Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-11
Our Cheap Education.
BY Frederic J. Haskin

education necessary for good citizenship
for democracy and for industrial efhcl,
encv.
This statement is based upon recent
studies made by the Bureau of Educa-
ton. which show that the United States
4 does not begin to use proportionate
part of the national income Tor educ:l-
fional purposes, and the results obtained
from such meager funds as have been
grldging ly appropriated by the differ
-ent States emphasize that TACT: Another
recent report issued by the committee
on Education of the House of Repre-
leentatives shows that the United States
ranks about ninth among civilized
nations in ilhteracv. This statement is
based upon average figures and tacllltles-
In the United States the percentage
of illiterscv is II for the total popuia-
tion, over 10 wears of age, and per cent
for the native white population. Ia Den
marx. Germany, Holland, Sweden,
Switzerland, and the United kingdom
the percentage Of illiteracv rs lower than
that for the native white population OF
the United States The Bureau oi the
Census states that this list should
probably include Norway, although no
figures are available for that country
There is also less ilhteracy IN australia
than in the United States. In Bulgaria
Greece, Hungary. Italy, Portugal; kou-
mania, Russia, ServIa, Spain and non
Earopean countries other than Australia,
the percentage of illiterscy averages
much higher than in the United StateS'
extending from 33 to 20 per cent OF inc
population.
The Average Cost.
The total wealth Of the United states
IS $500. .O00. 900 600, and the annual m
come about so, ,000, ,0W.000. The
Statistical Division of the Bureau OF
Education ssvs that only s763, ,61S, ,OSg
rs spent each wear for the education oi
Young America The average total paid
= bv the United States for l3 wears OF q
child's education educating the pupii
from the age of siX years 10 norman
graduation from high school when ~
years oId-is S252. The lowest average
paid for the education OF each indlvld'lai
bv a State is S63, and the highest. se'f'
The State paving the highest Is Mon
tans which pavs almost exactly 10
times the amount paid by those giving
the least. which are Mississippi and Ala
hama. Massachusetts,, famous Tor cui-
ture. gives only $500. With the eNcep-
t,on of the District of Columbia, the lar
western States lead in gcnrosity along
this line
!. In this country where We bllthcly
acknowledge that all things depend upon
education, we spend only an average o.
s. oa1. .26S per dav for the purpose OF
educating more than p .o00WO BOYS
and girls between the ages OF = and ~.
Including children OF kindergarten age
: there are more than 30,0o0.0n children
IN this country to be educated ms
means an expenditure Of about seven
cents per day for the education OF each
individual child above SIX wears OF age.
Moreover. it has been shown bN the
Bureau Of Education that the average
individual in the United States gets
onlv about SIX wears OF schooling.
The army mental tests proved Hitter
a., 10 10 common in the United States
among wage-earning adults. and the
extensive popularity Of the educational
courses cffered to men enlIsting IN the
ARMY. NAVY and Marine Corps proved
hv their power as drawing card, that
a Growing need is felt for more education.
il has been stated by the War Depart
snent that nearly 80 per cent of those
who enlisted stated that they desired TO
enlist 80 As to get the educational ad-
vaptaees offered by the service. SINH
lar In popularity are the courses offered
nv the Marine Corps Institute. and the
nrixileres of specialized education along
certain trade and professional lines
offered to men in the Navy
Learning is in Demand.
Vocational rehabilitation of the wound
ed soldiers, and the increasing demand
for such training among ex-servlce men
ali over the country, emphasizes the pop
ar,F1hfN a.
..,n In looking over lists OF particular
eases asking such training Il Is appalling
10 note the number of incapacItated men
with families to support, who did not get
bevond the fourth grade IN school
4 man of 2f has an average OF Al wears
nj productive life before him, provided
be has; been so taught and trained as TO
enahle him TO preserve his health and
strength. Former United States Com
missioner of Education =. 7. ClaxtOn
savs that If 81 800 were paid for the
education of such an individual. and the
results of such an education spread over
q period OF a years, the cost would be
less than S35 a year.
The investment problem resolves
itself into this simple question: Will the
average man OF woman with such educa-
fion and training as could be gwen at
cost OF 81 .Dtb. lIlstetu ol S-1@i piOuute
enough more In taxable values to reim-
burse the State for the extra expendi-
\ ture?
In view OF these suggestions, as set
forth bv estimates made by the Bureau
of Fdues4ion. the far western States have
found larger funds for educational pur-
poses a good investment. Montana,
California, Nevada, Washington, the
District OF Columbia, (the only eastern
exception. Wyoming Colorado, and
Idaho. head the list In the largest amount
appropriated for such purposes with
sums ranging from 1857 per individual
IN Montana to S415 in Idaho
In considering the investing of 81 500
Tor the education of each child ii the
United States, as suggested by MIR.
CIaxton, one should take lntofeonsidera-
<ion the fact that tins amount will give
elementary and high school education
10 all, in schools manned by competent
teachers and adequately equipped
Moreover, such an appropriation would
provide the higher education Of the col
fege. university professional and technica
schools for two or three times as many as
now get il. 1t would also allow oppor-
tunity for correspondence education
for all those unable TO attend college
Or any other school Of higher education.