Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-10
JOHNSON ASSA|LS
STATE SCHOOL RULE
Penna. Chamber of Commerce
Head Addresses Convention
at Harrisburg
URGES STATE BUDGET PLAN


Harrisburg, Oct. 1O.-The increasing
tendency toward State control or rcgu-
lation of local public schools was de-
plorcd by Alba y. johnson, of Phila-
delphia, in an address before the Penn
sylvania St0tc Chamber of Commerce
which opened its third annual meeting
here today.
He asserted the present plan of
financing education in Pennsylvania
had tendency to remove the school
system too far away from the people.
Too much Capitalization. Mr.. johnson
declared. involves political control and
patronage. He expressed fear that
some future Administration might
utilize such an agency for selfish ends.
business mon from all parts of the
state and country nrp here to attend
the meeting which will continue until
tomorrow night. Problems affecting the
commercial. social and political con-
ditions Of the State and country will be
discussed
Mr.. johnson, who is president of
the state organization as we'll MS the
Philadelphia Chamber OF Commerce,
spoke on "Pennsylvanin's Pressing
Problems.
Views OH Schools
lie touched on the public school
situation after advocating the need of a
state budget system. Mr.. johnson
said:
The State of Pennsylvania appro-
PIRATES money from State funds for
distribution to cities, towns and bor-
oughs to assist in the support of their
schools. At the last session of the
Legislature a large sum was appropri-
ated, the exact amount of which has
not been tabulated, but which will
amount to twenty to thirty millions of
dollars.
The payment Of this money from the
state Treasury naturally confers cer-
tain authority upon the State Depart
lnent of Education, by reason of which
there has been an increasing tendency
toward State control or regulation Of
local schools. This is contrary to the
sentiment prevailing throughout the
state, which Is that there should be n
larger elements Of home rule. State
Supcrintcndcnts of Public Instruction
advocate such central control. believing
thnt II would improve the educational
standards Of the State. 1t is obvious
that 1t would increase the authority and
influence of tho State Educational Do
partmcnt and the responsibility and i'm
portance of its head.
This system has come to draw very
heavily upon the State funds, so that
it Is becoming burden. If the full
program ms outlined by tho State De-
partment of Education is nut into opcr-
alton, the money required annually will
probably reach the amount Of half OF
the State income.
Suggests Another Method
eration another method of handling
the financing of education in Pennsyl.
vania. The State could adort def
mite minimum standards as to days of
school per year, curriculum, high school
opportunities, qualifications for teach
crs, ETC., for the entire State, to which
every boy and girl should be entitled.
Each city, borough and township should
raise its own money to support its
schools.
In those communities where tho tax
alton for school purposes would ex-
Cecd reasonable rate, assistance
could be provided from State funds, so
they could at least meet the minimum
educational standards established. This
would reduce the amount distributed
by the State to local communities for
school purposes to small sum COM
pared to what Is now being apprOprl-
ated.
This plan would retain in the hands
Of the citizens of eacn locality the
conduct of its own educational facili-
ties. II would increase local rcsp0u-
sbilitE and interest in the schools.
BY law they would be required to meet
the minimum standard set by the state.
but could go as far beyond that as
they desired in pcrfrrting their schools
and increasing their efficiency"
Regrets Revision Defeat
Mr.. johnson expressed regret that the
plan to hold n convention for revision
Of the State Constitution had been de-
feated at the polls. One Of the pro-
posed amendments TO the Constitution.
he said, would have given the cities
more home rule.
The speaker also aGvOcatcl more con-
sidcration by the people of the blight