The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1940-10-25
School System, An Issue
Of Vital Importance

Experience is mans greatest teacher.
There can be no quarrel with that state
ment. for it is a universal truth. We sell
dom. il ever, forget what we have learned
by experience.
One of the most bitter experiences the
people of Dayton, as parents and as mem
n bers Of progressive community, have
ever suffered through. in the full glare of
merciess publicity from the rest Of the ma
ton, came as a result Of the public school
crisis of 1888
It is something none Of us will ever
forget. However, it served one very use
ful purpose. The closing of the Dayton
schools for lack of funds awoke the people
Of this city to greater consciousness of
the operation of the school system, and its
effect on the education and preparation Of
the children Of the community for lifes
problems and opportunities.
The public school crisis of 1888 is an
important issue today in the campaign
for the governorship between Governor
Brcker and former Governor Davey.
The school system is an issue of vital inn
portance, taking rank with relief, old-age
penscns and Jobs, because, as a great
writer once put it, Education is the life
insurance Of democracy.
Thus We examine the record.
We found that Daveys operation of the
school system resulted in an $l8,00000O
deficit which he left for Governor Bricker
to pay Because of this deficit, Davey
failed to meet the school foundation pay
ments, and local boards Of education were
forced to borrow money to keep the
schools open Interest had to be paid on
this money.
Davey was. severely censured for this
failure by the Ohio Education Association.
which made the following statement,
This interest paid by boards of education
from their local tax receipts Is money that
ought TO be spent for current school needs
in promoting the education welfare of the
children of the state. Instead it is a toll
levied against childhood opportunities to
save the face of the state government.
Here is Governor Bricker's record on
the same issue.
In the first year Governor Brlcker paid
S3,OO0,0OO on the deficit, and an equal
sum will be paid by the end of this year.
He also paid S246,O0O interest on Davey's
deficit
While he was paying on the deficit and
interest, Governor Bricker's operation OF
the school system was SO efficient, he was
enabled to pay $10,O00,000 more TO the
schools in his first year than Davey did in
his last year The schools Of Montgomery
county, in Bricker's first year, received
1921 .53285 more than they received in
Davey's last year, and this money was re-
ceived in cash, in full, and when due, for
the first time
The net result is that the schools of Ohio
have been revitalized.
The contrast between the Bricker and
Davey administrations Is emphasized when
statements BY the Ohio Education Associ-
alton regarding both administrations are
examined. We quoted statement above
by the Association made in 1898, when
Davey was governor, Mr.. Walton Bliss,
secretary Of the association, said this N
1910 about the Bricker administration OF
the school system, For the first time, suf-
ficient revenue has been on hand for
school purposes at the time quarterly pay
P. @. Box 464, Batavia, O.
ments ars 4sa."
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