The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-02-11


without exception have taken exception
to the story recently sent out by the
agents of the American Book company
showing the per capita cost of educa-
tion in Kenosha. 1t is declared that
Kenosha schools have been put in the
wrong light and that the cost Of $44
per pupil shown for Kenosha schools is
about thirteen dollars too high and that
Kenosha should be ranked as one of the
cities where education is given at
cheaper cost. Mrs. Mary d. Bradford
after carefully considering the question
gave out the following interview this
morning:
In speaking of the matter Mrs. Brad
ford said:
t'Your paper on Wednesday, Febru-
airy Bird, published some school statistics
that, if not erroneous, are misleading.
/ find that the American Book COM
pany tables from which you quote, give
figures corresponding quite closely with
the statistics for Kenosha on file in my
Office, which statistics are duplicates of
those sent to the Federal Bureau of
Education and to the State Department
of Education
The objection ] have to them is that
the per capita cost is reckoned upon the
wrong basis. 1t is reckoned upon the
grand total of expenditures for school
purposes, which includes besides the
regular expenses, the OUTLAWS for
land, new buildings, alterations of old
buildings, etc.
1T will be readily seen that this last
item-outlays-is variable item in
any city from year to year. When new
land is purchased or, new buildings erect.
ed this amount will be much larger than
in other years, and hence when the cost
per pupil is based upon total mclud-
ing OUTLAWS, this cost will be found
much greater in those years than in
other years when buildings and land are
not being paid for.
In the comparison of different cities
as well as in the comparison of differ
snt years of the same city, the OUTLAWS
should not be included when finding
the per capita cost. AS I have said it is
misleading. -
A truer basis upon which to reckon
the per capita cost one upon which
Judgment of comparative expenditures
of different cities may be more truly
founded, is the regular expense of run
uing the schools.
In the bookkeeping of the school
board expenditures are classified as:
j. Expenses of general control (Salary
of superintendent, expenses for enforce
ment OF compulsory education, clerk
hire, etc.). 2. Expenses of instruction
Salaries of teachers, cost of books, sta
tionery, etc.). 3. Expenses of opera
tion of school plant wages of janitors,
fuel, light, power, water, etc.. 4. Elk
penses of maintenance of school plant
(repairs of buildings and upkeep of
grounds, insurance, etc) 5. Miscella-
neous expenses (rent, expenses for
health promotion.). 6. Outlays Glands.
new buildings, alterations of old build
ings, etc.
1t is the management of these ex-
penditures and the amount that is ac-
complished with the money that should
furnish the basis for comparison of
different school systems--because these
are regular expenditures wherever a
system of schools is in operation. A
city may or may not buy property. Tt
may not have to; that is conditioned by
the demand due to growth.
These items in the 1914 audited re-
port for Kenosha are as follows:
(1) Expenses of general
control ................$ 6,794.27
% Expenses of instruction 91,2S4.37
I'D Expenses of operation
of school plant ....... 17,939.24
(4 Expenses of mainte-
nance of school plant 49,. 7,227.5o
90 Miscellaneous expenses l,6S6.39
Total ...s.s.,....... $124,S71.77
Using the total of school expenses as
CHE basis for reckoning, which, as I
have said, is the better one, and which
is the one usually taken for such com
parative statistics, the per capita cost
for the 4,007 pupils enrolled was $31. 16.
The OUTLAWS for 1914 included the
Balm schol addition and the purchase of
the school property on the north side be.
sides the alterations for safety in the
High School,, an unusually large ex-
pense totalling $51, 656.61. This added
to the total for expenses given above
gives the figures quoted in your article,
$176,52S.00, or $44 per pupil.
1t is impossible to tell whether or not
other cities in Wisconsin are running
their school systems more economically
than Kenosha until we know how much
expenditure for OUTLAWS is included in
the !" cost I as quoted in your article.
have not the detailed government
reports for 1914, but have for 1913.