Arizona republican., 1915-02-06
The Waste of the School Money

While the legislature is casting about for means of saving the money of the taxpayers by regulat- ing limiting the expenditures by state officials and state boards, and by combining the duties of the various offices and boards, when that be done without loss of efficiency all of which is highly proper and commendable, we would call the attention of the legislature to field of operation which think would be an exceedingly fertile and productive one-the conservation of the school fund.- which of the public money is poured than into any other receptacle In the course of the last campaign the only made the widespread charges of extravaganza was The Schools." And democratic candidates pointed proudly the that Arizona expending money per capita it's schools than any state in the union
 We do not think that any good citizen would desire that penny less should be spent if the sav ing would detract the efficiency of the schools. We do think that any good citizen would be- grudge the expenditure of as much as been spent. more if the additional expenditure would add to the efficiency the schools. It is the of which complaint is made
 The school fund is commonly regarded as a sacred fund around which it is thought be sacri- lege throw the safeguards with which round other public funds. Every School district cordng archaic system is entitled to much money, which the trustees that district may dissipate in any they choose The money is poured into the district and allowed to run whither it will.
 Perhaps great deal of money is wasted in the larger districts. We believe that under the systematic management of the schools of the Phoe- district penny is wasted The greatest loss districts where the trustees fsll under the wiles of the agents of the supply houses. Not long ago desks purchased for a school house not far from the city a of S750 each, plus the freight from San Francisco The same kind of desks for the of the schools of this city laid down here a of $3.s9. Country schools frequently pay much 75 cents box for. crayon; it the schools 20 cents box. It is in the of all supplies used the schools Rural trustees without any experience in such matters. persuaded by supply house buy at extravagant prices many appliances that of absolutely The money is eff fectually wasted if it had been up and thrown into irrigatng ditch This kind of waste be stopped only by change of the system put ting the purchase of supplies into the hands of central board composed of experienced persons
 Our apportionment system. based upon the school census, is another frightful waste. In one district this county the average daily attendance is eight. The apporonment to that district was SS10, average of more than $100 to each pupil The per capita cost in Phoen,S is only about sSs This evil can be remedied, it has been suggested by the consolidation of the smaller schools. transport ing the pupils to a central school This plan has been adopted in many of the more advanced states only in the interest of economy, but also in the interest of greater efficiency
 In the direction If ecOnorny in the matter of the schools. the legislature has already made bad start In the defeat by the house of the senate bill tc abolish the school census not only was annual of $15,000 of the school fund perpetuated but . than worthless institution maintained