The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-26
THE COST OF THE SCHOOLS.
Some Questions Suggested that Cores
pondent Thinks Should Be Answered.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
Under this caption, the Capital OF
Yesterday had an interesting article on
the schools of Rochester, N. Y AT the
outset editorial promised to be com
parison of the cost of education in the
two cities, Topeka and Rochester, but
the comparison went no further than
to give the population of each. Ihe
editor could have made the article
much more entertaining to the public
if he had given some facts concern
ing the cost of our schools. and the
actual expenditures of our board OF
education and their methods of trans
acting business. But where could the
editor have gotten this information.
He seemed to be informed about Roch-
ester schools, why could not he have
called up the office of our board and
asked for like information regarding
educational affairs in Topeka? Why
isn't it possible for any one to obtain
this information regarding our affairs
The editor started in with good sub
ject but quit too soon. Perhaps the
real animus of the article was in the
last sentence: 1.-The school board of
Rochester is to be congratulated on
the comparatively comfortable and
peaceable time it has with its public"
Does it not occur to any one in To-
peka that our own public has been
more patient and long suffering. Evi-
IDENTIFY this Rochester board complies
with the law and gives its pubic re-
ports We have been waiting on our
board for several years now to give
to us the report the law explicitly pro-
vides shall be made to the patrons and
taxpayers. Is there any good and sui
ficient reason why the board year after
wear violates the law in regard to these
reports? Is there any expenditure that
the board fears the taxpayers will not
approve? Is it better for our educa-
tional system that we pay our head
iauitor more than we pay our very
SCHOOL
teachers? Are there any items of ex-
pense connected with the administra-
ton of our schools-manuel training
school, for instance-that the puDnc
might not think right and proper?
Would it be deemed a warranted ex-
pense to have the laundry of any of
our teachers done at the pubic ex-
pense? Are flowers and banduets Tor
the few at the public expense things
that the average taxpayer would free
ly foot the bills for? The law pro-
vides for competition and bids on sup
plies. Has our board always let those
bids accordingly and in q manner that
it wants to let the taxpayer in on? The
law does not contemplate that school
board shall be composed of persons,
each of whom has something to sell
to the board, with the board setting
it's own prices and being judge of its
own needs. Is there anything hap
pening along this line that our board
is not quite ready to tell to the public?
If not. then why 90 we not nave the
reports the law demands shall be
made? There is a way for the board
of education of Topeka to have
comfortable and peaceable time with
its public and that way is to con-
duct it's business in such a manner that
it has no fear of publicity. no fear of
printing reports. no fear of letting the
people know what becomes of the edu
cational fund. The new board-the in
s1rgents-have promised to render to
the public an accounting. Let's give
them a chance to do so. If you really
care what becomes of about one-quar-
ter of a million of money. if you want
to get rid of sort of secret organiza-
ton which has plunged our educa-
tional fund into debt to the amount of
almost $650.000. better vote for some
new members Of the board of educa-
ton. This amount because of the Sc
cret and star chamber methods of the
board can not be exact. but it is very
near TO the amount We would like
to be exact-if we had at hand such
a report of our board as the editor evil
IDENTIFY had of the Rochester board.
L. D. NJ.