The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-03-30
DISCUSS
SCHOOL FINANCES
SUPERINTENDENT PRATT, OF
SPOKANE SCHOOLS, WELCOMES
INLAND TEACHERS

Spokane, Wash.-(By A. PA
more active interest in the problem Of
school finance was urged upon educa-
tors of the Pacific Northwest, gather
ed here today at the opening session
of the twenty-third annual convention
of the Inland Empire Teachers asso-
citation, by Orville G. Pratt, superin-
tendent of the Spokane public schools
in his address as president of the as
I sociation.
He characterized the next two years
before the convening of state Iegis-
latures as 1.-TWO years of opportunity
and declared that ''the BEST time to
begin preparing for meeting Of the
legislature is not on the day it con-
venes, but on the day the previous leg
islature adjourns."
Teachers have never concerned
; themselves sufficiently with the prob
lem Of school finance" he said. AS
a group we have seemingly assumed
a somewhat fatalistic attitude toward
it. We are not Indifferent to 1t when
we are pinched by the lessened pur-
chasing power of the dollar, but our
expectation Of a genuine remedy seems
only half hearted"
While Superintendent Pratt said
'every investigation of the cost OF liv-
ing shows that the war had the effect
Of doubling it," he declared that the
salaries of teachers in the Spokane
schools increased at the most 80 per
cent, and he expressed a doubt that
the salaries of teachers anywhere had
increased more than SO per cent.
Because of constantly expanding
community expenditures to meet com
munity needs" he declared, former
taxing methods and machinery are no
longer adequate.". . Schools of
all kinds everywhere are suffering
from the virtual breakdown of tax
alton. Because of the shrinkage in the
purchasing power of the dollar, con-
stitutional or other legal taxing limits
are such that the revenue from TAX
alton is insufficient to maintain them
on the former level Of efficiency
Merely to raise present legal taxing
limitations is only a temporary and
makeshift solution to the problem
What is needed is thoroughgoing re-
vision Of taxing methods and machin-
cry"
Because Of the large proportion of
intangible property which pays Writ
ually no taxes, in comparison with
tangible property upon which taxes
are levied and collected, the speaker
declared, real estate is taxed to a de-
gree that threatens confiscation with
out raising sufficient revenue to meet
public necessity
AS a remedy for this situation ne
suggested the adoption of larger tax
ing units than at present, and greater
reliance upon some form Of personal !
tax and less upon property taxes. |
Upon a basis of ability to pay rather
than of benefits received, he said the
income tax is the best form of tax
eral adoption by states.
Pointing out that of $53 per cap1ta
raised in Washington last year by
taxation $21 went for all public edu-
cational purposes, he declared that
more or less money should be
spent for education depends upon
such expenditure rightly re-
garded is not merely an expense but
a most valuable form of investment" F."
"In view of the critical condition of I
the schools, particularly in respect to
an adequate supply of trained teach
ers, retrenchment, however, desirable
It may be in other phases of govern
nent, as applied to education is penny
wise, pound-foolish, false economy
he said "The future welfare of the
state and nation demands greater and
not Less expenditure for schools. The
oest cure for our ills as people Is to
add to our educational ounce of pre-
7ention. The generation that is is not
ret giving square deal to the gen
grafton that is to be-"