The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-10-20
IN FAIRNESS TO
RURAL SCHOOLS
By N. D. Showalter, President State
Normal School

No plan Of educational develop
ment can properly be considered by
this state which does not take into
consideration the needs of the rural
schools. All of our rural communi-
ties, especially the great wheat field
counties, have much smaller citi-
zenship according to area, and it is
at once evident that the problem of
the rural school becomes more diff
ficult when there is a constant de-
crease of population rather than a
growth and increase in the number
of people.
The rural communities of the state,
especially the wheat field counties,
have always paid more into the state
fund for public school education than
they have received back under the
present plan of state apportionment.
To a certain degree, this may be
fair and proper. That is to say, the
taxable wealth of the state may well
be called upon to pay equally for the
maintenance of our public schools;
provided always that the distribution
of the school revenues thus raised be
apportioned on a basis which will
provide for the largest possible de-
gree of equality.
Under our present means of dis
| tribution-the plan of which was ar
ranged to meet the pioneer needs of
| the state-the rural communities fail
| to receive a Just portion of the states
current school fund. True, we have
| the Barefoot School Boy Law, but
the two thousand days attendance
| which is used as a basis gives the
| rural school only a small amount of
revenue. 1t does not guarantee suf-
ficient funds to insure a good school.
The proposed "30-10" plan, as rep
resented by Initiative No. 46, changes
the plan of distribution as we'll as
the plan of levying taxes. Using the
state as a unit for raising fifty per
cent of the revenue required for pub
lie education, that portion of oul
school revenue is placed on a per.
fectly squitable basis
/ The proposed "30-10" plan distrib
utes these taxable revenues, obtained
: on a statewide basis, equitably tt
the schools afar as well as to tn,
schools near the line. The distribu
: ton is the same for other wealth o.
the state. What can be fairer thar
this? If the state, as an administra
] | tive unit, is to undertake to do it
duty and perform its obligations t,
our public schools, it ought then t,
{ | furnish at least one-half of the rev
! enue costs. In doing this it woul
1 tax wealth on an equal basis through
out the state, and distribute it on al
Iequal basis wherever children are t.
j be educated in the state. At tn
e present time taxes are collected i
= this way for all of our penal an
eleemosynary institutions. for publ
n highways, for reclamation service
for military. and for all state inst
buttons. So the proposed plan is a
accepted policy of financing-sounC
equitable, advisable, fair. Unless tn
state wishes to shift its responsible
ity, it should consider public schot
financing second to none in import
ance.
The new plan of distribution pre-
: posed would increase the amount q
y, money given to the rural commun
: ties very materially. Instead of tw
hundred and eighty dollars in a,
q cordance with the present plan {
apportionment, each rural scho,
would receive five hundred and thiI
q ty dollars plus twelve cents per da
" for each child's attendance. It
readily seen, then, that the revenu
would be more than doubled and thu
the amount thus provided would ei
able each rural school district to HAY
. a nine months term with sufficiel