Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1922-05-15

the High School. The increase may
be explained this way: In the graded
schools, West Side, South Side and
East Side, we had several mex
perienced teachers who were paid
$4,000 per month for that reason.
This year their salaries will be
raised to conform to the merit OF
the respective teachers. If young
teacher has made good she should
be encouraged by reasonable in
crease in salary.
THE cut in the payroll at the
High School is explained as follows
The school course for the past year
has had a number of electives, such
as French. Sociology, Psychology or
Pedagogy, Commercial Branches and
other similar branches. Now in or
der to meet the stringent demands
| of economy it is propOsd that only
such branches of study be taught
as will meet the absolute require
ments; the fundamentals, such were
| taught in the old time academies.
This will reduce the teaching force
from nine teachers to five, thereby
saving considerable sum.
The question might be asked and
| wisely SO. What viii be the effect of
n reduction? Will we lose our
standing among other accredited
schools? Not by cutting down the
electives or the non essentials for
entrance into colleges. Certainly
| not. The serious thing is the cut
ting down of the term from nine
to eight months, and / want to say
right here that is dangerous. We
should have nine months term
Anything else in my opinion would
be disastrous economy. To reduce
salaries in a wholesale manner would
| also be disastrous, and conducive of
bringing about a cheap school"
Now the total expenses this year
for teachers and janitors are ap-
proximately 100000, or it would
| have been that sum had not certain
changes been made. The proposed
budget for the year 1929 for
teachers and janitors will be $31,-
45500, making saving of ST.
$40 90, which saving will meet the
payroll for two months. This saw
| ing is brought about by reducing
the faculty at the High School and
dispensing with the superintendent
in order to meet the rigid demands
of the time If we have an eight
months session instead OF nine the
entire sum would be $27, 10000.
However, an eight months session
would be disastrous in my opinion.
THE estimated miscellaneous eX
penses are 100000 and are made
UP as follows:
| ESTIMATED cost of coal, $1,000;
| Kindling, $4,000; Interest on $65,-
100000 bonded Indebtedness, $4,000;
one bond, $4,000; interest on notes
at banks, $4,000; disinfectants, oils
and janitor supplies, $500 100; plumb
ling and other repairs, 100000; sew
ers and paving taxes, $4,000; To-
tai, 100000.
This item remains about the same
each year Sometimes some fuel
| is left lover and that, of course,
will lessen the expenditure for the
| next year.
THE proposed budget as now
lplanned for the year 192223 is well
within the income, but the eXpendi-
ture for 1921-22 is in excess of our
income. We will not have any in
come from the voluntary ten mill
| tax payment, or to say the least of
| it, it will not exceed 100000. We
will have no back tax payments
this year to help us meet the pay
troll.
Let us summarize: When school
begins in September, 1922, we will
owe the banks something like $10,-
10000, and have no money with
which to meet the first payroll.
just as well be frank about it.
| However, Paragould is not the only
town bankrupt and in this condi-
ton. It is prevalent all over the
country. The Central High School in
Washington city has three sessions
per day in order to meet the crowd
ed conditions, s. The fact lis ip Para.
gould we are 4 lttfle over, one year
behind, and the problem TO be soly-
ed is what arrangements can be
made to finance the schools until
the taxes are collected in the spring
lof 1923. This must be answered
within the next few days or we will
fill our schools with inexperienced
teachers. Those teachers of expert
ence will not want to wait until
school begins before knowing where
they are going to teach or whether
Paragould will have school or not.
Il believe the citizens of Para
LIQUID VIII arise to meet the de-
mands of the time. Let us rid our
selves of every weight which may
hinder lis and meet the issue square
ly, and solve il as the people of
Paragould have done before. The