An Economic Measure of School Efficiency

As the summer of 1911 approached, the influential Educational Review gave educators something grim to muse upon as they prepared to clean out their desks: "Must definite reforms with measurable results give way"[p.36], it asked, "that an antiquated school system may grind out its useless product ?"[p.36] The magazine demanded quantifiable proof of school’s contributions to society—or education should have its budget cut. The article, titled An Economic Measure of School Efficiency, charged that "The advocate of pure water or clean streets shows how much the death rate will be altered by each proposed addition to his share of the budget. The favorable or unfavorable results of each past measure are clearly presented and a definite warning given to officials of the cost of neglect. Only the teacher is without such figures."[p.36] An editorial in Ladies Home Journal reported that dissatisfaction with schools was increasing, claiming "On every hand the signs are evident of a widely growing distrust of the effectiveness of the present educational system in this country."[p.1] In Providence, the school board was criticized by the local press for declaring a holiday on the Monday preceding Decoration Day to allow a four-day vacation. "This cost the public $5,000 in loss of possible returns on the money invested," readers were informed.¹