The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-08-26

tion OF PennsyIvania's Public School
System.
An appropriation of $4,000 a
year for the next two years to aid
students In the Normal Schools was
passed by the legislature at its late
session, and Governor Hastings APP
proved the bill. The money is to be
paid at the rate of fifty cents week
to each normal student in the schools,
ard $50 on graduation to each stu
dent who signs an agreement to teach
two years in the state. Already
100000 of this sum appropriated has
been paid over to the graduates Of
1897.
The legislature also appropriated
$4,000 a year for the next two
years directly to the Normal Schools,
$4,000 a year to each as an improve
ment fund, for buildings, library ap-
paratus, or whatever the schools most
needed. This appropriation bill the
Governor refused to sign until the
trustees of the Normal Schools enter
ed into an agreement to accept
$500 year each instead Of the
$4,000 voted by the legislature.
And the schools have to watt for the
money on the pleasure of the state
treasurer.
The legislature voted $S7,S3a.5o
to the state college, an institution 10.
Gated but a few miles from the gov
ernor's home. How different was his
action on this appropriation He
signed the bill at once without dis
count, and the money is ready for the
college.
The INDEPENDENT has no word to
say against giving public funds to aid
education in the higher institutions OF
learning. 1t believes that it should
be done. 1t says nothing against
giving the state college the $751;.
S32. 50 voted by the legislature, but
it hereby contrasts the action of Gov
ernor Hastings towards the state
college with his action towards the
state Normal Schools, and it com
pares the sums Of public money re
ceived by the college with the
amounts received by the Norma
Schools.
The State College and the FRS
Normal School were organized tht
same year-ISs9. The State College
was built at public expense the Nor
NAL School was started by private
subscriptions. The State College ha
received public funds from both tn
state and the United States treasury
The state has given it over million
and quarter of dollars. And tn
United States gives it nearly $4o,o
per year besides the proceeds OF 7So'
900 acres Of public lapds.
Altogether the state college has re
ceived $a,sso,ooo public money, ha
invested $4,000 in its plant an
has spent the balance, $I,54o,ooo, l
current expenses. In the twenty
eight years of its history 1t has use
up $I,54o,ooo public money, c
$4,000 per year. 1t has graduate
$40 students, IL per year, and eac
graduate has cost the public $4,5ot
The last college catalogue name
forty-four professors and teachers q
employed to instruct sa4 students {
whom four are graduates, thirty.h,
seniors, forty-one juniors, forty-eigf
sophomores and ninety-six freshme
Besides these there were twenty.nir
unclassihed and thirty-eight sub-fres
men and four instructors to teae
them.
The first Normal School in Il
state has had $a5c,ooo from II
state treasury. 1t invested eve
dollar of this in its plant, and all
invested $25o,ooo of other none
received from private individuals
earned by its management. Not OF
dollar of running expenses has 1t ev
paid from public funds. For t.
quarter million dollars of approprl
ton, ths state now has the use OF
half million dollars invested IN Il
Normal School plant.
This school in twenty-elght yea
has graduated 1900 Students al
these graduates have really not &C
the state dollar.
The state college graduates, thou
costing the public $4,000 each, en'
into no agreement to remain IN
state or to engage in public empl'
ment. Over one hundred OF the
are employed outside of Pennsylvan
working for large corporations, a
they receive large pay as cheml
and ems leers. Having had $4,5
public mo.eys spent on each, IN
ought to be able to draw large salarl
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