The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-02-06
A BETTER FINANCIAL SYSTEM
FOR KENTUCKY SCHOOLS

IN our SCUOOl Organization, anu
made suggestions as to how these
faults may be corrected, let us now
take up what is, at the present time,
the most serious problem before us,
the problem Of an adequate financial
support for our schools.
We are living in a period Of high
prices and advanced wages, but Ken
lucky has. as yet, not been able to
increase the salaries paid her teach
ers. II is true that the average
monthly salaries were a little higher
the past year than formerly, but
they were paid for only six months,
instead of seven as has been the case
for the past three years. The total
amount paid by the state for public
education last year was materially
less than had been paid the year
before. As a result there were many
schools without teachers, and in
many cases the older and more ex-
perienced teachers left the ranks
to accept positions where they were
offered living compensation.
Not only have prices been rapidly
rising during the past few years.
but the expenses attached to educa-
ton are constantly and rapidly in
creasing. Every new subject added
TO the curriculum. every new de-
mand placed upon the teacher, every
advance step in school organization
leading to higher requirements and
standards of teaching, throws the
community which is limited in funds
farther behind. While we have
made progress during the past few
years as compared with ourselves,
we are falling back relatively when
cur progress is compared with that
being made by many other states.
We may exalt, as much as we please,
the intangible rewards of the teach
er, and all know that they are great
but il is not sound business for so
ciety to underpay most important
servant because it believes that that
servant is Loyalty devoted to the
work being done because of the good
that will result If good schools are
worth having they are certainly
worth paying for. During the vari-
Gus campaigns for war funds which
have been carried on since America
entered the war the people of Ken
lucky have shown themselves able
and willing to do their part. They
will be no less willing to come to
the financial relief Of public educa-
tion and give it ample support IT
they are once convinced that the
funds now available are absolutely
inadequate. Let the educational
leaders of the State launch CAM
paign as determined as intelligently
directed, as were those for the sup
port of the war and there will be no
question as TO the results.
In order to indicate the financial
conditions and needs of our schools |
the following facts may be present.
ed:
1. Kentucky pays to her teachers
an average of $3.50 for each child
taught, standing 3Sth from the top
in the list of states. Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois pay an average of s2i5i
for the same item.
?. Kentucky has $1,000 invested in
school property and equipment for
each child of school age, standing
40th from the top. The three states
named above have invested for the
same purpose an average of $1,000
per pupil.
3. Kentucky pays her teachers an
average salary of $4,000, standing
38th from the top. Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois again pay an average
salary of $4,000.
4. Kentucky has property valued
at $500 for each child between 6
and iS, standing 4ist from the top.
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois have a
wealth of $1,000 per pupil.
These facts quite naturally sug-
gest such questions as: Are our
children not worth as good an edu-
calion,-as we'll trained teachers, as
good houses and equipment as the
children across the river to the
north? Are we doing our best in
financing our schools? Are we fur
a small amout of money to
educate our children because we are
poor, or are we poor because we are
furnishing a small amount Of money
to educate our childrenf These are
facts and questions which should be
squarely faced by every citizen and
parent Of our State. That we may
be the better able 10 answer them
let us consider the present financial
scheme for providing school funds,
its weaknesses and strong points.
and methods by which the former
may be corrected and the latter be-
more effective.