The Omaha guide., 1935-04-13


number of teachers received less
than $40 per month.
Local school officials were
asked to report the causes of the
financial emergency in their
school districts. Following is an
analysis Of the reasons given in
order of greatest frequency:
Delinquent or unpaid taxes.
Decrease in taxable valuation
resulting in lower returns from
general property taxation.
Drought conditions.
District carrying the maximum
current or bonded Indebtedness.
Unusual or unexpected increase
in population.
Maximum tax limitations too
low.
Insufficient State aid.
Reduced valuations due TO ac-
QUESTION of property by United
States Government.
Calamities, such as storms.
Small weak school districts.
State salary schedule requires
increased expenditures.
Nonpayment of taxes by cor
porations holding cut over lands
or abandoned mines.
"There is no reason to believe
that reports concerning all dis
,ricts in distress have been re-
ceived," according to the report.
but the data presented are more
complete concerning this educa-
tional problem than any hereto
fore presented"
Commenting on the report
Unieed States Commissioner of
Education John w. Studebaker
said. Last year the emergency
in education was relieved by the
agreement of the Relief Admin
stration to place teachers OF
schools faced with closing short
of the regular term on relief
rolls. Approximately $l4,5O0,-
900 was advanced to 80 states.
This money was used to pay sala-
ries of about 100, 900 teachers OF
3,OOO,OO0 pupils for periods rang
ing from a few days to 16 weeks.
"This year," continued Com
missioner Studebaker, "the Re
lief Admins ration placed on the
relief rolls teachers in sections of
four States; South Dakota and
North Dakota, Arkansas and Ala
bama. More recently four addi-
tional States-Oklahoma, Missls-
sippi, Florida and New Mexico
have been added to the list to re-
ceive funds for teachers IN schools
faced with closing. Fourteen adj
ditional States have applied for
aid. According to the Relief Ad-
ministrator approximately 5000
600 has already been authorized
for this purpose this year. This
authorization should not be con-
fused with the unemployment OF
needy teachers for special adult
classes and nursery schools.
Legislatures of A States are
meeting or have met this winter.
All of them have school legisla-
ton under consideration or pas
sed. One State, Ohio, has taken
action on a new school financing
program. Information reaching
the Federal Office Of Education
is that all of the States included
in this report, with the possible
exception Of Ohio, will experience
considerable difficulty in keep
ing financially distressed schools
open this spring.
Estates have not shirked their
responsibilities to education,
said Commissioner Studebaker.
"Most of the Sttaes which now
have many districts in need al
States that have for years led
the list in percentage of funds
for schools supplied from States
sources. Many States also have,
at the urgence of the Federal
Government, extended and raised
their tax system to the breaking
point to cooperate In financing
general relief. The curtailment
of school term, teachers salaries
and services does not indicate
failure of the part Of localities or
States to do what they can for
themselves. Quite the contrary.
Administrator Harry l.. Hop
kins has declared that aiding the
distressed schools through the Re-
lief Administration is not salts
factory. The difficulties Of the
FERA faces in aiding schools
have been revealed in reports to
the Federal Office of Education.
The Relief Administration was
created to aid individuals rather
than schools. Rules practicable
for individual relief prove awk-
ward when applied to a school