Milford chronicle., 1934-02-23
The School Situation

Z III q vi NhC SAkNN " 49,
economic crisis on education In the
United States, Commissioner Of Ed
ucatiOn George F.. Zook says thai
this year, more than at any time IN
our recent history, the quality anC
even the existence of schools IN
many communities is at stake.
While it has been perhaps a little
slow in striking, without a doubt the
worst blow struck by the depression
has been felt by our schools. Like q
dreaded plague the depression or its
after effects is sweeping over the
| whole country closing our schools
by the thousands. In November. 1882
there we're only 40 schools in the
entire nation that were actually
closed. But by April l of last year
there were 5,S25 closed. Hundreds of
others closed before the end of the
( year and nearly 1000 rural schools
in "a states failed to open last fall.
/ So far no city public schools are re-
ported closed but many private and
parOchial schools are closing. More
than 16 institutions of higher learn
ing have closed and estimates indi-
cate that 1.50G commercial schools
and colleges have closed. In some
communities, because of lack of
funds, free public schools have be-
come tuition schools. Also because
of lack of funds one of every four
cities has shortened its school term.
More than 700 rural schools are eX-
peCted to run less than three months
this school year.
In normal years, surveys have
shown approximately 1,659.OOO chill
dren six to 13 years old are not in
school, This year due to the closing
of so many schools because of lack
of funds another 100000 children
are deprived of educational Oppor-
tunities. In addition to these there
are the 521, 200 children between the
ages of IA and Is who do not attend
school in normal years. This makes
a grand total of more than 2,2S0.00O
American children of school age who
are not in school.
Reductions in length of terms in
schools are being made although the
terms in many of them have long
been far from adequate. In 1880 ru-
raj schools for 100000 children !
were open six months or less. This
year they will be open considerably |
shorter periods. New reductions in
terms in city schools have followed
Il succession of reductions. In prac-
tically every American city the
terms are one or two months short
er than formerly. Thus Of our 20
600, 900 children of public school age
il is estimated that only 15.750,00O |
of them will get full nine months
term at school this year. Some S.
25O,OO0 of them will go for eight
100000 for six or seven
months or less; 100000 for four or
five months and 2,28O,OO0 will have
no schooling at all.
Teachers salaries are low and go
ing lower. Few people not in the
eaching profession know how low
hey really are. Under the blanket
,ode an unskilled labOrer would re-
,eive a minimum of 1928 year. Ac-
,ording to Office of Education fig
Tres one of every four American tea
hers is now teaching for less than
$50 a year In 1890 the average an
lal salary of all school teachers in
he United States was $l.420. The
Verage for all teachers this year is
,050. In 1880 the rural teachers ,
alary average 1926. For the 193334 |
chOOl year they will be lucky if they !
verage the $3.50 previously mention
d. Some 10000 of them will receive !
ass than $500. The average for he ,
rO teachers in 1890 was $500. This I
ear many of them will get only {
100. =
Speaking of teachers-theTe are :
900 fewer teachers employed in ;
ity school today than in 1881. |
thousands more have been dismiss !
ed from private schools and col i
.ges. approximately 100000 certi- 9
ed school teachers are unemployed q
lhile businesses that increase take h
n more help, the school enroll q
tent has increased more than 1,00O.- 4
10 since 1880 but the number Of I
,achers. city and rural. has de- +
reased by more than 25,000. c
i HTte years ago lIt I Hiltu sNidltN a
Dent $10.G0O.000 every school day >
teach 25.600,000 pupils. This :
ear the school are teaching a lar =
er number of pupils on $S,500,0OO h
er school day. which is a 20 per
ent reduction. But many schools 6
re in debt and 259 school districts /
20 states have defaulted on their G
In Is states teachers fl
'e being paid in warrants cashable a
discounts, ranging from five per n
mt up. fl
Our schools are supported by tax -
on our farms. homes. stores. fac II
ries, etc. But the depression Fl
ushed real estate values in many n
lrts of the country, ruined busi-
,sses. etc. Besides, the sorry finan- "
al plight of our public schools can &,
attributed to any one or all of the a,
flowing: Topheavy mortgages. tax "
tax limitations. clos
banks, lower assessments. differ r,
ce i'm wealth and so on Path fl
der. n,