Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1921-02-12
COST-OF RURAL
EDUCATION Up
$4,000 in 20
CONTINUED from page one)


Prior to the past year. the State
20 cents per day per
pupil for $50 pupils in the 7th, Sth
and High School grades. in attend
ing High Schools. This did not pay
for the tuition in attending these
schools, as has been shown by cost
sheets prepared by the various
schools At the beginning Of the
past year. this number more than
doubled. due to the fact that trans
portation was furnished. This made
1t necessary for us to increase the
tuition charges by SCI. ses.7O. Trans
portation is charged with s26.4S4.2s.
There are four automobile buses
charged in the above The cost OF
these buses. totaled $4,000. De-
Quoting one-fourth for depreciation
and 6 per cent on money invested,
we find the true amount spent on
transportation was s24.1S4.oS. This
amount was spent for the transpor-
tation OF e12 children on train, troll
ley. bus. or by conveyances owned
by parents.
Overhead Charge Very Low.
There was an increase in the cost
of fuel of &c per cent, and in re-
pairs, requirements and rentals, of
AZ per cent. making a total increase
in all of S92,411.52- 1t has been the
aim OF this board TO get value re-
ceived for every dollar spent; and TO
deal economically in the expendi-
ture OF public money"
with regard to overhead expense
to taxpayers in running the schools,
it is figured, after deducting real
estate and building items, that the
overhead in the past year has been
s10,O55.57. Deducting this from
s236,744.61, the total expenditure,
leaves s226. 5000. During this in
to s10.O55.57 gives the total over
head OF less than per cent as paid
from county funds.
1T is only fair to state, too. says
the report" that in this overhead,
there has been charged 2 typewriters.
costing 5000; a safe, costing 1910.
and Ford coupes. costing f2,431.-
.62." The report then adds,
Your attention is called to the
board' members salaries and ex-
penses as appearing in the audit,
for the three members. s624.50. or an
average OF 320S.17 each. Supervi-
sers' salaries have cost Taxpayers Of
New Castle county $3.50; the at
tendance officers salary, $40. The
superintendent salary was paid en-
tirely by the State"
School Consolidation.
The report says that II is quite
clear to many OF our people that
the one room school unit or organi-
zation is too small for best results.
From n business point OF view, It is
found so wasteful that sound prin-
cipIes OF economy demand a reor-
ganization.
Years ago, the report continues.
the one room school answered our
purposes well enough, but today
things are different. The gradual
Transition in rural life toward better
farming, together with many per
picking problems brought into be-
Ing by the shift in our rural popula-
ton, occasioned by the industrial
call Of the city. has placed new and
grave responsibilities upon the
school. No retarded weakling school
can furnish the educational leader
ship Just now needed in the country
The old school, in very fact Is
responsible for much OF the present
unrest in farming communities, the
lack OF ideals. and the drift into
town
consolidation contemplates the
reconstruction OF our rural schools
on new foundation which will re-
establish the ancient principle OF
equal rights for all
IF you will view carefully thu
age grade distribution of white
chilren. in this report, you will finC
that boys and girls in New Castle
county quit school long before the,
should OF the number OF pupil
enrolled in the LIST grade OF school
we find in the End grade 81 PEI
cent. left Off: in the 3rd grade, 81
per cent OF them gone; in the 4tl
grade. As per cent; in the 5th grade
SIS per cent; in the sixth grade, 81
per cent; in the 7th grade. 65 PEI
cent. in the sth grade, rs per cent
There surely is a reason.
Suppose that a New Castle COUNTY
farmer should haul his milk to th'
creamery. and day after day spill
rs per cent OF It without raising
a hand to stop the waste. Could h,
continue to do business in that way
And yet, is this milk business o.
greater importance than the educa.
ton OF those who some day will in
herit the farms. cows and all?
How Schools Have United.
Knowing that many OF the tax
payers were not satisfied with tn
; one room school. due to the fac
that they were willing to send thei
{ children to the adjoining district
and pay tuition. the board was lie,
. to believe that in these districts
; people were ready for immediat
consolidation. This was shown whe
the matter was put up to them, an
the following schools have bee
Joined TO different centers:
Diamond TO the DUPONT school
E White Clay Creek to Newark; Shell
! pot to Mount Pleasant; Franklin I
Saint Georges; Dale's Corner, Nc
Donough and Matthews Corner I
odessa; Mill Lane. Armstrong
Corner, and Browns Cottage {
e lMiddietown; Stump Corner an
5 Fieldsboro 10 Townsend; Gree
lSpring to Clayton.
There has also been a joinin
b OF three one teacher High School
i...hfcb mara foarhinC fha first m
- second year High School 20 large
4 centers; the pupils from Mour
b Pleasant No. &c the city OF Wi