University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1914-11-02
COLUMBIA's BUSINESS.

enterprises are looked upon as /,
business rather than a mission, 81
in speaking of Columbia's place ii
the United States, especially Mis-
souri,, it may be going too far tt
call education her business rather
than her mission.
Columbia is known all over this
country as an educational center
The people outside of the town
know just where she stands and
how widespread and great is her
influence.
If a stranger were to ask you
about Columbia as an educational
center, would you be able to tell
more than that it is surely an
ideal place for man who wants to
learn.
If you were asked what it cost
Columbia for each high school pu-
pill each year compared to other
towns in the state or what proper
ton of pupils of school age in Co
lumbia's district were enrolled in
the public schools, could you make
any sort of an accurate answer?
You know that Columbia has one
of Americas greatest universities
and two of the best junior colleges
in the state. You know because of
this fact that it is reasonable for
people to expect Columbia to have |
an exceptional public school sys-
TEN. But do you know that it has
such an exceptional system?
We are enumerating a few facts
and figures here that you may be
able to give a definite answer, if
asked concerning Columbia's school
system. Since this is her chief
business it is up to you to know
something definite about it.
W. P. Evans, state superintend-
ent of schools, says that Columbia's
schools are as good as those in any
of the larger cities of the state at
half the cost. The faculties are su-
perior to any outside those in st.
Louis and Kansas City, according
to ]. d. Elliff the high school in
spector.
Columbia schools have more Z
.eachers to each pupil than other s
school districts of equal enroll
nent. Sedalia, with more students,
las only four-fifths as many teach
RS and Joplin, with twice as many /;
tudents, has only one-fourth more g
eachers. v
Columbia leads all towns in the
roportion of high school students :,
o the total in the public schools. .
his shows that her system is bet .'
er because it keeps the interest o
the student enough to cause him +
, attend high school. In other
OWNS the students, especially boys, +
enerally quit when they have fin ii
he'd the grade school. 1t is great CT
: the fault of the school system. II
Columbia can get and has better ol
achers at smaller salaries than -
her towns because the University a,
tracts teachers. One instance in
schools can be cited to
here teacher is employed at a y
larry one-fourth less than was Of
red in another town. n,
In comparing the cost in Colum- sh
a with that in other towns we m,
ID that in 1913 the cost for each lei
pill in the high school was s34.19 20
d for each in the grade school it o.
Is s1S.61 as compared respective to,
with sS7.07 and 1896 in Kansas lie!
y. The average in other towns ec'
er the state as large or larger ~
In Columbia was $40. The puplic -.
lool system costs the Columbia Sc,
trict about $4,000 annually. les
rhe University of Missouri gives les
Columbia High School 321s 'o
is credit for its work while the
rage of other high schools is ,
ch lower. fro
|, attendance in proportion to the 1s1
y
nber enrolled. Columbia is so the
in the lead that no town affords 0a'
Vi @@oo scnooi Mr..