The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-10
THE STATE SCHOOLS.
.~Arx sUPERISTExDExT SUBMITS
MS ANNUAL REPORT.


OLYMPIA. Dec. t-Spscia1.--Th bssn-
.ssi raporf of State superintendent OF Ed
ssc.xfon Bean has been submitted 20 fns
eoysrnor and 10 now giving employ neat
a. the force In the state printing odios.
eome valuable Recommendations are made
- ,sss superso.sndent. and some changes
4. the state school lawn are sspeosaliy req
onumeuded TO ffse confederation Of ths ssg-
fslsturs. among them hing these suggss-
esors concerning eehool resenuei
Ffryt--Naks the district the Unit OF TAI
alton for the greater portion OF the scnoo'
fund
= certain amount Of money per census
arid within its boundaries. or II the rais-
NJ a. such q szm would require the iess-
anx Of too high . rate ~ tax IN any psFt.o-
v:ar district, then require soen asstsact
10 make . levy Of = prescFff,sd n1l ninaah
rate. these conditions to be compllea VIZ 49,
b. every diatrtct a. condstlon oi ie~e
tsx any Of the state tax.
Thlrd-Isvy = state tax and devote the
procee6s entirely 20 the t0ning Gown OF
the inequalities between districts hsF.sls
6us roference in rs distribution 80 tts
n.euIsar conditions Of weak firai als
4rsets and TO those conditions N casass
which render schools more expensive
FourthT-ProviAs sufficient revenue 70
sold school long enough each year tot e"s
average pupil 20 do fair year NoIn
FIfth-Requ4rs every district to provide
cts own buildings by local taxation u pss-
aGbie. .,.4...,.
~ . also recommended that the distress
purohase the text books and loan th sl.s -
me children. the books TO 30 seaseLeu
S~om : list containing several series, ae-
proved By the state board. TIE se4.o
board should designate single on. ~
series for compulsory uss 10 disAfsets N@s
do not own thar books.
The report says . Law should pc passsss
requiring . sufficient edaeataosia aHs .H.l-
cation by the county supefln'sla'i
superintendent 10 condssct exasnsilA . .sass
Alone In counties employing less tha5 tla,i-
fy teachers, thus doing a"aJ VIA ~"
examining board In such coAinties-
Within the last two years the fo'ai re-
cetpts, a. exhibited by reports OF couhas
treasurers have fallen OF slzs aSs~. wave
the total expenditures have ainsnisaeo
sss -xI "A. t1,im. Notwithstanding the fact
thai the school population has increased
g.Nls. the average daily attendance has M
eraased 4sfs and the number OF stfoo' us
tr,cfs o. The bonded debt has lncfeasssn
es4s sss. and the floating debt sisS.esi. Nnis
q decrease In shown in ths estimator
value OF school houses ana GROUNDS VI
srli0sa. The school term has been short
snsa and the salaries OF school teachers
reduced. Partly by reason Of the nnan-
cial ,trlnsency and partly In anticipation
of The revenue 20 be derived from tne
state tar. the county ie1iss have dropped
about 500, 60, and the special dsstriet
sevies have been decreased slso,eN
The superintendent points out that this
condition OF affairs - due 10 the fact that
she.schooI year closes on June %, ana these
staffsfscs are of that date. The new
revenue law. enacted two years ago.
snakes one-liaH the taxes payable May
G. and the remainder November 30. Thus.
49, ali ss.rtsf
within the school year. the deferred one
half Of the taxes has not yet been distrfe-
utsd 10 ghe districts. ana outstanding war
rants 10 that amount appear as indehtsd-
n~r~. Only rs OF ne Tar isvied by the
state IN isSs for sfe sapport Of the schools
can b. made - appear m this report, on
account Of the srhcof year rsachfng 60 the
hast day of June. When the last half Of
the taxes IN paid fn and apportscnet to the
counties tbs showing win he different
Mr. Bean makes a strong argument for
FREE tsxs books and . uniform course OF
study IN ssse pubic schools
With an tnerease In TIE school census
Of 40 Per cent. thsre has been a de-
crease In Ire enrolment OF par cent.
This condition no escrfees 10 Inability to
purchase the necessary school books
Upon tho whole. the disposition of The
past Biennial period. Mr.. bean says. has
BEEN 20 refrench wherever possible. with
ont seriously crspritnx the schools He
considers very unfortunste the cutting
Down OF the average length OF tfse school
term, wfiiie the reduction OF teachers
wages - thought 80 he an economical
snove of Doubtful value.
Tho rercrf presents . table showing tha
prices OF school text books In thirteen
states having q uniform series OF these
essses Indiana hires It's books rnanufse-
fnred. ana distributes than through iss
own agencies. the distribution coating 81
per cent. Of the cost OF the books Cali
fcrnia owns ~ own plant and ulanufae-
lures It's own books. selling them 20 rssrlls
sf cost. Tire table shows that IN almost
every instance. Washington Aaa a better
bargain 60 books than any other state