OCR Text |
Show The Increase In School Costs We hear much about school costs. Some say they have increased too rapidly. Others say we should be expending ex-pending more than we are for the education of our children. Who is right? Let us examine some of the facts. It is true that school costs are greater than before the war. What are the reasons for this increase? First, attendance has increased approximately ap-proximately 70 per cent since 1914. Since we have not found a way to educate ed-ucate children by machinery, an increase in-crease in attendance involves a proportionate pro-portionate increase in school expenditure. expendi-ture. Of course, we could have prevented pre-vented the growth in costs due to increased in-creased attendance, by allowing fewer few-er children to attend school or by forcing them out of school at an earlier earl-ier age. Most of us, however, would question whether such a policy would mean a real saving in the long run. Second, school costs have increased increas-ed because the dollar buys less. The 192S dollar had 5S cents purchasing power when compared with that of 1914. The dollar's loss in purchasing power applies whether one is buying a meal, an overcoat or schooling for a child. It has been necessary, therefore, there-fore, to increase the number of dollars doll-ars spent for each child in school. Could this increase have been prevented? pre-vented? Only by lowering the quantity quanti-ty or quality of schooling provided. Less well-trained teachers could have been employed. We would have constructed con-structed school buildings which were more Inflammable and less healthful. Most of us would question whether such practices would mean a real saving. When these two factors are evaluated evalu-ated increased attendance and the depreciated dollar most of the increase in-crease in school costs Is accounted for. The typical school board now has approximately 30 per cent more purchasing power with which to buy education for each child in school than it had in 1914. How docs this 30 per cent increase in what might be called the "standard of educating," compare with the Increase In our "standard of living?" Since 1914 the purchasing power of the average Income In-come of all gainfully occupied persons per-sons In the United States has increased increas-ed approximately 35 per cent. Therefore, There-fore, the increase in average income has been slightly more rapid (.hat the cost of keeping a child in school. What does this fact mean in relation to school costs? Have they increased more than they should? Answer the question for yourself. One answer which has boon given is of interest. The National Industrial Conference Board, a research agency supported by a number of groat business busi-ness organizations, recently investigated investi-gated the whole quest ion. Their Investigation In-vestigation may be summed up in the following two sentences quoted from (heir report: "The Increase In school expenditures measured in relation to school needs has not been excessive. The annual increase was less (han two per rent." o |