Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-22
LETTER BAG.
school Expenses.

terested in the discussion of the ques
ton of expenditures for school purposes
in this city. 1t is rather astonishing
what dire calamities are predicted as
the result of little pruning in this di-
rection. One correspondent says: "Cut
the wages of the teacher and you must
increase the police force" Such loose
and illogical assertions counteract what
ever weight his communication might
otherwise have. You might as well say
to the physician, do not prescribe a
remedy containing arsenic, for arsenic
taken into the system produces death. !"
OF course it does if taken in sufficient
quantities. But no physician proposes
to administer in such doses unless he
has murderous intent.
If the public school system were
abolished very likely tie police force,
in a few years, as direct result, would
need augmenting, but it does not at all
follow that little judicious trimming
down of expenses will produce the same
result. Such statements are merely argu-
mentum ad populum, and usually have
their intended effect, but the public
this time are interested, because the
question affects them in vital point,
viz: the pocket, and they will not be
hoodwinked.
1t is a well-established principle that
good schools and excellent educational
facilities not only add to the fame and
real estate values of any city but ac-
tually raise the standard of morality,
culture and intelligence, but it has no
where been successfully shown that the
excellence of the schools and the conse-
ouent high standard of morality. etc.,
are in proportion to the size of the
teachers pay roll. On the contrary,
those districts paying the highest sala-
ries in proportion to the actual attend
ance of pupils, and this is the only cor
rect basis upon which to estimate, usu-
ally possess fewest educational advant-
ages and poorest schools.
The reason is obvious to the student
of statistics, since those districts where
the outlay per capita of attendance is
highest, are most frequently located in
sparsely settled places, far away from
centers OF population, where all neces-
saries of life are costly, or in cities
whose school affairs are in the hands of
ward politicians. To the former OF these
good teachers cannot be induced to go
at all, and even the poorer grade can be
secured only by payment OF high sala-
ries. In the latter the teacher is most
apt to be "a chip OF the same block
as his employers.
None OF these conditions exist here.
Food and clothing are cheaper here than
in most cities of equal population in the
east, and rents the year round are no
higher.
The friends OF high salaries would
scarcely imply that our schools are
jobbed out to politicians, or that in re-
spect to culture of society, beauty OF
location, healthfulness of climate and
all that would go to make the city at
tractive to the educated and refined, it
does not equal, indeed, surpass any
other in the United States.
If these statements are true, and l
think they cannot be controverted, why
should it cost more to educate each
pupil in the city of Los Angeles
than in almost any other city
in the union? The only plausible
reason that could be offered would be
that our present corps Of educators is
composed of persons of such superior
ability that the increased excellence OF
the schools justifies the extra outlay.
But no such reason has yet been brought
forward. [ would not detract one iota
from the well-earned reputation of our
efficient body of teachers, from superin-
tendent to substitute, but it is no dis
paragement to them to say that they are
no better nor worse than thousands
of others who are teaching for less
money amid much less pleasant sur
roundings.
A little comparison may throw some
light on this question.
The cost per capita OF average attend
ance in this city, according to the last
report of the United States commission
er OF education, is $23.41. In only
eighteen other cities in the United
States was the cost equal to this. -Four
OF these are in California, two in Color
ado, two in Connecticut, one in Mis-
souri,, one in Massachusetts, one in
Minnesota, one in Montana, two in New
Jersey, one in Oregon, one in Texas, and
one in Wyoming.
The same report shows that this city
paid its superintendent of schools $24UU
per annum; that the enrolment was
1896, and 125 teachers were employed
when the statistics were compiled.
The city OF Allegheny, Pa, contains
population OF over 0,000, has an en-
rollment of 14,S15, and pays the super
intendent, most excellent man and
widely known in educational circles,
$4,000. Harrisburgh, capital of Penn
sylvania, has an enrolment of 1900,
more than Los Angeles, and pays her
superintendent $500. Reading, Pa,
with an enrolment OF 9058, employing
1859 teachers, pays $4,000. Scranton,
Pa, with an enrolment of 1,017, pays
the superintendent $500 per annum, and
yet each of these cities has excel
lent schools and fewer police to the
population than Les Angeles. These
are but few cities with whose condi-
tions l am familiar. Examples might
be multiplied indefinitely. These COM
parisons may be odious, but they are
forcible. / believe that the laborer is
worthy of his hire. l believe good
schools are essential to the welfare OF a
community. l believe in securing the
best teachers possible and providing all
necessary facilities for educating the
children, but believe all these have
been and can be done at great deal less
cost than at present in this city.
AS o former teacher my sympathies
are with the teachers whose salaries are
to be clipped. AS a taxpayer my sym
pathies are with the tax-burdened peo-
pie. AS lover of fair play am inter
ested in seeing the matter discussed
thoroughly, disinterestedly and logi-
cally. CITIZEN.