The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-15
Foreign Representatives
SMALL SPENCER, BREWER
Uncorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
Still to Be Solved

Still TO Be Solved
In the Welter of measures which
have been proposed to the legislature
it is difficult to single out one class
Of issues as more important than an.
other.
Most citizens, however, will agree
that among the leading items to bt
considered are maintenance of the
states credit, reduction of its eX-
penditureS and of the tax burden
and support OF hard-preSsed school
system.
In connection With the latter pro-
blem it is interesting to note the con-
illusions reached in a recent survey
Of school finances throughout the
country. announced by Prof. Paul r
Mort Of Columbia University.
1t found that the poorer local
communities" have faltered beneath
the present crushing burdens OF
school costs and that, as a result
schools in many districts are distinct
~ inferior. Hear what he says:
Thousands of communities
throughout the country, find
themselves unable. under present
methods Of taxation, to make
even elemental provision for the
care and education of their chill
dren and youth. Scores of thou
sands Of youths of high school age
are wandering about the country.
An even larger number, including
hosts Of younger children. are
suffering from mal-nutrition and
inadequate care in both rural and
urban sections. So serious arc the
dangers to American children and
to public welfare that immediate
steps should be taken by state leg
islatures to prevent the deepen
ing Of the disaster"
Here are the committee findings in
the order in which this expert lists
them:
Il. In most states the econo-
mic ability of the local school dis
trict determines the program of
child welfare in the district; and
In thousands of localities this
ability is too low to provide prop
er care and education for chill
dren.
2. In most states there eX-
listed, even at the peak OF prosper
ity, areas In which educational
opportunities We're of the most
meagre type.
3. A century ago, when the
battle to transfer the costs OF ed
ucation from individual parents
to the whole local community was
won and resulted in that system
OF free public education which be-
came basic in American life and
ideals, the local community was
able to bear the burden. Drastic
social change, however-especial-
~ that which has taken place
during the last Is years-not only
has thrown greater responsibility
upon public education in the rear
ing OF healthy and law-abiding
children but has seen the local
community less and less able to
bear the cost of this responsibility.
Wealth has been concentrated in
the great urban centers and in
the hands Of relatively small
number of persons.
4. A fundamental change re-
quired is the transfer of the bur-
den Of support of education from
local communities to the entire
state.
IS. The property tax is over.
burdened. More use must be
made Of other forms Of taxation.
g. 1t Is possible to have edu-
cation financed by the individual
state without removing control Of
teaching and the curriculum from
the local community.
~. Increased local efficiency
In education will come through
the further grouping OF small,
inadequate school districts.
q. No state In the Union
eQualises the educational tax bur-
den satisfactorily. No state can
hope to do 50 unless 1t abandons
the obsolete principle Of throw
ing whole tax burden upon local
communities.
-. New York, Delaware, Mary.
land, North Carolina. Missouri
and California ars examples Of
states that approach the ideal
more closely than the majority
Of the states"
Some Of the conclusions apply to