Evening journal., 1908-12-26
Arguments Advanced by
President Shorfiidge and
Superintendent Twif-
myer in Their Annual
Reports

Arguments for adequate appropria
tions to maintain properly the public
schools Of this city and for more pay
for teachers are made by DR.. Evan
6. Shortidge, president OF the Boaro
OF Education, in his annual report just
Issued
superintendent of Schools George
1'witmyer also discussed many sub
iects of interest TO the school system
and makes a plea for medical inspec-
ton Of the pupils. after pointing ont
that more than eighty thousand days
we're lost by the pupils the past schooi
wear. The reports have been issued
i'm pamphlet form from The Star
Publishing Company press. In the
course of his report President Short
lidge says:
The administration Of the schools under
tho charter OF 1904 has been greatly SIM
piihed but there Is yet need Of further sim
.piincation. and I would suggest that cer-
tain amendments and einendations be pre-
pared ana presented to the General As
scmbly AZ It's next session for enactment
It is sometimes said that public educa-
ton costs too much. This is very gem
cral criticism and Is always heard when
an effort Is made TO secure larger appro-
prIations for operating the schools, but
this criticism Is never accompanied by
particulars: no indication at what specific
point or policy the expense OF the schools
might be reduced and their efficiency be
maintained or increased as Is demanded
bv modern civilization and a progressive
public spirit and yet with all the ad-
verso criticism that has ever come to the
public schools from all directions they
continue to keep solidly behind them the
heart and the means OF the American peo-
pie. This Is conclusively shown by a few
facts CLEANED from the reports OF the
United States Commissioner OF Education
for 1904 and 1905. the latest reports at hand.
In 1S70-7i the school expenditure per cap
tia Of population was Sl75; in is9O-oi II
was s23i per capita In ls99-i9oO II was
s2s4 and in 1904 II was 1896 per capita.
The amount expended per pupil on aver
age attendance in-1S7o-7i was Si52O; in
lSgO-ai. si4I 49i 800: 1s99-t90 S214964 6lS. and
1904. s2f.14. The total amounts expended for
the public schools of the United States.
Tor sites. buildings. teachers salaries and
all other purposes for the same periods
were as follows. viz: 1S70-7i. S63 S96. G66
1Sao-9i. si449i.so9; 1Sae-l9oO S2i4,96i6is, and
1904. 1921 GIG $50. The number Of different
pupils enrolled in the public schools for
the same dates Is as follows: 1s70-Ii T.
56i 5S2 1s9o-9i. 127225S1: iS99-i9Oo. Is. .5Os no.
and for 10O4-o5, i6,46S3 300. The percentage
OF school population. that Is. children be-
tween the ages Of and Is years for the
same periods has been raised from 6i per
cent to 20 per cent.
Appropriations Increased.
The city OF Wilmington Is no exception
TO the general increase OF expenditure OF
public moneys. neither IN It's municipal
affairs nor In the administration OF its
schools. Facts and figures CLEANED from
the records OF City Council and the Board
OF Education will aid IN making clear the
truth of the foregoing statements. Only
fcwtof the more important items from
THE general budget need he quoted
The following amounts were appropriate
cd Tor educational and municipal purposes
IN 1900 and IN 1908. viz: