The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-19


Grand total enrolled - 4OS GEO
Total increase over former year. ... 5,349
The annual increase in scholastic population is
about per cent The superintendent for the cur
rent scholastic year s less than that of last year by
$16,115 %.
TEACHERS EMPLOYED FOR THE YEAR 1885. SO.
White Colored.
Cities. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Ssi ss:
Total. d. :. ~...... ......... >. :. 1924 a9s6
Grand total number of teachers
employed for the year iSs5-S6 lO5sO
TEACHERS EMPLOYED FOR THE YEAR 1867,
White. Colored.
Counties. ...... ,........7,3 0S 265
Cities. ............."...........".... sA 226
Iotal .......................... o,S32 1881
Grand total number of teachers employed in
looO-I l23
Increase over previous years.."............. 543
The average school term for 1867 was:
For district, 4,138 schools, 500 months;
for communities 4, 401 schools, 4.87 months;
average scho0, term in counties $3.50
schools, 5.07 months; for towns and cities,
41S schools, 1892 months.
80. H. COOPER"
Many serious evils in our public school
system are quite apparent, even upon
superficial inspection, and which a pro-
found study and investigation of this able
report will only make more clearer, as the
legitimate outgrowth of disregard of
those correct principles which should
direct the administration of this immense
revenue annually expended, and as the
evils are growing more serious each sue
oeeding year, is it not better to try some
other remedy even if it be but an expert
ment? 1t seems clear to my mind that
the system of public education, most
especially with reference to its financial
administration, needs careful revision, as
serious abuses of the states charity exists
in many of the counties.
Our constitution provides that no
money shall be drawn from the treasury
but in pursuance of specific appropria-
ton made by law.
By reference to our appropriation for
public free schools for several years past,
it ia a matter for grave question at least
whether or not this provision of the con-
stitution has been strictly observed. These
appropriations are most general and in
definite in their terms and do not attempt
to specify the particular amounts
to be expended by officers charged with the
administration and disbursement of the
funds. Possibly this may be necessitated by
the peculiar conditions under which our
available school fund is created, but, if
practicable, it should be obviated by
legislative designation of the specific
amount intended to be devoted to pur-
poses of public education each year as the
teachers are employees of the state gov
ernment, paid by it, and should stand on
the same footing as to payment with
other employees, and not as now made en-
tirely independent of rules applicable to
other public servants,
SERIOUS GRIEVANCE.
The most serious grievance in the ad-
ministration of the public free school
funds consists in the loose manner in
which the fppdsRRe distTibnteasg paid
to the eoup ties ascending l0s soh6Id8sie
population. Under the law, as il exists,
the board of education each year makes
an apportionment of the annual available
school fund among the several counties
and cities constituting separate school Or
| CARNATIONS, and issues to each a Ger.
tificate for their respective amounts 80
apportioned. Upon this apportionment
the comptroller draws his warrant in
favor of county treasurers, and these
warrants are payable by county collectors
or at the state treasury. The proper ap-
plication of the funds, after they reach the
counties, is left exclusively with county
officials, and no practical check is placed
by law upon their discretion, nor is any
| department thereafter advised whether
the funds have been properly applied to
| the purposes contemplated by law or
otherwise. This loose condition of legis-
lation has precipitated in some of the
counties the very improvident admins
tration of the funds and worked injustice
not only to the state but to the people of
| the counties. Large amounts are re-
ported unexpended each year, but the
law makes no provision for this contin-
gency.
And these balances are nominally car
ried forward each year into the accounts
of another year, and accumulate from
year to year, to the actual detriment of
the people of the same county, for
they derive no benefit from
these unexpected balances. 1t is esti-
mated from official date on file with the
superintendent of education that about
half million of dollars is now outstand-
ing in this way. This money is pub
lie money and belongs to the people of
the state or of the particular county, and
yet it is valueess to either, because it is
not applied to the purposes Of education,
even in the particular county,
and the people of that county
are required to pay their annual
taxes for all purposes, including school
purposes, as usual. In some instances it
is reported that these unexpended balan-
ces have been Improperly used in private
business ventures, while the officers of the
state are powerless to prevent it, or apply
corrective for SO palpable misappli-
cation of public money. These funds
should be received and discussed as other
public moneys, and should be subject to
the same checks and balances which our
experience in governments demands as
necessary safeguards for public protec-
ton. The school tax lis levied and col
ected by the state through her officers,
and it should be disbursed by the treasurer
Just as other public moneys are disbursed.
Otherwise the tendency is to looseness,
extravaganza population and confusion in
the administration of the funds. All war
rants should be drawn by the comptroller
in favor of the particular teacher or en-
ploye, as in other cases for services actu-
ally rendered, and be payable only at the
| treasury. II may be that the provision of