Evening journal., 1921-01-25

have viewed the various school prob
lens as they have arisen.
Clumsy System shown.
"A school board can be or greatest /
service II It conflnes its functions 10 |
determining policies, selecting cN-
perts, authorizing new projects, Sc |
curing funds, and determining how |
these shall be distributed. The board |
should free itself from details OF
Organization and administration. Civ
ing It's time and attention 10 legisla-
tive and judicial matters. Executive |
functions should be delegated 10 the |
superintendent Of schools and 10 his
stan OF experts. The plan OF conduct
ing the work Of the board through |
standing committees does not lend It.
self TO this distinction between the
functions Of the board on the one
hand and those OF the superintendent
and hts stan on The other.
1T therefore comes about that al
the regular monthly meetings Of the
board each member Is expected for
mally 20 submit 10 the board his re-
port on the conditiOn and needs OF
The schools which have been as
signed 30 him. II seemed curious 10
The commission TO see board mem
bers rise and formally ask the board
30 supply their schools with a door
mat, or with p feet of rubber hose.
with six panes OF wtndorw glass. or
with this, That. or the other thing.
according 10 the various needs. In
deed, 10 was said that one member
has gravely asked the board on every
couch for the teachers rest room OF
one OF his schools and has not yet
gotten it"
Text of Recommendations.
, Commenting on these points, the
executive committee OF the citizens
committee In its report last night,
, recommended:
the recommendations In the report OF
, a Board Of Education OF seven elect
ed at large.
, 'Second-Thst the board 30 elected
/, be Independent OF City Council; or. II
the new charter, as proposed, Is en-
acted, OF the city commission.
I 'Third-1hat II the school code be
amended 10 make Wilmington a spe-
. cial school district. with the rights
and privileges as outlined, the Board
OF Education adopt the code and bring
4 the city in under 10.
"Fourth-That your executive com
y mittee be instructed to have pre-
: pared and submit bills 10 the present
Legislature for enactment, and TO
q take all such other steps as may In
/. lis judgment, seem proper 10 accom-
. plish these ends"
Details OF Survey.
Il The principal parts Of the detailed
e report OF the Survey Commission are
\ as follows;
Z 1T is to be noted that the assessed
valuation OF property available for
= taxation in i9i7-iS was SS3, i3s ,675.
= Compared with the analysis Of the
n fOrty-flve cities OF 10000 10 100000
2 population heretofore referred to, VIII
4 mimgton stands eighteenth. This
r amount Of property Is but two-flfths
\ OF the taxable property shown by the
cities OF Akron, o., and Springfield.
T. Mass, each OF about the same popula-
n ton as Wilmington, and which cities
Il are reported as also assessed on a 100
4 per cent. basis. IL Is about the same
Il amount as the assessed valuation OF
a the taxable property. reduced TO a 100
per cent basis, In Wheeling. w Va
Little Rock. Ark. and Pasadena, Calf,
4 which cities In i9i7-is were half the
/ size OF Wilmington.
"The tax rate for Wilmington for
II school purposes during the past dec
p ade shows an average OF AZ cents: Tor
A the year 1861 II was i6 cents. In
"A comparison with these same forty
m flve cities. Wilmington stands thirty
.o fourth This tax rate for school pur-
a poses Is less than that Of Akron. O.
and Springfield. Mass. which. as stated
above, have more than twice the
z amount Of taxable property; and fur
RI thermore. Il is but trife over one
4 half the tax rate Of BayOnne, n. j..
which Is smaller In population and
,i has less taxable property than vii
,e minglon.
Ie I'm reviewing the expenditures OF
"a the public schools OF Wilmington. an
T. Intensive analysis OF those relevant "a
e the school year 1920 has been made
lf all payments covering deficit OF the
y previous year being set aside. In this
v analysis. while no change occurs in
is reporting the actual elements, they, on
M the other hand, are grouped on a
" somewhat different basis than has pre-
h. Viously been the custom But with eX-
" lpenditurcs for educational purposes
4 increasing yearly, 10 Is becoming in
r. crcasinGly more Important that they
10 as well as other public expenditures
M be presented in a form that viii be
he as Illuminating as possible 10 the aver
Is age citizen and presented also in SUI.
le flcient detail to secure his Intelligent
,r review and criticism This new ar
rangement. therefore. has been evolved
nd Ito meet this need and In the belief
le that II a citizen can see more clearly
In 1.-The manner Of school expenditures
m such expenditures viii be stronger ir
le their appeal for his support
os This analysis separates the eXpen
ro ldilures OF the Wilmington nublil
nd schools, relevant TO the school year o.
o. itN9-20. as follows:
y Amount p. G
Total .............. S65i ,606.35 100
Expenditures relating -.
al TO The present. ..... Soo4,bS3bo 81
nd Expenditures relating
IL 10 the past ........ tSOO2O q
We Expenditures relating
e. TO the future ...... si,giOi9 y
nd "The financial administration OF tn
n public schools Of the city OF Whining
a. ton. in the light OF Mountaineering
de methods and scientific management, i
le subject to severe criticism. This crit
sli cism. however, is 10 be understood a
de applying 10 methods and not TO indi
r. lviduals 10 is assumed that the exist
ds ing routine and procedure comes u
r. the present members OF the board o
n public education as a legacy. But b.
OF that as Il may, the board is attempt
lr- ing The impossible in endeavorlng col
nm lectively and individually 10 admins
OF ter the financial details Of the publ
N. schools. The budget. instead Of bein
he prepared on the basis OF functions an
on representing a specific program,
IS more or less OF a h0dgepodge an
i'm means very little from the admins
IN ltratiyc point OF view. 10 Is the heigh
he OF absurdity for the board 10 be les
I'M islatine formally on such things as IN
m ladvisahiity Of purchasing tWenty-fiv
80 foot ~ hoaa for echool huildinC.