Who Supports The High Schools?

Some weeks ago State Senator Harria and W. A. Bell. President of the Board of School Commissioners, were eonversing together upon the subject of high school education. Tlie Senator made the assertion that the children of poor people do not go to high schools, that their time is of too much value to their parents, and cannot be thus orcupied. Mr. Bell di:l nn! lo lieve this statement was correct, and he iinmediately set about to prove the fact that the children of poor parents enjoy the privileges of the high schools equally witli thoseof therich. He has received oflicial statements from twenty-one cities and towns in which high schools are maintained. From these reports the following averages are obtained : Percent, of patrons who pay noproperfy tax 13 Of tax payiDg patrons . Per cent, paying ou less than $500 38 Percent, paying on less than $1,000 50 Per cent. paying on less tlian 85,000 83 Per cent. paying ou more than $5,000 and less (han $10,000 8 Percent, of chililren of wulows, or parentless 1( Percent, of' children ol' manual laborera 40 Per cent. of children of proiessional men.... 11 Per cent, of children of agents, clerks and others ou salaries 20 The Indiauapolis High School shows the following: er cent. of patrons who pay no property tax 17 Percent, paying on less thau 8500 51 Per cent. paying on less than $1,000 57 Per cent. paying on leas than $5,000 77 Per cent. paying on from $5,000 to $10,000.... 11 Per cent. of the children of widows or pai entiesa 16 Per cent. of children of manuel laborera 2Í5 Per cent. of agents, clerks . and othere on salaries 21 Percent, oí children of professional men.... 8 Local school tax 7cts. Costof high school $14,415 C'o.-t on each $100 of taxablei 3ctf. These figures lead to the establishment of two facts, which are held to be of great imporfance by the advocates of the high school system. 1. That the local tax for tuition alone amounts to more, ín almost every instance, than the entire cost of the high school, tlius demonstrating that the high school is a local institution, not supported from the common State fund, butby local taxation. 2. That a vsry large proportion oí tho papua oi' the high school come f rom the homes of the poor or those in moderate eircumstance - those that pay little or no tax, who do manual labor or work as agents or clerks on salaries.