The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-17
Treasurer's Report Shows Organization
 In Sound Condition
Executive Board and Directors Chosen at Annual Meeting-Yearly Reports Submitted - Schools
 Cost Town About $l l8,OOO Educating l,69l

Day school is a pay school, and again the town Is saved the cost of the education of its scholars.
 The superintendent of schools report issued September 28, 1893 says:-
 "The cost of education per stu dent in average daily attendance at the high school la styear was $112.79. This was $25.15 less than the year preceding, and less than the average in the state the pre- ceding year, which was $151.37.
 "The cost of education per pu- pill in average daily attendance in the elementary schools last year was 5 :.95. This was $9.81 less than the cost the preceding year. and less than the state average, which was $90.72.
 There were 12O towns and cities in the state in 1931-32 where the cost of elementary education was greater than in Watertown, and only 48 where the cost was less. Of these 38 were smaller towns"
 If Watertown spent $38.58 per high school pupil less than the state average, and 1t spent $23.77 lyess per elementary school pupil than the state average it is clear that with other state schools our expenses are very low. In fact, Watertown schools cost the town $19,000 less last year than they did the year before. reduc- ton tf almost 15 per cent. This seems to use the answer to some who have suggested that the schools were spending too much money. In fact, 1t is question whether they are spending enough money.
 The school board has the diff culty of deciding whether to try to lower the town taxes by reduc- ing the cost of schooling, or whether to improve it's educational by spending more money. We believe the school board would be the first to agree that a larger budget would be a great help in improving school conditions. It would make possible moro equip m ment, books, an dmaterials; more teachers could be ob- tained, and classes c0ul abe brok- en into small groups, If additional teachers could be paid for. Un- fortunately these things cost money, for the best schooling is usually the more expensive schooling, and 1t cannot be obtained at the low est price. This doesn't seem to be the proper. time to increase town taxes in order to provide the schools with a larger budget. It Is clear that middle road should be taken, and considering the
 ecessity of lowering expenses with out To ing standards, we believe the school board has done an ex- cellent job.
 2. Comparative Rating of Watcr-
 town Schools with Other Schools,
 Towns and Cities
 Many statements have been made regarding the rating of Watertown public schools, and the standing of Connecticut among other states of the country. It has been said for example, that "Watertown rank tho lowest in the state" We find no basis of fact to support any such figure; nor do we find that any figures are exist ent, or ever have existed which could give rise to such figure. The state board of education tells us that there has never been any of schools. The only fig ures that exist, which could pos- sibly be used for such q comparison, are standard examination tests, such as those given in the eighth grade. Last year the Watertown average was 140 against the gen. eral average of 120 all over the country.
 Tn another comparative test (Stanford Achievement tesD also given to the eighth grade, Water towns average last year was 100.6 against the normal average of 93.5. We see nothing in these figures with which to criticise the Water- town schools as compared with the average.
 The statement has been rather freely made that all Connecticut schools are low in comparison to others of the country, and that Connecticut is very near the bot tom in illiteracy. We quote below the statement of William c. Carr, the director of the Research Di- vision of the National Educational 
 No simple formula for measur- ing state school efficiency has yet been discovered, although various research agencies have been study Ing the problems since 1918. The factors Involved are so compll- cated and differ so greatly from state to state that the exact meas- uremcnt of state school efficiency must remain 6 problem for tho future.
 However, 1t Is naturally possible to name a number of factors which are generally conceded to be close- ly related to the efficient function. ing of school system.
 1. The proportion of children reached by the schools.
 3. The holding power of the schools.
 9. The salaries paid teachers.
 4. The school environment.
 5. The per cent of literacy.
 No attempt should be made to combine the data on these five factors into n singl' eindex number, or rank"
 1.---According to MT Carr's fig- ures, Connecticut ranks 9th among all the states in school attendance. It has SC Ia per cent of possible attendance.
 (Watertown, using the same fig- uring, would be 70 per cent.)
 2.--The ability to hold pupils during the nges of 14 to 17 is a good indication of efficiency. but In m industrial state this figure Is apt to Do high. because many boys leavo school carly to get jobs. Connecticut is low in this respect, and takes fortleth place.
 3.--cOnnectlcut's salaries are high In comparison to other states. and Connecticut ranks firth In this regard.
 4.---Money invested in school property ia an indirect measure of tho school environment, COnnoc- tlGut iH fourth of all tho states in tho union In this respect.
 5,--Llteracy liability Co read nnf wrilol Co very greatly affected by lminlErntlOn. Therefore, if wo aiO eonuidsFing simply tho prob. lem from a school point Of VloWs