When a schoolhouse is built to-day, it is not done by combined manual labor, as in the pioneer community.  As in all building, there is cooperation of a highly organized kind in the production and assembling of the materials and in the construction of the building by workmen of different kinds.  But more than this, since the schoolhouse is a public building, the community cooperates in paying for it.  This is done by means of taxes.  The people pay taxes not only for the building, but also to meet the cost of operating the school, paying the teachers, buying equipment, and heating the building.

The community must know how much money is needed for the school, the taxes must be fairly apportioned and collected, and the school must be properly managed to perform the community’s work of education.  In small communities the people may meet together to vote the taxes and to decide on other matters relating to education, as in New England towns.  But there must be leadership, and there must be an organization to perform the work which the community wants done.  Every community therefore has its board of education, or school committee, a superintendent, and other officials.  Such organization corresponds to the board of directors and business manager of the fruit growers’ association, only it represents the entire community and attends to the community’s business of education.  It is part of the community’s governing machinery.

Ascertain from your father how much school tax he pays each year.  Who determines the amount of this tax?  To whom does he pay it?

Could you employ a teacher at home for the amount your father pays as school tax?  If you had a teacher at home, could you get as good an education as you can now get at school?  Explain your answer.

In what ways do you cooperate with the community to make the school a success?

If there is a public library in your community, is it supported by taxation?  Who manages the public library for the community?

IN FIRE PROTECTION

When a building takes fire in the country the neighbors gather as quickly as possible to fight the flames by such means as may be at hand, but seldom very effectively.  In a small city or town, there may be a volunteer fire company composed of men who, when a fire breaks out, leave their usual occupations to save the property.  In large cities, fully equipped and costly fire departments are maintained, with paid firemen who are always on duty.  The police usually keep the crowd away from the burning building, not only for their own safety, but because they would hinder rather than help the trained and organized firemen.  In each case there is cooperation for fire protection; the greater the common danger, the more perfect the organization and the more complete the control by government.

IN ROAD BUILDING