Middletown transcript., 1893-04-01
OUR SCHOOLS
REAPPoRTIoNING THE FUNDS
FOR DIFFERENT COUNTIES
A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION

the Present System of Dfsbursing
| School Funds-He Says Wflming-
ton should Have the First Dfvi-
sion and Each OF the Counties
Then Get an Equal share.
State Auditor Dulaney in an interview
thus speaks of the division of school funds:
In my opinion the revision of the
school law is the most important question
to be considered by the General Assem-
bly," There are three important
points to- be considered, viz: First-The
enactment of law restoring the surplus
in the hands of the school clerks to the
state treasury; secondly Legislation
giving to- each district an equal share Of
the school fund thirdly-The enactment
of law that will prevent the accumulation
of a surplus in the hands of the clerks.
"On the 25th day of June, 1892. there
was over $51 900 in the hands of the school
officials of the state, and during the month
of August, 1893, the Trustees of the School
Fund deposited in bank to the credit of
these same officials. and subject to their
check, the sum of $121, ,6S0.9O, the amount
of the fund after the cost of the books was
deducted. Then we find by September
1st, 1892, two months before majority of
the schools were open, there was virtually
S171, ,1144o. Why should this money be
apporteoned before it is actually needed.
Lead us not into temptation is a wise
injunction. When you place several hum
dred dollars in bank to the credit of man,
it requires no argument to convince him
of the fact that he needs it worse than the
bank, and appropriates it to his own use,
hoping to be able to replace it when it is
needed, or where it properly belongs.
The apportionment for 1892 (which will
appear in the report of 1899 was s144,66 II.
The great mistake has always been in
making the division for the three counties,
and then. from that of New Castle county,
making the apportionment for Whining
ton. The city of Wilmington is entitled to
the same share as that of county. You
will find the whole thing in nut shell if
you examine the statement on page "a in
the report of 1892. Wilmington pays
$7,528.32 in school tax, more than the
whole state outside of the city. You will
find that she has more than one-third of
all the scholars in the state, while she does
not receive one-twelfth part of the school
fund. Why not make the apportionment to
Wilmington from the whole amount; and
then take New Castle county. Kent and
Sussex, making the apportionments for the
several districts?
But how was this fund distributed
Wilmington received s1.37 per scholar;
New Castle, s2.14; Rockford s2.45; etc.
You will find the towns where the money
could be properly used, receiving but little,
while the country districts received as high
as $43.S3 per scholar and the majority of
them having enough money in hand to
pay more than years expenses
Whyshould some districts receive Just
twice as much as others when the odds are
even? There are not two districts in New
Castle county which receive the same
amount. We are informed that school
with forty-fve scholars can be maintained at
the cost of one with twenty-five scholars:
The expenses are the same, it requires but
one teacher, but the great disparity occurs
when you come to the number of scholars
which require two teachers, and upward,
to the school.
We cannot see where anything could be
gained by division of the school fund.
If we decrease, then we must correspond
ingly increase the school tax; and, in
many districts, this tax bears very heavily
upon the shoulders of the people. made
all possible haste in getting the report for
1892 out, for the use of the General Assem-
bly,, thatthey might be enabled to see the
true condition of the finances of the state,
especially the condition of the schools.
1--WE should entirely diyest and free
ourselves from the spirit of greed and give
this money to those who really need, and
who could wisely and honestly use it for
the express purpose it was intended.