Evening star., 1945-01-25
Virginia Commission
Suggests Division
OF Funds for Schools
By the Associated Press.

RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 25.-A
division of public school costs on
the basis of approximately $26, ,O00,-
900 from the State and $24, ,000, 900
from the localities is suggested by
the Denny School Commission's
Committee on Financing Education
as means to reach the recommend
ed goal Of $5o,0oo,0 900 annually for
Virginia schools.
The committee, In a report re-
leased yesterday, and on which the
commission based its recommends
ton, said that under the existing
tax structure In Virginia it seems
reasonable to assume that the major
share of this increase should come
from the State"
The committee reported to the
commission that the contribution of
localities to education during the
school year 1944-5 is estimated at
approximately $22 ,000, 900.
Arbitrary Assumption.
Your committee arbitrarily as
sumes that it is not reasonable to
expect that localities will increase
their contribution to make a total
of more than $24,0O0, 900 or $25, ,0O0, :
900 annually, thus leaving to the
State the responsibility for $25 900,
900 or $26, ,000. 900 annually"
The committee said it found thai
approximately $24 4,000, 900 would bs
produced from a local taxation ratt
Of 51a mills per dollar on the esti.
mated true wealth available fol
local taxation for the school yea
1912.
Some divisions, the report added
would have to make such large in
creases in their contributions fror
local sources that they would I'M
! 1t dificult, If not impossible, to NEE
the requirement at once. For thes
areas a system of gradual increase
was suggested.
i The committee of teachers ex
pressed the view that the Stat,
should provide first of all th,
amount needed for the efilcien
Operation of its public school sys'
tenn and should take the rest Of 1t,
income and dispose of it for ths
other activities Of the State. -
Urges Aptitude Tests.
This committee recommended
steps to improve quality Of the
work done by teachers after "ade.
quate compensation has been pro-
vided for teaching sufiicient to bring
about a competitive situation" II
suggested a careful process of selec-
uion by aptitude tests, scholastic
records and a period Of apprentice
ship as a teachers helper before
high school graduation.
The committee said 1t had data
which clearly demonstrates that
the weakest of our college students
being educated for teaching are
those being educated for teaching
in the elementary grades" while the
elementary schools constitute the
most fundamental element of State
supported education.
| The Plant and Equipment Com.
mitees said so per cent of the build
AAA6S AA V&AC -CGAAAtACS Oh uC11ClC11t IL
classrooms. 73 per cent in gymna-
Sums. 38 per cent in auditoriums
and Al per cent in sanitary toilet
rooms. In the high schools 7S PEI
cent were found to lack adequate
library rooms.
Approve Advisory Group.
The committee recommended. and
the commission adopted as its
Recommendation, that an advisory
board be set up to cooperate with
local authorities in making plan.
for sound building programs.
The Committee on Administrator
expressed the belief that the State
should place floor to inequalities
OF education, health and welfare anc
provide a minimum standard below
which no local unit, no matter how
| disadyantaRed. will fall"