Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-09-13
Economy in sehoel Matters No. 2

Economy In EehOol AlatterS- No. 2.
We have gathered from the School Report,
for the year ending june 4th, 1860, the fol-
lowing statistics Of the expenses of our Com
mon Schools. The Report for the present year,
IS not yet published, but tue figures for this
county will be nearly the same. The average
number of scholars attending public schools in
the county that gear, was 5, 1853; and the
whole amour. Of money levied for school pur'
poses, including an uncommonly heavy tax for
buildings, was Sl9, ,491 SO, or an average Of
S3,78 expended for each scholar, during the
year. This iaelndes every expense, aud the
cost Of instruction is considerably less. the
total being SIS, 3,574,75. or s2.6S per scholar.
Is this so much that it need be less? l. net
the education of your childrcn of sufficient
Importance to be equivalent to such az eSpen~
ditore If not, then the schools may as we'll
be abandoned altogether
The rate of taxation upon The property n the
county, for school purposes Al mills on
81 90 or As cts, upon 800; and should this
sum be gfudgingly paid to support such al IN
siitutiou as the Free School! When compared
With the rate in neigbboring counties, We
i, much lower thyo IL he rest. In Blair rle
rite Is 81 cts: il Cambria 81 cts; 10 Faitgn
SO cts; in Huntingadr 50 ets: in Somerset
81 cos; and ia mauy counties Of tie Stale
much more than IN either of these. 10 tie
leng o. school terms we are considerably Je
hiuI The ave-. e, il being 10 the St.,r 81
aoeths aud days, and iu the county only 3
mouths and p DAYS. In tbe salaries Of teach
efs We are age,D IN the rear. the average IL
be State being S24 90 and in the county S2l,
65.
4 10 the township to hicb we referred 'A,t ReeH,
/ As having reduced the wages. it was herofa al
lower figure than in any other, excep, ooe;
the average salary being but SIG per month
Will any sane and thinking mau eooSilrr tn,
afair remuneration for man capable Of teari
/ ing! Is that sufficient ini uceaent for youag
men to qualify themselve, as teachersa VIII
I It pay for attend school four months
duliug the su amer, a, an expense Of not less
tbau ten dollars per month, and then teach
foav months in The winter, FOR sixty-fuur dollsrs,
and pay his board and clothing bills out of that?
Surposing that lis board be obtained at rhe
low rate of Elk dollars per month, box mu1A
BY simple raieulation, will be left at The ex
piration OF lie eight months for cloibine aa..
in.:,iaptol .v,rans.s1 Arlvf ~ r,a,., =. -.
for teacher here, than for the common Jay
laborer iu many sections of the country, while
the latter may have never spent one day 10
learning bis business, and the former must de-
vote years of his life to preparatory study
And can you, under such system of economy,
expect to obtain the services of thoroughly
competent te2ehersl Even if man be actu-
ated by purely philanthropic motives aud has
no mercensry aim, he like ali other men must
have a living, and if teaching will not sfford
1t, be is obliged to seek other employment.-
There is, perhaps, no business in which equal
ability receives SO inadequate remuneration;
snd person needs vast deal of charity aud
benevolence, as we'll as frugaiity and patience,
to engage in the profession of teaching under
existing circumstances
We often hear the argument advanced, by
those who forget the time expended 10 prepar-
atory study, that the teacher should receive 20
more compensation, BY right, than the farmer
or mechanic; ard disposition is manifested
TO grade teachers salaries by the standard OF
farm wages-a course, which cannot on exani
nation, appear otherwise than unjust, since the
lire teacher must be continually purchasing
new publications, that he may meet the re-
quirements of the times and be prepared to
adopt the Improvements which are being con-
staDtly made in educational matters. Again,
The clothing must be much more expensive, as his
position in the school as an example, and in
society, demands that bis dress be of a better
, quality than the farmer needs to wear.
Every reasonable and we'll informed person
acknowledges that the people Of the county
will be much better able TO pay tbe usual
school tax the coming yesr, than they have
t been this; and there is only one thing which
will cause reiueton Of wages --the ayaricious-
ness and coyetoasness OF few close tistei, ron-
ey loving g,mserly men, who are ready ii aay time
TO take advantage cf the cry of s.Hard Times, y