Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
YOUR CHILD
In SCHOOL
BY DR.. Frank ". BelLou,
Superintendent Of SCHOOLS. Warrington
Civic Responsibilities.


Municipalities in this country are
spending annually from one-fourth to
one.half Of their revenues on educa-
ton. The sum appropriated for that
purpose has become the largest single
item in city budgets. This means that
Individual parents, as well az commu-
mites as a whole. recognize the ire
mendous importance of training the
children of the Nation.
According TO the information pub
lished by the United States Bureau OF
Education, Kansas City. Kans.: Des
Moines, Iowa; Oakland, Calf, Grand
Rapids, Mich, among the larger cities;
Berkeley. Calf; Lincoln, Nebr.; Sioux
City, Iowa Springfield, ILL.,. among the
cities next in size; Oak. Park, ILL.,; Pom.
tiac, Mich; Hazelton, Pa: Portsmouth.
Ohio. and Charleston, w. Va. were
among the cities spending more than
20 ner cent of their total revenues for
education.
The educational problems OF the
town or the large city are much the
same, varying in degree in the proper
ton. to the number Of children who
are to be educated. Some of our larg-
est expenditures per pupil for educa-
ton are found in our small towns and
also in our large cities.
| Detroit, Mich; Boston, Mass; Yon-
kers, n. Y, for example, are expanding
| more than 800 per pupil for current
expenses. While among the smaller
cities, Bloomfield, N. j.; Missoula
Mont; Eureka, Calf; Pendleton
| Greg; Globe, Ariz.; Marshfield. Wis,
are spending more than 800 per pupil
| When the number of pupils runs
into the thousands the cost Of super
| vision and maintenance OF an educa'
! tional staff for supervisory and admin
| istrative work Is increased. Likewise,
| when the number of pupils reaches
hundreds Of thousands. as 1t does in
some OF our largest cities, both the re-
sulting complexities and the demand
for greater efficiency are increased &C
| cordingly.
The statement of the total sums ex.
pended by large cities indicates the
magnitude OF the financial problem
| faced by municipalities in providing
an efficient educational program. This
means in round numbers ranging
| downward from more than 500. O0O.'
| 900 spent annually In New York City
to Chicago, $40, 900. 900: Philadelphia,
| $50, 900 900, with somewhat under $780,
| 900 900 appropriated in such cities as
Boston. Cleveland and Los Angeles.
Washington. D. G., has an appro-
priation Of SS.e0s,S71 for operating
expenses and $2.450,o00 for buildings
and grounds for the school year be-
ginning July ], 1925.
1t Is important to point out that,
since the population in cities during
the last few decades has been increas-
| ing and the population in the smaller
towns and rural communities has been
gradually decreasing. there has been
an increase of taxable wealth in the
cities and a decrease Of wealth in the
rural communities. In many OF the
cities this has limited the financial re-
sources available for rural education.
As n result, educators and statesmen
| interested in the improvement of edu.
cation have considered ways and
means of equalizlng educational op'
portunities throughout the several cit
les. the rural communities and like
] wise throughout the Nation. Consoli'
dated schools In rural communities