Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-11-03
Liberals CRYING
/ needs EDUCATION

Educational Conditions in Little
Republic Are Not Of Best.
APPROPRIATIONS SMALL II
VERY LITTLE MONEY EXPENDED
RY GOVERNMENT FOR THE
EDUCATION OF LlBERIAN Chill
DREN.
Monrovia, Lberia.The state de-
partment has been apprised OF the
early coming of Reid Paige Clark, re-
Gently designated by President TAT
to serve under the general direction
Of the government Of Liberia as col
lector general of customs. Both the
government officials and the citizens
generally are deeply grateful to the
American government for keeping be.
fore them the program recommended
by the late commissioners OF the
United States, looking to the rehabi'
litation OF Liberia as an Independent
government
Liberia needs all the help she can
secure along the lines recommended
by the American commission, Dut
what it needs quite as much Is aid
from philanthropic sources to help TO
establish school system which shall
serve to put within the reach OF every
child in Liberia at least primary ana
secondary education. A resume OF
educational conditions in Liberia may
De of interest.
Largely as result of the pitiable
condition Of the Liberian finances, edu-
cation within the republic is in a de-
7lorable state. Owing to the fact
that there has been for years a large
floating debt, it is extremely difficult
% ascertain with any degree OF &C
s.uracy what have been the real cash
aeceipts OF the government In recent
years. A certain part Of this DEBT
has been cancelled each year, but q
new debt often greater in amount mas
been created to take the place OF tnat
which has been cancelled. Liberian
public finances is under the bondage
of this debt. A business man with
good credit may and does find q pront
in keeping in debt when he is con-
stantly increasing his means OF pay
ment, But let his ventures become
SO that the debt grows
faster than means of payment, and ne
soon finds himself engulfed.
Finances In Pltiable Condition.
The case Is rarer where govern.
ment can maintain floating debt IN
definitely, because it's use Of Its re,
sources is not as rule profitable IN
the sense OF profit making. In rare
cases does government expenditure re-
suit in an enhancement of government
receipts. In Liberia this floating debt
is not contracted, BE in the case OF
governments with we'll ordered
finances, BY means Of the Issue o.
short-tefm obilya tions. but through
advances in goods by the loca
merchants. It Is needless to say thai
these goods are charged to the gov
ernment at exorbitant prices, and. tina,
as the floating debt increases and the
prospect Of payment becomes more
remote, the prices increase.
This may seem to be wandering q
long way from education, but the point
which seems essential at the outset Is
a clear comprehension Of the fact that
debt charges, direct or indirect, ab
sorb a large proportion of the Liberian
revenues. Estimating these nominal
receipts of the last few years at $780,
900, It is quite safe to assume that
not more than $25O,00O is in reality
available either in the form OF cash
or credit for the general purposes OF
the government.
With population variously esti'
mated at 1900, 900 to 100000, the
problem of administering a govern.
ment with no more than $250.O0O a
year is no easy task, however print
tive the government may be. The
maintenance Of framework OF gov
eminent and the preservation of peace
and order make formidable demands
upon SO meager pittance. However
high among the functions Of govern
ment we may rate the care OF public
education, 1t is clear that it is not SO
imperious demand upon the public
purse as these fundamental conditions
of any body polite. If, then, as in
the case of Liberia, the public purse
is SO shallow that these imperious
demands almost drain it's contents, 1t
is not to be wondered at that little
is done for public education.
Only 5000 Appropriated Annually
for Elementary shcools. &
4 Theoretically, the Liberians recog-
nize the value of education and the
duty Of the state to provide it, Prac-
tically, the state can offer so little
and that little Of SO poor 3 quality
that the people take only ii q half
hearted interest in It. The annual
appropriation bills carry $4,000 for
public elementary schools, and sub
sidy OF. $12.5O6 for Liberia college.
Of this $25, 900 for public schools very
little lis actually available, and very
little Is spent. AS q conseq uence,
the few schools maintained are woe
fully deficient. Teachers are wholly
unframed. OF knowledge they have
very little; Of anything but the most
and casual methods Of I'M
parting It, nothing at all. 0
Liberia college, like the denomina.
tional colleges Of Liberia, is primarily
an elementary school, with so-called