The Politics of School Funding
A fiery public letter debates whether poor school management or widespread tax delinquency is to blame for the district's short academic term.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
To the Editor of the Bulletin: I see in the editorials of the last week's Bulletin a criticism of the school directors for not having a longer term of school. If the editor had good common sense he would know why. If he himself and others had paid their taxes we could have had a longer term of school. If you go back to the delinquent taxes you will find that not quite one-half of them have been paid. But the editor said we want to educate our children, and are willing to pay for it, but it does not show that the editor is willing to pay for it, except by wind, for it is nothing but wind. In regard to Mr. Cross, he has made a good director, as any one in Aberdeen; he is a man of ability, and is well qualified, and the other members of the board would like to see him re-elected, for the benefit of the district. — Alex. Young
“If he himself and others had paid their taxes we could have had a longer term of school... it is nothing but wind.”
Public school budget crises in Aberdeen remain a recurring civic flashpoint, echoing the 1890s struggle where arguments over tax delinquency and administrative competence played out in the local press.
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