The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1917-02-16
TE|IAC|'NER||S;' X; MEETING;
4 NOTEWORTHY One

The second adjourned meeting Of
tie Medina County Teachers associ+
alton, held at Lodi, on Saturday, Feb.
10, was pronounced success in spite
Of the zero weather. About half the
teachers of the county braved the icy
blasts and poor car service to hear
two able addresses by Henry G. VIII
Iiams, editor Of the Ohio Teacher.
Supt. w. s. Edmund, Of Medina, who
vas to give the opening address on
THE subject Of teaching patriotism in
schools, was confined to his bed with
d serious attack Of the grippe. Con-
sequently he was unable to be present.
Fortunately, however, John Mcdowell
Of Ashland had come to Lodi to catch
d train for Millersburg and had pulled
into the station just in time to see the
rear of his train disappearing in the
distance. President Clark promptly
drafted him into service to fill Supt.
Edmund's place.
Mr.. Edmund's absence was not the
only trouble that the officers had to
face. Just before the meeting word
was received from Mr.. Eugene Swope
Of the National Audubon society, that
he was unable to be present, owing to
serious illness in his family. Conse-
quently Mr.. 3. L. Manning Of the Col
unlbia G1aphophone Co.was given ex-
ira time in the program to demon
strate the various uses of the talking
machine in education. This was a
very interesting and instructive DEM
Onstration. Mr.. Manning showed how
instruction is given in music and mus
ical Interpretation, in penmanship, his
tory, stenography, literature, and in
the study Of modern languages.
However, the two talks by Mr.. Viii
hams were the outstanding features Of
the days activities. In the morning
he discussed the rural school prob
lem and showed that schools must be
more closely articulated with life ac-
tivities If the greatest good is to be
obtained from the money expended.
His afternoon address should have
been heard by every teacher, board
member, and tax payer in the county,
for seldom is it possible to hear man
talk on, this important topic who has
" the broad knowledpe of the subject nos
sessed by MI. Williams.
He spoke Of the fact that the dues-
tiOn whats the matter with Ohio ~,
heard SO frequently in other states,
has gotten ION the nerve of more thar
ene resident Of the Buckeye state
Stories of the poverty Of Ohio school
districts are known and repeated from
the Atlantic to the Pacific claimed the
speaker Also Ohio is the SECOND
state III the Union in per capita wealth
Nfliin property owners of Ohio admit
that they own s. 600 DOC. 900. bit NJ
one knows its real wealth. In spite Of
this great wealth nearly all munich
palities of the state are Overwhelm-
ingly in debt, for bonds for schools
water works, paving. lighting, etc. The
Smith one-per- r-cent. law made no pro-
vision for the fact that population in
cities was growing much faster than
their wealth Consequently nearly so
per cent. of the taxes raised in many
cities has to 60 to pay interest on
bonds. In many places next years
money is being used to pay last years
expenditures.
Mr.. Williams asserted that this con-
dition Is not mainly due to bad man
agement, but to rapid growth. Cleve-
land is growing at the rate of $4,000
per year, largely, foreign population
All these people must be supplied with
water, lights, sewers, schools, etc. and
these matters have to be attended to
at once, or disaster results. Hence
bonds are issued. lt
At present Ohio municipalities and
school districts have bonded indebt-
edness Of 1915 100000. The state IT,
self has no debt Of any consequence,
but there is surplus in the state
treasury Of $9.675, 900.
AT present Ohio levi9s state tax
of less than one-half mill--to be ex-
act. AS of a mill, for all state pur-
poses, including schools. OF this
.036 Of a mill goes to school. Thus
the wcSslthy state Of Ohio raises thru
taxes the magnificent sum Of $685.
900 per year for schools to he distrib-
uted among 1.215.000 pupils. The
amount Of money raised by direct tax
ation for state taxes is much less than
1t was several years ago. the revenues
Of the state now being largely raised
from sources Of revenue which did not
exist twelve years ago.
Mr. Williams feels that there should
be q better distribution Of revenues.
In 1908, 38 per cent of all taxes went
for schools; in 1916. only 27 per cent.
Thus the schools with constantly in
creasinE burdens are receiving a lower
percentage of the tax than formerly.
The speaker then compared Ohio's
tax rate for schools with various other
states. In Iowa it is 25 mills and a
bill Is before the legislature to in
crease this to 35smills. Ohio has 4
lhrit of 1913 mills for I'll purposes. five
mills for schools. Virginia gives 2
mills of state tax for schools, Ohio
.08b of a mill.
Many districts are positively unable
TO run schools on 5 mills. We must
lcwnr the birth rate or 60 into bank
Tuptcy 4.
TIE constitution Of Ohio guarantees
euralitv Of opnortunity 70 all children.
said the spealyer but under existing
corAifions this IS imnossihle. If y
uniform tax rate of 5 mills were an
piled over the state. there would he
sufficient fcr all schools As ii IN.
enrre districts NV less thar one nill.
others ns hieh AS seven rniile THE
rich flisttict hos rood school hniIdirps.
weli naid teachers fine pdilinment: the
poor district N onaAroom hnilding. noor
lv li0hted. unvenfilnted m laboratory
IA lihraru. "A this Ohio's boasted
ec'sSIifv If onnnrtiinitv?
EnurtS have reDeatedlvs affirmed that