The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-03-01
COST OF COUNTY PUPILS
AVERAGED S47.26 in 1927
State Superintendent Gives Av-
erage Expense for Education
Higher Than Last Year

Excluding general control and fixed
charges, the expense of educating
each white elementary school pupil in
counties last year was $47.26, an in
crease of $1.24 over 1926, Albert S.
Cook, state superintendent of schools
announced. Garrett county is one of
six that have costs in excess of $50
per pupil.
In every county in the State ex-
cept Caroline, Carroll, Cecil and Tai
bot, the cost per pupil increased in
1927, as compared with 1926, M.
Cook added.
Calvert Highest With S57.
"Costs ranged from 500 pupil in
Washington county to $57 in Calvert"
Mr.. Cook asserted. "Six counties
Calvert, Montgomery, Kent, Queen
Anne's, Garrett and Baltimore-have
costs in excess of $50 pupil. Seven
counties-Washington, Hartford, Fred
erick, St. Mary's Cecil, Somerset and
Howard-spent less than $45 for each
pupil enrolled. Nearly one-half of the
counties required an annual eXpendi-
ture of from $45 to $50 for each white
elementary school pupil"
The teachers salary item, Mr.. Cook
said, was the largest in the expense
of instructing each pupil. 1t was de-
pendent not only on the salary of
teachers but was influenced by the
size of the classes. With the exception
of St. Mary's, Allegany, Baltimore,
Montgomery and Prince Georges
counties, the eleven counties highest
in salary cost per pupil were lowest in
the size of the classes.
Despite small classes in St. Mary s
county, the average cost per pupil was
kept down by the average teachers
salary being lower than in any other
county in the State.
Salaries Up 43 Cents A Pupil.
Salaries for teachers during the last
year were increased by fortythree
cents a pupil because of the employ
ment of larger number of teachers
holding higher grades of certificates.
There were decreases in salary costs
in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline,
Carroll, Kent, Montgomery, Queen
Anne's and Talbot counties. Salary
costs varied from $30.6S a pupil in
Washington county, which ranked sec
ond in the State in the size of classes,
to $42.45 in Garrett county, which
ranked next to the lowest in size of
classes.
Supervision costs increased to SLAP
against $1.35 for 1926. Part of the
increase, according to Mr.. Cook, is ex-
planned by the employment of an addi-
tional supervising or helping teacher
in five counties which previously had
not their full quota.
"The expenditure for supervision
varied from 73 cents a pupil in Cecil
county, which had only one supervis-
ing teacher, although it was entitled
to three, to $271 in Calvert, the small
lest county," Mr.. Cook said. "Costs
were above So in seven of the coun-
ties. Four of these-Calvert, Kent,
Queen Anne's and st. Mary's-are our
smallest counties.
Garrett county has the largest
area in the State, the largest num-
Der of one-teacher schools and tn
smallest number of pupils per teach
er, which explains the high cost of
supervision there. Carroll county
employed musical supervisor. The
cost of supervision was under $1.20 a
pupil in seven of the counties"
State Pays TwO-Thirds.
The State pays two-thirds of the
salary of each supervisor, while the
county contributes the remainder.
The counties spent an average of
1920 a pupil for books and other in
struction materials during the year.
This amount, Mr.. Cook asserted, was
9 cents less than the expenditure in
| 1926. Aside from the aid for these
purposes furnished the counties re-
ceiving money from the Equalization
Fund, the counties received from the
State for the purchase Of books and
materials approximately 81 for each
pupil enrolled.
Talbot, st. Mary's, Cecil, Washing
ton, Frederick, Worcester, Hartford,
Howard, Wicomico, Caroline and
Prince Georges counties spent from
| % to 81 cents to match each dollar
contributed by the State.
Triples State Contribution.
Montgomery county spent three
times as much as the state contributed
while Allegany and Anne Arundel
counties spent twice as much.
at would seem not too much to ex-
pect the counties at least to duplicate
the amount contributed by the State
from the fund for books and materials
in order to supply the necessary aids
to instruction." Mr.. Cook said.
The average cost for cleaning and
heating the school buildings was $3.72
pupil, or % cents higher than in
1926, Mr.. Cook added. The expense