The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-03-24
FINANCES REAL
PROBLEM THAT
SCHOOLS F ACE
Boise Educator Digs In
to Educational Ques-
tons Now Before the
United States.

Adequate finances for our educa-
tional system is the biggest problem
before America today" declared P. ].
Zimmers, Boise school superintendent,
before the Caldwell Kiwans club
Thursday.
According to recent report by the
bureau of census, Mr. Zimmers said
there are today 227 American cities of
more than 10000 population and of
these, l27 had school deficits. These
deficits are piling UP day by day with
no visible source of increased revenue
Yet the public is always willing to
bond more bond issues, to pay more
taxes to insure good schools, Mr. Zim-
mer told his audience.
Basis of Democracy.
The one big reason for high cost of
the American educational system in
the United States, Mr.. Zimmers said,
is the fact that it is free to every child
resident of this country Today more
boys and girls are attending American
high schools than are attending high
schools in all the other nations of the
world combined When the United
States in 1887 undertook free educa-
ton as nation policy and birthright
of every child, the present day ex-
pansion of the educational system
was not anticipated nor was it's cost
reckoned
Yet, despite this cost, the nation
must continue to support its schools,
in the opinion of Mr.. Zimmers. DE
mocracy," he said, lis founded on the
school system. Autocracy grovels the
poor and ignorant underfoot, demo-
cracies depend upon an enlightened,
intelligent people,"
Schools Grow Rapidly.
Despite the rapid growth of Am
erican schools systems, this is a ma
ton of sixth graders, Mr.. Zimmers
declared. Yet great progress is be-
ing made in lengthening the school
period of the young persons school
life. In 1910, the average school at
tendance per child in the United States
was 200 days, today it is 400 days.
American population has doubled in
the past 80 years but the attendance at
American high schools has increased
six times in the same period. From
1906 to 1914, the number of American
high schools increased from 5000 to
5000.
Despite the vaunted supremacy of
the American system of popular edu-
cation, the question has its darker side,
Mr.. Zimmers said, in discussing the
teaching problem. No nation in the
world has just poorly equipped teach
erS. Today not more than 20 per cent
OF American teachers are high school
graduates with two additional years
of specialized work In both France
and Germany, almost every one has
a: least this much training and in Eng
land where popular education is in
vogue, 90 per cent are that we'll train
ed. Thirty thousand persons with
only an eighth grade training are
teaching school in the United States
today.
Offers Solution.
Mr.. Zimmers complimented Caldwell
tor maintaining teachers salaries, as
sorting that only by paying good sal
aries could schools hope to attract eff
hicient and we'll trained teachers.
Offering solutions for these ques-
tons Mr.. Zimmers was far from speci
nc. Economy and first class admin
istration of schools, cooperation be-
tween the public and the schools and
government supervision of the educa-
tional system were suggestions that
Mr.. Zimmers made which might help
to meet the problem He advocated
of the Towner-Sterling bill,
now before congress, which would
create department of education with
a secretary as a member of the presi-
dents cabinet.
Education is the biggest business in
the United States. Why should it Not
have a place in American govern
ment?" he asked.