Evening star., 1933-02-03
Schools Must Be Efficient,
Declares Press OF Country

extravagances and dollars have not al
ways been compelled to render full
service. AS the economies are effected,
however, we must not lose sight of the
basic value of education, its absolute
necessity if We are TO advance and
progress. Some frills may go and costs
may be pared, but the fundamentals of
our educational system must remain"
X X
"The survey that began its inquiry,
at the direction of Congress" observes
the San Antonio Express, now points
to grave risks of retrogression. That
body found areas where schools are dis
tinctly inferior and other areas where
schools are ceasing to exist To be
sure, in many parts-and particularly
in much of the back country-the school
system never has been up to standard
Even during prosperous years equality
of educational opportunity was a live
issue in most States. AS the experts
assert. no State has provided such
equality; but some have progressed
notably toward the goal "A funda-
mental change required today says the
survey report, is the transfer of the
burden from the local communities to
the entire State North Carolina did
that IN large measure two years ago, In
reorganizing its whole system of State
and county government. The new school
law there provides for State support,
at State standards of costs Of the con-
stitutional six months term in every
district. The school fund is to be de-
rived from sources other than a tax
on land. In practice, the new method
OF financing the school has resulted in
lower operating costs and has decreased
both State and local property taxes.
More efficient organization and more
equitable distribution of the available
school fund brought about the improve
ment. Any State well might follow that
example"
IN Maryland" as reported by the
Baltimore Sun, I'VE have granted that
the abolition of downright illiteracy is
necessary measure of social santa
tlon, and If any local community is too
poor to provide that minimum of educa-
tlon the State steps in and supplies the
lack. But how much further Is the
State to go? On the decision of this
question may depend the solvency or
bankruptcy Of the State. If it is left to
the political pedagogues to define 'ade-
quate education, they will ruthlessly
strip the State Of its last dollar, for they
have never yet had enough. As Presi-
dent Ames of the Johns Hopkins Uni
Verslty recently pointed out. almost
anything can be called education, for q
wise man learns from everything he
sees. hears and feels, and even fools
can learn in the costly school Of expert
ence. And if the definition of 'ade-
quate' education is left to the political
pedagogues they will come very near
including everything"
THE boy and girl" says the Port
land Oregon Journal, ARE more precious
than timber, more precious than profits,
more precious than mortgages, more
precious than city blocks. When you
pull down your educational system you
strike blow at your own children and
your children's children, their future,
their happiness and their destiny" The
Miami Daily News concludes: "It will
be well to remember that public school
education in 1915 cost four times as
much as in 1880, yet less than one
fourth as much as 1t does today in the
United States. The taxpayer still may
be excused for asking, Am I getting
my moneys worth?'"