Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-14
What Georgia Spends TO,
Her Schools and Colleges

nlgnly interesting report on e&pen-
ditures for schools and colleges in
Georgia, Commissioner Claxton, of the
United States Bureau of Education, cordial
~ congratulates the Commonwealth upon
its advances in this important sphere, but at
the same time points out the need and OPP
portunity for further improvement. During
the twenty years from 1899 to 1919 Geor-
gas per capita expenditure for the support
Of elementary and secondary schools in
creased from eighty-seven and half cents
to three dollars and seven cents, or two hun
dred and forty per cent. This, the Commits
sioner comments, is a 'real' increment,
"even when the cost of living and the pur-
chasing power of the dollar are consider
ed" But how does it compare with the rate
for the country at large and with out ex-
penditures for other interests?
Just here our pride trips and falls. Geor-
gas per capita outlay for elementary and
secondary schools in 1913 was only about
forty per cent of the nations average. More
over, at the rate then obtaining in this
State, the sum spent for the schooling of
each child through his entire stay in the
public system would be only one hundred
and eight dollars-much less than is spent
Tor feeding cow for a twelvemonth. eff"
says DR.. Claxton, "the amount expended for
hlgher education in normal schools col
leges and universities of all kinds whether
supported by public taxation or by private
endowment be included, the average expen-
dlture for the education of each child would
be only one hundred and fifty-one dollars"
And that is but\a meager fraction of what
industrial will
for the upkeep of it's machinery Yet are
not children of more worth than cattle
more to be treasured than machines?
Since 1918, year from which these dg-
ures are drawn, the people of Georgia have
ratived constitutional amendment reouir-
In geach county to levy for the maintenance
fits schools tax of not less than one mill.
This admirable law, which Superintendent
Britain, of the State Department of Educa-
ton, and host of co-workers labored long
and heroicall yto secure, will do much to bet
ter the record; for whereas only sixty-eight
entire counties out of one hundred and sixty
heretofore have supplemented their appor-
t1onments from the state school fund with To-
cal tax levies, henceforth all will do So La
Of such levies has been largely responsible
for Georgia's low rank in per capita school
expenditures; measured by her school appro-
priation from the general treasury, she has
stood high among the states, but the com
parative pittance contributed from local
sources, in the past, has worked grievously
against her. Under the new order, there will
be substantial increases in the public school
fund, and consequent gains for educational
progress.
1t is not to be imagined, however that the
levy of the mere minimum allowed by the
law will come near sufficing Georgia's COM
mon school needs. The local tax provided
for in the new law must be as much one
mill, but it may be as much as five. Com
munities having their highest interests at
heart will not rest content with the least re-
quried of them, but will do their liberal ut
most, not only under this obligatory tax, but
also through the optional measures open to
them And so they must if their children
are to fare justf yand well.
That we are capable of paying more ana
giving more t othe cause of educatlon' d
glance at the facts in the case Will PLAINLY
show During the fifty years from 1870 TO
1920 according to official records and es-
Inmates, there was spent in Georgia for ele-
mentary and secondary schools, both public
and private, and for colleges, universities
and normal schools, total of one hundred
and seventy-iVe million dollars. In 19ZO
from Georgia, by the payers of income and
other Federal tayes, the sum of fifty-one
million dolars-a little less than one-third
of the aggregate outlay for education in this
State during the entire half century proceed
ing. 1t appears further that the States reve-
nues in 1919 for other purposes than edu-
cation were $4,017,560, while county and
city taxes for other purposes than education
amounted to $21, 100000. Thus, 1.-The total
amount of taxes, Federal State, county and
city, for other purposes than education was
approximately $76000,000. or eight and
ane-half times much as the expenditure
for public education in 1919" Consider,
moreover, the fact that the chewing-gum bill
alone twas four hundred and fOrty-five thou
sand dollars. more than the total appropria-
lions made by the State to all its Static in
-tt;tutions of higher education, and nearly
six times as much as the States appropria-
tions to the three normal schools for cur
rent expenses and for new buildings" Yer
lily, 1te can afford to do better by education!