The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-15

What we must have then, as has
been inttmated in this report OF the
Last three years. is reform of our
taxing system and relieve the local
taxpayer OF it least one-thfrd Of his
burden.
Professor SeIigman again says:
Progressive states in the United
States and progressive European
countries are now Learning that they
must seek. funds for schools as well as
other government activities in earn
ings profits, incomes. etc"
State Must Aid.
The state must come to the aid OF
the city as well as the town. The dis
ton In Connecticut is not on fair
basis.
Regardless of the population all
local Boards should be benefited. A
should reach out further to it's re-
sources and take a reasonable share
Of the profits by taxation.
Until such a time arrives when our
system of taxation Is reformed It may
be that here are measures of economy
that can be introduced. but we all
must agree that the nation that
thw,orts its educational policies will
soon go on the rocks.
It may be that by means OF cont1n-
uat1on schools we can use local in
dustrial plants instead of construct
ing new buildings: It may be that tho
teaching corps can be reduced by
massed teaching and by using the
blackboard and the stereopttcon more
the construction of new buildings
stul1 further by the installation of the
platoon system; 1t may be that we can
drive the child quick to grasp still
faster and 1t may be that we can re-
fuse to teach beyond certain point
the n1orons and thereby allow these
two divisions to leave the school ear
Ter.
All The ahova have a xa76epcx, ~
reduce the cost of maintenance and
some of the above may have practical
application, but 1t would appear that
IN the long run society will pay a
ture than 1t does now.
Paul II. Shoaz business manager of
the schools. of San Antonio and per-
haps one of the best business minds
of the country. in a speech before the
Atlantic City convention last spring
OF our association. said:
But while administrators can and
should introduce measures of efficten-
cy, 1t should be born in mind that the
education Of the future will cost far
more when we force all pupils to take
an elementary education up to IA in
stead OF allowing 80 per cent. of them
to drop out before that age; when
we cure the conditions which cause
80 per cent. Of the pupils to drop out
OF school before they have completed
the high school. It will cost more
that one-fourth the population, as re-
vealed by army tests, will not be ig-
norant OF the English language. It
will cost more when education is made
the University. as recommended by
the N, q. A."
Statistics from the Department of
Education at Washington show that
money spent by the average city of
the country goes for education and
two thirds for police. fire, health and
charity.
Education Only Cure.
Education Is the only cure for the
ills Of society, and let us pay fair
price for 1T and let US have plenty
of 1.-THE more we have Of It the less
will be the tax burden caused by
crime and charity.
1t is far more economical to spend
a. million dollars for school houses
than to build states prison or
feformatory for ten times less.
It is more humane to cure than to
punish. Retardation ts far more eco
nomfca1 than to let the moron run at
large. It is a greater feat of char
fly to educate than to feed.
In sum ming up then, the following
IS recommended to your consideration
for the future:
THAT in the preparation of the
budget for the new year provision be
made for the free transportation OF
NAL School.
2.-T.at legislation be considered
for better income from state re-
sources, for school support, thereby
tightening the local Taxpayers bur-
den.
3-That legislation be considered
whereby all school grants be made
payable direct to the local Boards OF
4-That legislation be considered
whereby the Board of Education may
be empowered to levy Its own tax and
to refer by referendum their wants
for new buildings.
5.-That your board recommend to
the proper authorities the advisabilfty
of placing SO per cent. of the income
now received from schools into the
city contingency fund for protection
to it's school plant from fire. The in
come from schools now averages
100000 a; year.
6.-That as suggested In the last
three years the establishing of De-
partment Bureau of Records and At
tendance, taking over the matter of
truancy now handled by the police de-
partment-
THAT the Book of Rules Of this
be revised as soon as pos
sible.
s.-That Is reply to the question
asked me- at various times by various
board members, in regard to what
school funds should be controlled by
school lunch rooms, all book stores
and moving picture consignments be
so controlled. I do not believe any
other school fund can come under
the Jurisdiction of the board. Nov
ing pictures should be free to all stu
dents Lunch rooms should be equip
ped, furnished and operated by the
board and fee to cover the cost or
food be charged to all. Book store
bills should be paid by the board ana
a s1,fficient sum charged the students
to cover the cost
Before the close of the present
calendar and fiscal year this board
will by virtue of recent legislation be
again reduced in membership to six
persons.
1 recommend that in reorganization |
hat Won make three members con- |
,titute the Committee on Schools. the
-anking committee of the Board and |
hat Finance, School Buildings, and |
Supplies be assigned to one commits |
sioner each. I believe this would |
nave a greater tendency to efficiency |
1T. L.