To Whom It May Concern:
Sine and elec. to increase local tax rate for school purposes in Bethel Hill High School district has been called. I desire to put the facts before the public so that an intelligent ballot may be cast.
It has been the earnest desire of those in control of the school to make it equal to the best in the county and to meet the state requirements for an accredited school as soon as possible. With the parents, teachers and pupils co-operating we have met these requirements for the most part. We have the required library and teaching force. Our laboratory for Science and Vocational Agriculture has been accepted for the first year to be supplemented as we go further. The state requires 45 pupils in this high school, this year we have enrolled 48 and have 22 in the seventh grade to enter high school next year and only 12 finishing the Eleventh grade. Our total school enrollment for this year is 168. Our average has been greatly cut down by the epidemic that we had in school last fall and by the bad weather this spring. We have on the census in our district nearly 200 of school age and if the parents will co-operate we should make an average of more than 150 easily. I am pleased to bring these facts to the attention of those interested.
Now another point arises that must be met or we shall lose not only what we have gained, but will fall even below what our school has been for a number of years. Our local tax rate is the lowest that any local tax district in the state levies. There are numbers of places that the tax rate is $1, while our is 10 cents. The state will not help a district without a tax rate equal to the average of the state. Furthermore, the income from our present rate will not pay the interest and sinking fund on our present indebtedness. Under these circumstances the state will not lend us any more money and will not consider giving us any. Therefore without that increase in taxation, we shall have to pay the present rate for more than two generations and cut our school term to that which is required by the constitution with no high school work at all being done. On the other hand, with the increased taxation asked for the state has promised to give us a nice sum and to lend us enough to take up the notes that we have in the bank and which have to be renewed every six months. We have Dr. Highsmith’s (The State High School Inspector) word and two letters in which he says that the state stands ready to help us become an accredited school as soon as we do our part as other schools have done. This will admit our graduates to the best colleges without examination and the state will issue them certificates to teach in the public schools without examination.
In my opinion it is not necessary for this tax to run at the maximum rate of 30 cents long, for with the help promised by the state and with the increase of the indebtedness that the state should increase likewise. With the right (word obscured) as school committeemen it will decrease.
Now to express it briefly, it seems to me to mean simply as an increase in taxation for a few years or no high school. Without this increase, boys and girls finishing the seventh grade will not have a place here to go to school, a position that Bethel Hill has occupied but few years since the Civil War. Besides this we shall be dropped both by the state and county. We shall get only what the constitution requires and still pay the present local tax. The county is doing and has done more for us than we can hope for or reasonably expect them to continue unless we do more for ourselves. But with the increase we get outside help to pay our debts we establish a school that will be recognized all over the state and that will offer as good advantages for our boys and girls as they can get anywhere, we fix a positive demand for good roads throughout the district, for there is no influence that can be brought to the attention of the Highway Commission stronger than the children must have a way to get to school.
Again, all this tax money being spent in our ow community and not sent away to places that we cannot see the going of it. Every voucher, for ever account will have to be signed by at least two of the local school committee and we all can advise with them about the spending.
Now when we consider that to make the best citizens of our young people we must give them the best possible advantages along with those other conditions, which will e the cheaper, which the better business proposition, to continue the present rate of taxation without a high school, the income to be used in setting the present indebtedness, or to increase the rate and have nearly half our debt given to us. Have the advantages for the children of our community increased by giving them a better school, and especially giving to those boys and girls who can not go away form home to school opportunities they could never hope to realize in any other way?
Is there any man or woman in our district who thinks that he can afford to vote against an increase tax rate and by doing so say to the public that he does not want the masses to have the opportunity of a high school education if it should cost him a few dollars? Can any one afford to throw away the social and moral influence of high school for a few paltry dollars? Is there anyone who wishes to destroy what a number of our substantial citizens have been building for years? On April 15 at the high school building an opportunity to answer these questions by casting your ballot will be given all the qualified voters of the district.
From the front page of The Roxboro Courier, March 22, 1922
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