to Rensselaer. Well, we don’t blame , him, but he must remember that the growth of Rensselaer is limited to the growth of the contributing terri-

torry and that a better school system in Union township means a decided growth for that township and will also l.e a factor in obtaining better roads. But Union township’s first consideration must be Union township; And I want to say a word for the merchants pf said township- They handle a stock of goods that for quality and price cannot be excelled anywhere, and I have noticed quite otm that . they surpass the merchants of Rensselaer. Nor do the jnerchants of Rensselaer help support our schools, our churches, or help build our roads. Now, when Union township sends a pupil to Rensselaer, she sends so much .trade to that town; no one is going to go to Rensselaer'after their children and then make special trip to Parr or Fair Oaks after their supplies. * We are not throwing any slurs at the business men of Rensselaer, for the progressiveness and courtesy and the high standard set by them is one of the chief drawing cards to a resident in Jasper county. R. L. BUDD,

From Another Writer. . The greatest trouble with Healey's criticism to the action taken and which resulted in the mandate issued against the township trustee is that he is mistaken in what was demanded of the trusted and what the order of the court really was. The facts are that the trustee was not mandated to build a high school at an expense of $15,000 or $20,000 to the taxpayers or any other sum, and all of this talk about the expenditure of any money in taxation of the citizens of Union township was unwarranted merely because Mr. Healey doesn’t understand the nature of the proceeding had. An examination of the facts discloses that the trustee was asked, and by the mandate of the court ordered, to establish and maintain a high school in Union township. There Is not one word said about building a building or spending any money In any way except that he is ordered to employ competent teachers to teach in the high school which is established. It is understood that the conditions are such that it will be necessary in the near future to construct a new school building at both Parr and Fair Oaks, and when these buildings are constructed It may be provided that additional room be made to accommodate the high school branches at either of said places which will probably be the decision of the township trustee. xx