The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-01
brown COUNTY
SCHOOLS Face
BANKRUPTCY
Teachers Go Without Pay,
Roofs Leak, and Debts
Pile High.
STATE AID IS SORE NEED
Necessity May Arise for
Turning Pupils Loose
in Woods
BY ARCH STEINEL

BY ARCH STEINEL
Brown county schools are going
bankrupt--flat broke-with no hope
of relief until the deficit in the state
school aid fund is eradicated.
Forty-five miles from the state
Hapitol, where legislators, among
other things, are seeking means Of
compelling the wealthy counties to
lelp educate the children of the
,ounties with low taxation valla-
lions, children are going to school
IN buildings with facilities scarcely
comparable to the old log school
houses of Lincoln's day. The log
houses at least kept out the wind.
And in Lincoln's time they paid
the teachers salaries now and then.
Some Brown county teachers worked
all last year and didn't get their
salaries until this school year
opened.
Need Is Acute
Brown county is cited as one of
the startling examples of the failure
of the state aid system-1,173 pupils
of the five township school corpora
tions and the city school of Nash
vile, county seat, may be turned
loose to the only study that doesn't
cost a dime-the study of the flora
and fauna of the county's beautiful
hills. .t.r
The county's acute need for funds
are summed in these findings:
That the Nashville State bank
holds notes-noteS that have been
renewed for several years-amount-
ing to $4,000 on money lent to the
five township school corporations
and its own city schools for meet
ing yearly school expenses. ,g..t
That teachers are working daily
who have received but $50 pay since
Sept. 10.
That w. G. Goble, superintendent
of the Nashville city schools. has
not drawn a penny OF his $500
yearly salary since the opening of
school.
That Miss Eudora Kelley, teach
er in the commercial department. of
the Nashville schools, has not re-
ceived recompense for her services
for this school year.
That township school roofs are
leaking seriously.
Schools Going Bankrupt
Authority for the statement that
the school corporations are going
bankrupt is w. l.. Coffey. cashier
of the Nashville State bank and
trustee for the school funds of
Nashville. Coffey is former county
school superintendent.
At trustees meeting Tuesday
in the Office of Grover E. Brown,
county superintendent, it was shown
that in Van Buren, township, with
eight elementary and three high
school teachers, the eight elementary
teachers had received but $50 apiece
on their $500 yearly salary since
opening Of school. Two of the high
school teachers have received $50
each and the third $3.50.
The Story and Pixies Peak schools
in Phillips township have such leaky
roofs that it was necessary to bore
holes in the floor to permit rain
water to drain while school Is in
session.
At the Greasy Greek school IN
Jackson township, class of fifteen
has dwindled to five. Cold air
crawls through chinks in the side
walls. ~
Maps, Books Antiquated
In the Green Valley school, WASH
ington township, Miss Virginia
Leonard has not received pay for
two months. The building needs re-
pairs.
Anticipated maps, reference books
long out of date, board blackboards
not slates-are used in many Of
the schools.
In addition to going into the red'
at the banks by borrowing money,
each township owes for hauling
children to schoo bills ranging from
several hundred dollars to $1,000
The eductors in the pink-colored
are either fortunate or
The "fortunate' ones
nave. other relatives supporting them
until the educational pay dav comes,
the 'unfortunates" harass the trus-
tees until they get $50 here. maybe
$50 in a couple Of months.
and thereby pay off boarding house
With the county's state aid de-
nand for this year set at approx
nately $4,000. it is expected that
30 per cent will be cut. adding to
FAC htownship's increasing indebt-
sdnesS.
What can we do?" remarks a
county official We've taxed every
hing but the scenery-and we can't
AK it-for If we keep going in debt,
ven have to give our children the
scenery for an education-by closing
he schools and turning them into
he woods"