Hon. ELBERT D. THOMAS, UNITED STATES SENATE, Washington, D. C., May 23, 1941. Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR THOMAS: I am enclosing herewith copy of a letter from Miss Mildred Bray, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Carson City, Nev., for insertion in the record of the hearings on S. 1313. DEAR SENATOR BUNKER: This morning I received a copy of S. 1313 from W. Alan Thody, clerk of the Senate Education and Labor Committee, who wrote me that hearings on the bill would be held the latter part of this month. I have read the bill carefully and believe that it offers the ultimate solution to some of our school finance problems in this State, particularly in Boulder City and probably in Las Vegas, and Hawthorne. With the new airport near Las Vegas, it seems quite possible that the school will be financially handicapped through the attendance of children of Federal employees who are nontaxpayers, and the same situation ensues for the Mineral County High School and the Hawthorne Elementary School because of the enlargement of the naval munitions depot. I know that you will give this bill your thoughtful consideration and aid it in every way possible. It really seems to offer future help for certain vexatious school finance problems in your State. Very truly yours, MILDRED BRAY, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Hon. ELBERT D. THOMAS, STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, Tallahassee, Fla., April 23, 1941. Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR THOMAS: I wish to take this opportunity to stress the importance of early action by Congress on legislation relating to appropriations or grantsin-aid for education in the various States. It has long been recognized by many of the leaders throughout the Nation that the resources of the Nation should be used to provide the educational facilities needed by its children and that without Federal assistance adequate educational opportunities are impossible in a number of the States and particularly in the Southern States. The present emergency involving national defense has accentuated greatly the educational problems in many areas of the Nation and has served to emphasize the need and urgency of early steps to provide Federal funds for education. The situation in Florida is particularly acute at this time. A recent study by the Brookings Institution as reported in the volume The Florida Fiscal Situation points out the fact that expenditures of the State of Florida for education constitute the largest major expenditure in the State. In spite of this fact, as pointed out by this report, at least $10,000,000 additional funds are needed on the basis of present enrollments to bring the expenditures for education in the State only to the national average. Under present conditions there is little likelihood or prospect that more than a fraction of this sum can be made available from State resources in spite of the urgent need. Florida attracts winter visitors from practically all sections of the Nation and, for that reason as well as for the benefit of its own citizens, should have school facilities which are comparable with those of any other State of the Nation. Such facilities cannot be provided on the basis of State resources alone. I should like to summarize below some of the major problems and needs in education in this State. A study of this situation should show clearly the urgency of our problems and the importance of Federal assistance. (1) There are a number of defense projects in the State which have brought thousands of people to areas where present school facilities are totally inadequate to meet the needs and where resources will not permit the expansion of those facilities. A recent tabulation, copies of which have been supplied to the United States Office of Education, shows the need of approximately $318,000 for salaries of teachers and other current expenses, $4,684, 150 for building expenses, and $146,958 for other educational needs which are not now being met in those communities. Only by Federal assistance can this problem properly be met and solved. (2) There are a number of counties in the State in which there are substantial numbers of Federal employees residing in Government property, reservations which are exempt from taxation, where school facilities have to be provided for the children. This number has been greatly increased during recent months and will undoubtedly be still further increased during coming months. In the Pensacola, Jacksonville, and Camp Blanding areas this situation is particularly acute, although there are a number of other areas in which the problem is nearly as serious. (3) Florida produces a large percentage of the winter vegetables used in the Nation. In numerous areas such as the Okeechobee region, there are large numbers of migratory workers who come largely from other States, particularly during the winter months. In many of the other vegetable-producing sections of the State, the situation is nearly as serious. The education for children of these workers is as clearly a Federal as a State responsibility. (4) With present resources, it would be impossible to increase salaries of Negro teachers in most areas of the State without reducing the salaries of white teachers. To reduce the present low salaries for any group of teachers would be unthinkable. To provide salaries for Negro teachers equivalent to those for white teachers based on training and experience would require $1,500,000 additional funds per year. In addition to salaries of Negro teachers, substantial amounts will be needed to provide more adequate buildings, better supplies, and other needed facilities for the Negro schools, in spite of the fact that proportionately greater improvement has been made in many respects in the Negro schools during the last 20 years than in the white schools. (5) As a result of tradition, greater emphasis has been placed on high schools in many areas of the State than on elementary schools. As a result, many high schools have longer terms, better facilities, and better salaries. A number of counties are now seeking to provide the same salary on the basis of training and experience for elementary teachers as for high-school teachers. In many instances this cannot be done without materially detracting from standards for the high schools. Considerable sums of money will be required to provide facilities in the elementary schools which compare at all favorably with those in high schools in many areas. In short, in spite of substantial progress and marked increases in the amount of funds provided for education in Florida during recent years, the current expenditure per child in Florida for school facilities is still approximately $30 per year less than the national average. Only when Federal funds are made available can proper standards be established and adequate educational facilities be provided for all of the children in Florida-the State which has had the greatest percentage increase in population of any State in the Union during the last decade. Yours very truly, Senator E. D. THOMAS, COLIN ENGLISH. STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: I am submitting to you a statement of the needs of Texas Schools as I see them after extended investigation. Texas is faced with a serious shortage in school buildings and equipment because of the fact that this State is caring for about one-sixth of the training program now going on over the Nation. Teachers must be supplied for the children of the families who are coming in to work in defense industries, school buildings must be maintained, and supplies furnished. 317387-41--25 The Texas Legislature has been lending its efforts toward the elimination of all inequalities in our public school system since 1915, but we lack much in having solved the problem. Many rural schools still have short terms; teachers are poorly paid hence not well trained in many instances; buildings are in need of repairs and equipment; our school libraries need many new books and trained librarians; our transportation facilities are very inadequate, and bus drivers are poorly paid. Whereas the average per capita cost of public schools (current expenditures) over the Nation is above $82, Texas spends only $63 on each child in actual daily attendance. We shall do everything within our power to assist you and other Members of Congress who are working to pass Senate bill 1313. We believe education is our first line of defense within our borders, and that the money spent for good schools will bring greater results than that spent for any other thing. We congratulate you on your stand in this matter and hope that you may be successful. Sincerely yours. L. A. WOODS, State Superintendent. STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY L. A. WOODS, AUSTIN, TEX., STATE SUPERINTENDent, STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Itemized needs of Texas schools I. For reduction of inequalities in elementary and secondary (a) To operate schools 9 months, and to more nearly 14,795 teachers are teaching 1 month's salary, at $90.. months or less, $1, 331, 550 295, 450 13, 000 7,775 teachers in rural districts teaching for 3,328 teachers in rural districts teaching for $987, 9,204 teachers in rural districts teaching for $836, (b) To provide buildings, repair buildings, and to provide 1, 509, 456 equipment. 8, 000, 000 (c) Transportation facilities: New busses needed-500, at $1,750.. 875, 000 4,525 drivers salaries, now $30 per month, to raise 814, 500 Total. 12, 838, 956 II. Increase of salaries for Negro teachers made necessary through recent Federal court decisions: III. Additional teachers for children of migratory workers—oil Attached list shows need of 240 additional teachers at Buildings and Equipment are included under I (b). IV. Educational facilities and additional teachers in defense areas, both military and industrial; and educational facilities for children of Federal employees residing on Government property and reservations: See attached list_ Additional training areas (estimated) Total__. 6, 542, 250 4, 538, 251 2, 003, 999 240, 000 14, 049, 883 7,500, 000 21, 549, 883. Itemized needs of Texas schools-Continued RECAPITULATION OF NEEDS 1. To eliminate inequalities__ 2. Salaries for Negro teachers 3. Teachers for children of migratory workers. 4. Educational facilities defense areas and reservations.. Grand total for Texas_ _ _ $12, 838, 956 2, 003, 999 240, 000 21, 549, 883 36, 632, 838 LOCATION OF CAMPS FOR MIGRATORY WORKERS AND OF LARGE INFLUX OF POPULATION Seasonal crops: Brownsville, Robstown, Raymondville, Crystal City. New Oil Development: Ødessa, Crystal City, Lamesa, Weslaco, Harlingen, Sundown, Monahans, Denver City, Hawkins, Fort Stockton, Goldsmith, Graham. Paper Mill: Lufkin. Two hundred and forty new teachers will provide for 6,720 pupils, which number is probably too low an estimate. |