Evening star., 1924-09-28
BY JOHN j. TIGERT,
L. >. Commissioner of Education.


parent to the throne of
Austria, in one of the
smallest and least known countries
OF Europe, even prophets and sons of
prophets could have no real concep-
tion of the extent to which it would
prove another "shot heard round the
world"
Reviewing changes in educational
conditions in the decade since 1914,
the last year in which pre-war con-
ditions prevailed we realize that the
far-reaching effects of the World
War are not confined to changes in
| forms Of governments, natiooal bound
aries and like matters of political
and economic moment. Among the
unlooked-for changes are those in
education in the United States, which
are far greater and more fundamen-
tai than are normally expected with
the passing Of a 10-year period Our
whole educational program has been
significantly stimulated in expend-
iture, enrolment. attendance and the
like, as well as strikingly redirected
in curriculum content, methods of in
struction, in a multitude of factors
and in innumerable ways, by the
changes in our own and world wide
conditions and outlook, for which the
World War. directly or indirectly, is
responsible.
War Revealed Inemciency.
The American people have always
believed in education and in the prin-
ciple of mobilization Of all of our re-
sources for the education of all of
our children, yet laxity in living up
to these ideals has been as character
istic as our belief in them The war
was a revelation to US of educa tional
inefficiencies of which we had no
realization. Perhaps it is fair to say
that our postwar progress in educa-
tion is due not so much to changes in
or new ideals as to a stimulated eff
fort to realize old ones.
School expenditures are, of course
only one indication of the Importance
with which we regard education as a
factor in our national life, yet it can
not be regarded as insignificant that
our total expenditures for education
have increased in the period from
1914 to 1924 from s555,oT7,o00 to
1851 100000 Figures for both years in
round numbers), an increase of 1877 1
per cent. Measured in terms of per
capita contribution for education OF
our population, the amount has in
creased from S5.62 in 1914 to $1479
in 1924, or 162 per cent. We have in
creased the amount spent on each
pupil in average daily attendance
from $40 in 1914 to $S7 in 1924, ar
| increase of 1884 per cent. The great.
est increases in revenue receipts are
those from local taxes and appropri.
| ations, contributions from these
sources rising approximately s425.-
$4,000 in 1914 to approximately
1.27s.o00,oo0 in 1924, or slightly over
200 per cent. Revenues from State
permanent funds, State taxes and ap-
propriations and other sources have
increased materially, but relatively
less, the total revenue receipts repre-.
senting an increase of 1876 per cent
or total amount rising from approx
imtely $561.750,000 in 1914 to S1,6l6,-
100000 in 1924.
Teachers Better Paid.
1t is. of course. not to be overlook
ed that expenditures in 1924 are not
directly comparable to those for
1914. whether schools or other ex-
| penditures be under consideration
The diminishing value of the dollar
the inflated costs of all materials
particularly building materials and
real property; the apparent disregard
| for the old ia ashioned virtue Of thrift
| which characterizes modern life, must
| all be taken into consideration, but
! even after due allowance is made for
changed ideals and standards of liv-
| Ing the enormous increases indica te6
! are certainly not without vital and
| far-reaching significance
Among the items of special moment
/ in analyZing the cost of education is
| that of increased cost of instruction
i The past decade has seen unprece.
! dented progress toward putting our
| schools on a professional basis ir
administration, supervision and teach
! Ing. Higher standards of professional
| preparation mean higher salaries, i'm.
proved administrative practice ano
teaching methods and are secured
| only by the payment of salaries more
nearly commensurate with the re.
sponslbilities assumed and ability
| exacted from administrative and
| supervisory officers and teachers The
| aggregate cost Of instruction in sal.
| aries has increased during the decade
| approximately 1S9 per cent, aeere.
gate salaries in 1924 being represent.
| ed by an expenditure of 1896, ,O0O, 900
| an increase over that paid in 1914 TO,
| this purpose of $612,0OO,ooO (rouno
numberS).
Increased Plant Investment.
Among those elements of expense
TO which the greatest increases have
been allotted are buildings and eouip.
| ment. We invested in 1924 in schoo
| sites, building, furniture and genera
| equipment total of $325,O0O, a
nat increase over that spent for the
same purpose in 1914 of $233,3y4, 900
| or 254.8 per cent. At first blush this
seems like an enormous outlay and
might be considered. by the unin.
formed as disproportionate to our
| needs. 1t must. however, be judged
| in the light of unusual needs due to
almost complete stagnation in build
! ing during the war years and of the
| inflated cost of material, workman
| ship and every factor involved in
! building Immediately following. II
! is also concerned with our changing
conception of the relationship OF
| hygienic and sanitary provisions to
the health of children, to new ideals
and increased knowledge of the nit
moss with which buildings should be
adapted to the new kind of instruc-
tion and the enriched curricuIums
being introduced in our schools as
well as to our knowledge of school
architecture and it's place and in
f1uence in our educational program.
Ideals and practice in these respects
have undergone an evolution in the
past decade.
OF greater significance, however,
than data concerning expenditures
| are those showing enrolment and at
tendance at schools Of elementary
| and secondary grade and higher in
stitutions. The increases may be ac-
counted for on the basis of better
realization of our shortcomings in
providing educational facilities on a
universal scale. to our increased ap-
probation of the value of education in
promoting the general welfare and
productiveness of the Nation and to
better legislation for the manage
ment Of schools, particularly in such
matters as concern administrative
systems. compulsory attendance, and
the like. The facts laid bare by wal