The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-24
Surrey Reveals Plans Under
Which Schools Managed Are
Backward and Too Hdphdzdrd
Fundamentals Dealt at Length in Report Which Will BE
Submitted TO Legislature-Standards of City and
Rural Schools to Be the Same

a. a defective system Of tax.
alton.
'2. A syrtsm ~ school finance
which makes 81 absolutely impoa-
gible to provide adequate school
funds
"3 The district system.
"I An uns.lruufr method ~
upuuriIoulng tNr state funds,
which ignores both mo ability ma
the effort OF the local units.
There So not n state 10 the union
which can provide adequate school
facilities under a system which dee
ponds for three f0urths of her
revenue from schuol dlgtrlctg and
which limits those districts 10 a l6-
mill or even a a0-mil tax" says
the report,
State should iicnr Most Expenses.
Tho commission recommends that
the state should bear from Go 90 10
per cont ot the support Of all
schools Schools are seen ms state
institutions. from the highest to tho
lowest.
public education is a function or
the state, ana public schools are
state, not local, Institutions" the re-
port declares mot only So okla
homa today throwing the major
portion Of her school burden upon
tho most unequal of all possible
units, but the tendency throughout
her history has been for the state to
contribute "a less aud less proportion
OF tho school funds and thus 20 force
the district 10 assume II heavier and
heavier burden
The unit referred to IL the school
district.
The report recommends that the
school districts of oklahoma as now
constituted bo entirely done away
with, and suggests that schools be
reorganlzcd on the basis OF county
units.
Inequalities I'm school burden in
different districts and counties, In
equalities in ability to provide school
moneys. inequalities iu effort. in
cqualitics In length Of school year
and In educational opportunities Of
fcred to the children of Oklahoma;
this Is, IN a nutshell, the story OF
public education in Oklahoma to-
day" says the report.
with reference to the abolition Of
the school districts the report says:
Abolish All Districts.
"Oklahoma may temporiZe with
the present situation, she may re-
duce the existing evils, but she cam
not cure them unless, or until, she
abolishcs the district system with
it's legion OF accompanying evils. Tho
condition OF Oklahoma, so far as
public education Is concerned, Is
pathological 1t can not be cured
without major operation.
"The major operation 1t requires
IS the abolition Of the school district
. Er.e .atr1, ,isrF.H F.,f
| and administration, This fact may
as wcll Ee faced frankly. There IS
no reason for hiding the truth from
| the citizens"
| Al limits would be removed from
! school taxation, If the recommen-
datiuna OF the report are followed
| A minimum county school tax OF u
mills would be established, and
| counties would be given taxing and
| bonding powers for school purposes,
| the money TO be spent on a pre-
| tencher" basis County school
| budgets would be made an obligatory
| part of the system.
A state graduated income tax Is
| suggested as means OF raising state
| funds for schools, tho schools and
| educational institutions 20 have first
claim on tho proceeds OF the tax.
state tax commission Is seem as an
| immediate necessity. and school
| taxes would be revised bicnnially 10
produce adequate revenue and iusu-
| tutlons subsidized by the state.
state funds would be provided 90
grant special educational aid to en-
courage consolidation of schools. 10
provide free textbooks, free trans
portation OF students and the en-
ployment OF school officers OF quail
II l.. tyHTt tf
minimum. New and progressive