The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-15
SCHOOL NEEDS
ARE OUTLINED
BY Sen. HICKS
Gives Explanation of Distribution
of State School Funds in
Address.
Especial Correspondence

Geneseo, Ill, Dec. 15.-The ad-
dress of Senator H. S. Hicks of
Rockford at the South Side build
ing last evening was very well re-
ceived by the audience which came
| out to hear him. Considering the
| few days announcement of his
| coming, very satisfactory number
| of people showed their interest in
| the local schools by being present
| to hear a talk which was instruc-
| tive in matters of actual conditions
| existing in the educational system
of this state
Senator Hicks gave a strong pre-
sentation of his topic, THE Distri-
button OF State School Funds for
the Benefit of the Elementary
Schools" Although Illinois ranks
third in the United States in popu-
lation and wealth, its rating as es-
tablished by an investigation con-
Quoted by the Carnegie Institute. is
23rd, he stated The fault. in Sem
ator Hicks opinion, lies with the
Legislature in its neglect of matters
of education, due to ignorance OF
conditions as they actually exist.
The state distributive school
fund was created to equalize the
educational advantages of all parts
Of the state as equitably and fairly
as possible" he said. This fund
in the last apportionment was So
100000. The last session of the
legislature increased this to $4,000
900. At present it is divided &C
cording to the number OF minor
children in each county Cook
county has Al per cent of the pop
ulation of the state; has IS per
cent of the total wealth of the
state, but pays only AZ per cent of
the taxes of the state. In 1910 Cook /
county had SO per cent OF the mi /
nor population of Illinois, and the |
advance bulletins of the federal |!
census bureau show that this was |
increased by 1920 to As per cent |
Therefore. Cook county is receiv- |
ing greater benefits than logically |
it is entitled to. Furthermore. it |
has the wealth and taxable ability i
to carry its own load, whereas. at /
present, many districts in the state |
which are in need of financial as
sistance are really helping the rich
er districts. Cook county receives
from the state distributive school |
fund 1914 for each Of the 10000
teachers there employed.
Local Counties Low.
THE average in the balance of
the state is s141. Henry county re-
ceives STA per teacher employed.
county $138. OF the taxes contrib
uted by these counties to this fund
as compared to the returns receiv-
ed. Rock Island gained $3.50.
Henry county lost $13.9I0. Mercer
county lost S12.647, and Whiteside
county lost s11,129"
Senator Hicks stated that it is,
in his opinion, not just distribu-
ton of public funds. as pro-rated
by the laws governing it. The total
number of teachers in Illinois is
$4,000. II
Analysing the distribution fur !
her, Senator Hicks informed his {
audience that the average assessed j
valuation of property in Illinois be-
hind each teacher is $4,000. but ,
n Cook county it is s1S0,000. in
Pulaski county $4,000, in Henry ,
county it is S10S,000. (
Referring to a report by W. F.
superintendent of the Hen
Y county schools. he showed that
light districts in the county gained
IN this fund while 106 lost on it. I
Ieneseo lost S7475O. Kewanee
gained S5,070; Wethersfeld gained
Il, HASA. Hooppole. Lorraine.
Woodruff, Colona and district No.
2 all gained on the taxes paid in. L
The richest district in Henry coun-
Y is Shabbona Grove with an as
essed value of 1913, 900. tax rate i
IS cents. teachers salary $1,000. I
The poorest district is the Walker t
district with an assessed value of L
41.000. tax rate $3.50, and teach t
RS salary $500 per year.
Proposes Remedy.
To remedy these conditions and a
ring about better results, Senator h
Hicks feels that the state fund (
hould be distributed where it is
lost needed, so as to equalize the
EDUCATIONAL advantages to every o
hid in every part of the state as ;,
early as possible. This will be =
egislation providing for county
ldividual one-room school district. t
his would equalize taxes to equal
: benefit all parts of the county:
'ould eliminate having only tWoE
upils, such as may be found in r.
ne instance in his home county.
|innebago. This small school of
We or six pupils is an excessive
ost which would be adjusted in
lie larger supervision of the coun-
as the school unit. With that C
nit in existence uniform work
ould be more readily accomplish r
l. taxes reduced and the schools
Used TO much higher degree of
,rviceability and efficiently.
Senator Hicks is thoroughly in
rested in the matter of correct
g what he believes to be a gross b,
Justice which is sapping the life T
the downstate districts. He az
eads for greater interest n school Ell
ections and in the election of leg pt
latiye candidates. in
Gives Demonstration. A
Preceding the address of Senator tn
icks. H. F. Schell demonstrated a G,
t of educational slides and ex- la
aimed the value in schools of Wis lie,
Il education The Keystone View re
mpany OF Meadville, Pa, which la
represents, has outlined a plan Fl
Guiding $50 views which may be wi
objected in school room before 70
pills to assist by sight what the
W