The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-03-06
ExTRAvA0ANcE IN QUE CITY
p SCHOOLS.
Fast. for Ia. Payers to Consider.

In my last article showed from Of
hcial sources, the cost OF the schools
In some OF our country districts.
now propose to show the cost Of run
ming our city schools, and ask the can
did consideration OF our citizens. The
entire amount nf tax levied for 1873
for city purposes, including general
fund, street Improvement fund, and
interest on bonded debt, was 81, 247 II.
The amount paid for school purposes,
was s12, 233,C0. Thus exceeding the
entire city expenses fee thoHsaMd dol
lars,
The entire tax for ali purposes in
Lyon county, except interest on rail-
road, bonds, was 1ll,s34,73 or $39s,s7
less than the cost OF maintaining the
schools In this district. 1t Is difficult
to understand what canses the high
taxation? The number of pupils &C
tually attending the city schools last
year, isreported at three hundred and
forty. DeductiDg from the gross re-
ceipts, the amount for principal and
interest OF bonded debt, as in ali other
cases, we find that 1t costs us tAirty-One
dollars aud tIoeRty-JoUr cents each, to
school these children one year. Does
sny sane man believe this IL necessary {?
Do we not know that this work can
be done at least as well as it is now, by
private enterprise at much less price >
Do we not all know that private
schools, all over the country, are main
tanned at half this expense, the propri-
stOrs furnishing their own buildings
and apparatus in the bargain! The
lowest price paid any OF our teachers
is three dollars per day, when theis-
ands Of men and women, who have
spent years of time and thousands Of
money to master their trades and pro-
LESSONS, are seeking employment at
half that price, A superintendent is
employed at salary one half OF
which would command equal talent In
this or any other occupation. And 50
IN through the whole list OF expendI-
lures, we find the most reckless waste
and extravaganee, all OF which is
most earCnIly coEcedled Jrsnl the pub
&c, and our attention Is called to the
subject but once q year, when ouI
purses must be turned inside out tC
support our, glorious public school
system. "a ~,
have compared the last returnI
from seven Of the eastern and middl,
States. and find that the average sx,
penses per scholar actually atsendlns
school, is . fraction over Jour dollaTs
The percentage Of average attendance
to the whole number Registered
somewhat creates than heFe,S whIel
would make the cost per scholar ebpu
four and One hslf dellars, or 6 llttl
more than one flfth the cost In Lyol
county, and one seventh the cost Il
! thls city. The average wages paid
male teachers In those seven States
e34 So, and 70 female teachers 3l6.2
Per month. wiz any one say that on
schools are 90 much better that the!
4 should cost so much more; or thu
: our teachers ares superior that "
Il should pay them such saIariesP -
r In view Of the fact set forth In thes
{ articles, Isay plainly, that our cen
mon school system is practically stu
psndous failure. attribute the IA
. partly 70 defects In thelaws, but mali
y ~ to the ineompetency Of the cficeI
"a elected to administer the laws. An
70 here we come again to the startir
II point, that it Is the fault Of the Poop
b. themselves, who elect such officer
We are careful to secure the charact
y and qualifications or candidates 4
the most subordinate Offices, who:
. official acts, either 50.
= or bad, effect US but liatl
J, while we pay but little attention
~ the selections for our school Officer
the most Important, even In pecur
Re airy point of view, Of any Of our loo
!. offices, and allow men 70 slip In vi
to are conspicuous only for their lack
Is busins-a capacity and sound eonlmi
b. sense.
IN As the city election is near at han
"a wish to nsge the voters OF Tia q
to pay some 9ttentlOn to the candidAi
for members Of the school board,
W well a. FOR other ohicea.
a. II I have in any deEree awaken
ng public Attention to the gross ahus
It that hsve grown up In our midst,
is shall have accomplished my object
VI writing these articles, and shall ha
IL contributed my Aiss towAs6a . mu
needed RKToAX