Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-08-10
MORE MONEY needed
FOR public schools
Superintendent Scott Shows
That Wilmington Is Spend
ing Less Than Other Cities
NEED S389,O53
FOR INSTITUTIONS

DOHtu OF EuUtdAN}u Win NAN -
Council sitting as a committee OF the
whole in reference TO FUNDS 10 pay
teachers upon classification basis,
he submitted a statement at the meet
ing OF the hoard last night, which VIII
be read AT thai meeting. Mr.. Scott
left today for san Francisco. The
statement shows that the expenditure
per pupil here is much less than that
in other cities Of its size.
The statement follows.
Does it cost more to secure and
maintain good schools in Wilmington
than IN the other cities Of the United
States?
Are other cities. in proportion to
the number of pupils enrolled, able TO
maintain satisfactory schools en- the
same amour. of money that has been
appropriated to the Wilmington
schools for the coming year?
rs the amount of money asked for
of Council by the Board of Education
for the coming year more or less than
other cities required. in proportion to
enrolment to maintain their schools?
How does the per capita cost and
the per pupil cost OF the Wilmington
schools compare with the per capita
cost and per pupil cost in other citiesy
"If the Wilmington schools cost our
taxpayers more than schools of other
cities cost their taxpayers, then the
Wilmington school management would
be open to charges of inef1ciency. II
we spend less per inhabitant and less
per pupil in Wilmington than other
cities spend we must expect our
schools to be inferior and our boys and
girls to pay a heavy penalty for being
born and reared in the city of VIII
mington
I'VE cannot be expected to main
tain satisfactory public schools in this
city for much less than other cities
find it necessary to pay.
THE report for the year 1918 Of the
Ulited States Commissioner of Educa
ton. which is the latest to give such
statistic, states that the average cost
per pupil of the public schools
throughout the whole United States Is
S24s1 for the elementary schools and
$534O for the high schools, or an aver
age cost of 1910 per pupil through
out all the grades.
"The expenditure per pupil in the vii
mington schools for the next year
based on the average attendance of last
wear. lV.t-t. anu lNf dllliANN INV hH
propriated nv Council 1921 100 plu,
1884, 0O from the State). is S306l, ol
ss.49 less per pupil than other cities
paw. On the whole enrolment or aver
age attendance of l0,424 pupils, thu
Wilmington schools cost sss,49976 les
than the average cost of school
throughout the United States
"The 1914 report of the United State
Commissioner of Education, Volume
of which has Just been issued, quote
from the Bridgeport, Conn. survey
made by DR.. Leonard P. Ayers. directo
of the Russell Sage Foundation. tn
statement that the cost per pupil of tn
eleven cities of the United States O
similar size to Bridgeport 100000 in
hahitants. is S4l.l3. This amount
sl052 per pupil more than Wilmington
has appropriated for the coming year.
our lo,424 pupils went TO these iust
average schools, the cost would be Sl09
G60.4s more than the amount now al
lowed for the maintenance Of our school
for the coming year.
THE United States COMMISSIONS
in his 1914 report quotes from thu
Portland survey. which is now
noted and widely-Quoted work and Il
accepted as an authority. This sur
vey states that the average cost pc
inhabitant Of the public schools in al
cities of the United States of 10000
in $4,000 is s423.
Taking 92.057 (estimate by Cham
Der of Commerce. as the population
Of Wilmington. the present appropria
lion of Council plus the State appro
priation allows S347 per inhabitant
This is rs cents less per inhabitan
han other cities appropriate or
total Of S69,953.S2 less than othe
cities think necessary to educate a
equal number of children.
IF Wilmington would appropriat
10 her schools the average amour
per inhabitant which these othe
stiles appropriate. the amount woul
be $780, 5332 instead of the presen
amount. S319120 (The State spprc
priation is included)
IF the Wilmington schools ,wer
given in proportion to the city's poi
ulation the average amount given b
the eleven cities of the United State
OF similar population. they would r.
ceive for the coming year at Leaf
S42S, 760.4S
II the Wilmington schools wei
given in proportion to their enrol
ment of pupils. the average amour
given by the cities of the Unite
States of 100000 to 100000 population
which is less than the per pupil cost
cities of $4,000 to 100000. the schoo
would receive for the coming year
least $3.50 05332 Add to these amour
the $40 900 indebtedness holding ov'
from last year and which must I
met from this years Appropriation ar
we find the amounts Sass. 760.40 an
S42905S.32 are conservative estimat,
OF funds other cities would require
carry on the work we have before Il
The request Of the Board of Ed
cation to be given 1917, 70S.35. whic
with the $4,000 State appropriate
totals s415.70S, is. in the light of e
penditures in other cities for scho
purposes, a very conservative reuue:
Bear in mind that the foregoil
amounts are average expenditur
and not the amounts expended
cities which rank above the avera
in school opportunities for their DO
and girls. Last school year, Ire
ton. n. j., city which in 1910 HI
a population of 96.s15. spent S72
34S.61 for school purposes. Readin
Pa, with a population in 1910 of 81
OIL last year expended S534 .17717 Z
her schools East Orange. ~
with a population Of less than 400
spent s440,5s6.12 for public educate
the past year.
"The Portland survey also shor
4 fCto al :