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Editorial
December 18, 1885
Staunton Vindicator
Staunton, Virginia
What is this article about?
An editorial opposes a legislative bill providing free textbooks to school children, citing excessive taxation costs exceeding $1.5 million over two years, unfair burden on small taxpayers, and the need to prioritize building schools for underserved children and targeted aid for those in hardship instead.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
FREE BOOKS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
We see that a bill has been offered in the legislature for free books for school children. Since we wrote, two weeks ago, in opposition to this costly lunacy, we have had talks with teachers, and we are convinced that instead of the $100,000 increase of taxation, the State would in two years have an additional taxation of about $1,500,000. There are thousands of children in the country yet unprovided with schools to go to, and until they are provided for no proposition for free books should be entertained. It is just one of those demagogical theories that are bad at every point when attempted to be put in practical operation. The furnishing of books by the State, free, to children whose parents are worth thousands and to furnish which the small taxpayer would suffer more than his rich neighbor is an objection that will not be explained away. If free books, then free clothes—for one is just as necessary to going to school as the other. Let the State build more schools, organize more Normal schools for teachers and change the school laws so that the children of all to whom it is a hardship to furnish them, may have free books, and it will have made a practical, sensible and just disposition of this new proposition of demagoguery.
We see that a bill has been offered in the legislature for free books for school children. Since we wrote, two weeks ago, in opposition to this costly lunacy, we have had talks with teachers, and we are convinced that instead of the $100,000 increase of taxation, the State would in two years have an additional taxation of about $1,500,000. There are thousands of children in the country yet unprovided with schools to go to, and until they are provided for no proposition for free books should be entertained. It is just one of those demagogical theories that are bad at every point when attempted to be put in practical operation. The furnishing of books by the State, free, to children whose parents are worth thousands and to furnish which the small taxpayer would suffer more than his rich neighbor is an objection that will not be explained away. If free books, then free clothes—for one is just as necessary to going to school as the other. Let the State build more schools, organize more Normal schools for teachers and change the school laws so that the children of all to whom it is a hardship to furnish them, may have free books, and it will have made a practical, sensible and just disposition of this new proposition of demagoguery.
What sub-type of article is it?
Education
Economic Policy
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Free Books
School Children
Taxation Increase
Education Reform
Demagoguery
School Building
What entities or persons were involved?
Legislature
Teachers
State
Small Taxpayer
Rich Neighbor
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To Free Textbooks For School Children
Stance / Tone
Strongly Opposed To Free Books Bill, Advocating Practical Education Reforms
Key Figures
Legislature
Teachers
State
Small Taxpayer
Rich Neighbor
Key Arguments
Bill Would Cause Taxation Increase From $100,000 To $1,500,000 Over Two Years
Thousands Of Children Lack Schools, Prioritize Building Them Over Free Books
Demagogical Theory Impractical And Unfair
Free Books Benefit Wealthy Families At Expense Of Small Taxpayers
Logical Extension Would Require Free Clothes Too
Instead, Build More Schools, Train Teachers, And Provide Free Books Only To Those In Hardship