The Subvention in the State Finances of Pennsylvania

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919. Excerpt: ... The total subvention for all purposes amounted, for the period 18601873 to $325,222.94 It is scarcely possible that the state could have established and maintained eight schools for that amount, if it had undertaken to administer them directly. As has been pointed out, the subvention was very complex. In some cases it was conditional, in others unconditional. The financial accountability of the trustees was very slight. On the other hand, the power of the state superintendent to supervise the methods of instruction and other details of the conduct of the schools was very great. How effectively this power was exercised cannot be determined. Much must have depended upon the man who occupied the office of state superintendent. Two desirable restrictions were placed upon the grant for the assistance of teachers. It was provided that all students drawing an allowance from the state should receive instruction in the science and the art of teaching for the whole term for which the allowance was drawn. It was also required that the examination of graduates should be conducted by a board of professional educators, appointed by the state superintendent, only one of whom might be connected with the school whose students were being examined.95 The state superintendent was clearly given the power by the latter provision to set, in a large measure, the standards of proficiency for the graduates of the various schools. Here again it is impossible to ascertain the quality of the control actually exercised. Subventions To Other Educational Institutions Subventions to privately owned educational institutions, other than normal schools, were neither numerous nor important during this period. Several grants of large amounts were, it is true, made to medical colleges, and to ...

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