The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1924-09-26
The Increasing Cost of Schools


afford to give their time to education.
In various places one finds it charg-
ed that there is waste and extrava-
gance in the administration of our
schools. The charge often comes from
friendly sources, but as often comes
from some of the many people who
lately appear to have a special grudge
against the amount of money spent
for educational purposes. Even grant
ing that in some cases there is both
waste and extravaganza, it is peril
nent to ask if there is a greater pro-
portion of it in school matters than
IN other departments of public ex-
penditure. Doubtless some glaring in
stances of fraud and mismanagement
on the part of public officials could
be found and advertised by the school
men, if any good could come from it..
At least one further item comes up
for consideration before we decide fin
ally whether the schools are costing
too much money. That is the. fact
that our school population has greatly
increased in proportion to our general
population during recent years. Due
to wide variety of causes, America
has set premium upon an educated
citizenship. Both the common schools
and the high schools have developed
with unprecedented rapidity to meet
the demands made by increased en-
rollment. During the twenty years
previous to 1917 the high school en-
rollment increased six times as fast
as the population of our country, and
since 1917 the ratio has been greater.
This is a most significant fact, and
yet seems to be little known outside
of school circles. Within the five
years previous to 1917 the enrolment
in the elementary schools increased
35 per cent and there is every reason
to believe that, with an astonishing
increase since 1917, the year 1925 will
see double the number of children in
our elementary schools that there
were in 1910. Of course it costs money
to take care of problem like that.
1t also costs time and statesmanlike
supervision, and all of US ought to
contribute our share toward meeting
the necessity which is laid upon us
by the facts as they are. If the pres
ent rate of increase in the school pop
ulation of the country continues (as
there is every likelihood that it will)
the year 1910 will see nearly 100000
pupils enrolled in the high schools of
the country and an enrolment in the
elementary schools that will make the
enrolment of 1915 look like hand
full. Of course it takes money to han
die the situation.
In offering the above analysis of
some points raised by the writer in
"The Nevada Tax Review" we have
not spoken las he did not) of indirect
taxes. America spends many millions
year in that way, and but little is
said about it. The tobacco industry is
an example. This nation spends more
for soft drinks and chewing gum than
lit does for education. Any people
that can cheerfully spend millions Of
dollars in indirect taxes on tobacco
and that can buy without a thought
millions of dollars worth of soda pop
and chewing gum, not to speak of
other items, cannot afford to be close
fisted when it comes to education.
/ Some few years ago we did great
honor to the brave lads who shoul-
dered arms and left the comforts of
home thousands of miles behind in or
der to fight against wrong and OPP
/ preston and to keep alive in the
world a sense of national and interna-
Cional righteousness. Shall we not
now do as great honor to the lads and
lassies who take their textbooks and
lesson materials and go forth five
days a week during the happiest peri
cd of their lives to fight the forces
of ignorance and superstition Shall
we not honor them as the makers of
the America of tomorrow Shall we
not give them every help and encour-
agement possible, and if there is any
doubt give them the benefit of it Z
] But by all means, let US learn just
what is included in the statement that
our schools are costing a good deal of
money before we go before the public
with half-truths, and consequently do
harm where we only meant to do good.
MhMEC ThVCM