The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-07-27
HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS

Huh SCHVUL PUFlLS
A Report Containing Some Yer.
Interesting Facts.
Will Prove of More Than Ordinary
Interest to the Taxpayers.
! In the school district clerks annua
reporq fo1 the school year endini
March 5, 1894, he gives the number o
teachers employed in the public school
of Astoria, 26. The total salaries o
these teachers amount to $14,596.5O, anc
of this amount nearly 20 per cent was
paid to the teachers in the High School
The total Of the number Of resident pu'
pills enrolled in the public schools dur
ing the year between and 20 years OF
age was 9S4, and while his report does
not state how many attended the High
School, 1t is estimated at S.; therefore
about six per cent of all the public
school pupils belong to the High School
For the education Of six per cent OF
all the public school pupils, there was
paid out nearly 20 per cent Of the sal
aries of all the teachers in all the pub
lie schools.
The report shows that the average
cost per public school pupil to be $3.50
on the number enrolled, and on the
average daily attendance, $26.63 per pu-
pill. These averages Of cost are for all
pupils in all the public schools. The
average cost Of High School pupil can
not be obtained very well, but the total
teachers salaries in the High School
amounted to $2750 a year, while the
estimated number Of pupils belonging
to the High School that year was 5S,
which would make the average cost OF
tuition per pupil belonging to the High
School $47.41. The total number of pu-
pills belonging in all the city public
schools except the High School was 926,
and the total amount of all the teach
ers' salaries in all the schools except
the High School, was $1S,950. Thus, the
average cost of tuition per pupil be-
longing In all the city public schools
except the High School, was $15.O6.
We are now in a position to see the
difference in the cost of instruction.
On an average the cost of tuition per
pupil on the number belonging, in the
Primary and Grammar Schools together
1925 pupils was $15.O6 a pupil. The
average cost of tuition per pupil be-
longing to the High School (5S pupils
was $47.41, or 1926 more per pupil than
in the Primary and Grammar Schools.
In other words 1t costs more than 100
per cent more to instruct each Of the
5S pupils in the High School than to
instruct each of the 926 pupils belong
ing to the Primary and Grammar
Schools.
1t is not right. 1t is unfair that the
money raised by taxation for school
should be diverted from the
great body of pupils, for the benefit
of half hundred youth whose parents !
are, as rule, well able to pay for such
advanced schooling.
The great mass Of the 9S4 pupils are
In the Primary Schools Probably not
over 100 of them are in the Grammar
Schools.
Perhaps 80 per cent Of the pupils
never get beyond the Primary grades.
1t is there that the great body of chill
lren must snatch their little bit Of
learning during the short period Of their
school days.
Their time in school is short. They
must hurry to get their smattering of
earning, for they have to go out into
he busy world to earn their living.
1t is a hard. busy, exacting world, in
which those possessing the largest stock
If practical learning have the best
'hances for success, other things being
qual.
IL Is an educated world In which this
-reat body of Primary scholars must
ompete with the keenest intelligence
nd the best education.
How necessary then-how eminently
1t should be on these pupils
hat we should spend our school taxes?
When, after the short period in the
ublic school the boy or girl starts out
D seek work in shop, Office or store,
tc., 1t is not what he or she knows of
of music" or Of the draw
lg of flowers and birds, or of his or
err expertness In swinging Indian clubs
tc., that gets him or her q job or pre-
srment; but quickness and accuracy
l figures, rapidity and legibihty in
'riting, intelligence in reading-it is
ractical knowledge along this basic
ne that does help the boy or girl
realty.
1t Is to give such aid that our public
,hools are supported.
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