Connecticut western news., 1910-09-15
School Facts
LContinued from page II

pense account to the school account. Besides that the school accounts have been closed on Sept. instead of July 10, as heretofore. These two changes methods of accounting, have added S6la to the years expenses, and yet they arc $lg7 80 under the estimate.
 A Fair Explanation.
 Nevertheless the school expenses of the town have greatly increased in the last few years and as this fact has sub jected the Board to criticism they feel that it is only fair to them and to the town that some facts be presented for consideration. It will be remembered that the grades in school No. 9 became crowded and it became necessary to separate the first four grades, placing one grade in a room. It is only Q question of time before the other four grades will have to be similarly treated. Al the same time it became impossible to seat the high school in one room, the registration having almost doubled. These facts necessitated the enlargement oS the building, and when the town voted to do this, it voted without dissent for 6 system of ventilation and sAnitA- tion, which involved the employment of competent man to give his whole time for ten months each year as janitor. It also involved the buying of about three oar loads of coal year. The oon- sumption of coal has been somew hat re- duced with increased experience M handling the furnaces. These changes alone, which were understood and voted by the town involved an increased annual expenditure of about @ .5o0. Free Text Books Cost Money. IL will also be recalled that four years ago the town, by a vote, began furnish ing free text books and supplies. This added about $500 annually to the ex. penss. This years expense has been greater, because. by the change of Ao- counting, part of next years supplies have had to be purchased and are in- oluded in shis years account. The average cost of all supplies, text books, reference books, paper. ink, pens and pencils for pupils and teachers for the year 19oS-9. for each registered pupil, was $1.2b. Does any one think that he could supply his child at any less cost. to say nothing of the teachers supplies
 It becomes necessary to replace school books once in three years, and parents complain whose children have to use them, the last of the third year. IL is doubtful if the schools can get alenG with less than $500 per year for supplies. We are sometimes asked why slates can't be used as in the good old days" We would reply by asking how the boys used to clean them, and then would say that no intelligent Board of Health would allow their use in these days.
 By Way of Comparison.
 The schools cost this year $S,5o3. .51s five years ago they cost s4,6s9,s2. . difference of ss,sl4.19. The increases involved in items SO far mentioned amount to $S. .1s2.oo. That leaves $6S2.1s to be accounted for, and we have only to call attention to the fact that the changing of the fiscal year and the method of accounting account for most of that.
 Furthermore, 1t must be borne in mind that the salaries of teachers have in- creased. Five years ago several teachers received only $500 per week. Now no teacher receives less than 5000. Some towns may pay more than ours for their teachers in the center schools, but have underpaid incompetent teachers in their out districts. We believe that all our schools should have as competent teach CTS as VIC can get, and that SS70.00 per year is small enough in these days of the high cost of living, figuring board at from s4.60 te $500 per week. Then re- member washing and travelling sK- penses and imagine how much teacher has left to live on for the fifty-two weeks in the year. It doesn't leave mere than $3, % per week. No man with any man hood would ask young woman to whom he would care to entrust his child to teach for less than our minimum  salary. The average salary for the grade teachers for the past year was $418,72. .a#. .-.
 .-.. Teachers Have to Live.
 AS teacher is supposed to live fifty two weeks in the year, that makes Ss.05 per week. Five years ago the average yearly salary for grade teachers was $807.77, sum that was shamefully small. There has been a very justinabls increase of $l10.96. Then come the nine grade teachers. This accounts for further increase in expense during tho past fiva years, amounting to S99s.55. To reoapitulate: In five years there was an increase of $8,sl4.19 in the cost of the schools. Over against this are to be set this necessary expense:
 Increase in cost of No. 9 ......... &, ,500