The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-02-15
SPENDING SCHOOL FUNDS

NIlTHOUT prcsuming to discuss in amy way the merits OF the IN.
w junction proceedings filed IN district court Saturday by John
w NJ. Reynolds, attacking the constiuiionalty of the cxpcndi.
lures section of the county unit school tax law, II may be sad that
the inquiry thus instituted is one which is likely to have tn" hearty
approval Of those taxpayers who have studied the effect of the opc
ration of the law on the distribution of public school funds her" and
in other communities that ar" similarly situated.
The theory of the unit school tax is bcncfcicnt Applied to the
county, as is the ease at present, or t" tn" state. as Is proposed m
pending Legislation II holds that Ignorance Is a hahlny upon the
whole community falling equally upon all and that rs speedy elm
inution and AN equal rhanc" for education for all Is a 'h"rs" upon
the community rs Il whole, &" b" met by tn. community a. % wi Tor
its ultimate common advantage
In actual practice. So far a Albuquerque is concerned. tine opc
ration OF the unit school iaN h, been q hen'No''ne"' AN involuntary
charity IN course OF which one third or NOR" of our total local school
resources has been taken from "a AMI applied 10 the uses of our
ucighborS
If Albuquerque school tax revenue, produced 4 surplus over and
above our pressing needs for efficient school maintenance 1t Is not
Likely that our participation IN tins o"ncy"lcnc" would b" questioned
Unfortunately the full amount of the school revenues raised by tax
meet the rapidly growing needs of our city schools. When a large
portion of that revenue IS taken for the maintenance Of schools in
which must be- considered. no matter how worthy ~ how pressing
the cause of education elsewhere may he.
The situation here exists To a degree in every city ard large town
in the state. 1t is net a situation that can be disposed Of merely ny
disclaimng responsibility for less prosperous ucighborN, because that
responsibility exists aud must bc met. But the measure OF RESPONSE
bihty must be considered if justice IS TO h" done .ol all, and not
merely for those who have been unable or mdi>po>cd To help them.
selves
The general administrative features of county unit school man.
agemcnt have worked we'll IN the main The county board of rdu-
cation, IN charge of all county school administration, and the district
school budget have brought a very marked Improvement in our rural
school conditions II VIII 10" admitted, however, that the sudden
availability OF ample school funds for every possible purpos" has led
to some rXtravagancr>, especially in the way of ovcrcusily school
construction and overhead charges 50 that while We have new school
houses all over the state Nhc"l omuihuNrN 10 haul children 10 these
emo bultllHN, ana many olh'l 'NIHh ana lft'IIN AZURE
not herctofor" enjoyed by the rural schools. THOSE MEMBERS or
THE STATE Legislature WHO ARE BEST ACQUAINTED
WITH THE PUBLIC FINANCES VIEW WITH CONCERN THE
NECESSARY INCREASE IN SALARIES FOR COMPETENT, or
FIRST GRADE TEACHERS, BECAUSE THEY ASSERT THE
COUNTY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIONS WILL. NOT HAVE THE
FUNDS To PAY TIE INCREASES AGREED To BE NECES-
SARY TO Sell RE EFFICIENCY IN THE TEACHING FORCE.
In other words our physical equipment, our school convcnicnccs
and, in some instances. our not absolutely necessary items of cduca-
tional accessories have all been provided IN Al sudden burst of spend
ing, while the heart and artcral system, the teaching force, has been
standing still
There is not a doubt in the world that the main essential in our
public schools. TEACHER efficiency. viii not be materially improved
until salaries are paid which are adequate 10 attract men and wo.
men 10 the preparation and 10 acquire the equipment 10 teach eff
cicntly, which should. of course hr q rigid requirement To obtain the
increased salary There Is not a doubt that this should bc at
tended 20 first. after the bare essentials OF physical equipment have
been provided.
If the unit system OF school administration IN, not working out
10 the end outluc1 II is not tuucrionIng wisely or efficiently and
something needs TO hc done about st.
In the meantime the specific instance here At home stand, ont iu
bold relief This city, paying three iourths of an school and other
taxes paid i'm B"rlalllo county, gives a third of its school revenues
TO maintain schools IN other districts and has not enough money re
manning to properly maintain the Albuquerque public schools Even
il every dollar m our school tax revenue were available for ur in
the city schools II would mot uc sufficient for demands that increase
by leaps uud bounds from year +" year We are. perhaps, entitled
to few Of the trimmings for our school system. We are mot able 10
indulge ~ then.
With tins result from the operation of the county unit school
fund distribution, taxpayers here aud u other communities similarly
affected are likely 10 view with something AKIN ia Consideration tine
proposal now pending uu imc Legislature 10 further "rqmlzr th.
expenditure Of money paid m It's school taxes ny establishing the state
unit school tax m New Mexico