1933 Publications

Probable Cash Income and Demands for Cash, City of Detroit, Fiscal Year July 1, 1933-June 30, 1934
Report 136, ( November 33 ) 4 pages

Financial Aspects of Old Age Pensions and the Poll Tax (Michigan Act No. 175, P.A. 1933)
Report 135, ( November 33 ) 33 pages

Analysis of the Debt of the City of Detroit as at February 28, 1933
Report 134, ( March 33 ) 23 pages

Local Relief to Dependents (State Commission of Inquiry)
---, ( January 33 ) pages

Township Government and the Exploitation of Timber and Wild Land Resources-Northern Michigan
---, ( January 33 ) pages

Population Trends; Natural Community Areas; Rural Land Zoning (State Commission)
---, ( January 33 ) pages

Local Finance and Procedure (State Commission of Inquiry)
---, ( January 33 ) pages

Organization and Cost of County and Township Government (State Commission) of Inquiry
---, ( January 33 ) pages

Organization and Administration of Public Health (State Commission of Inquiry)
---, ( January 33 ) pages

Rural School Organization
Special Bulletin 229, ( January 33 ) 49 pages

At a time when all governmental expenditures are being critically scrutinized by the public and by legislative bodies, with the purpose of effecting economies and reductions, public school expenditures come prominently to view because no other governmental function of the State requires so large an outlay of funds as does the public school system. Along with other governmental costs, public school expenditures in the State have increased rapidly in the past few decades until in 1930 the annual outlay for this service amounted to approximately 135 million dollars.

The one-room school districts are most frequently cited as proof that some organizational change in the public school system is desirable. Of the 6,775 school districts in the State, approximately 5,138 are one-room school districts. In the year 1930-31, 549 of these schools operated with an average daily attendance of 10 or less, and an average operating cost per pupil of $13.95 per month. At the other extreme, there were 220 one-room schools with an average daily attendance above 40, having an operating cost per pupil of $3.96 per month. It thus appears that these extremes point to an inefficient use and distribution of school facilities.

The Michigan Legislature of 1929, created a state educational survey commission to inquire into these problems. This commission, because of the limited amount of funds at its disposal, centered its attention on the problem of equalizing the school taxes and recommended a plan for this purpose to the legislature. In its report, however, the commission had the following to say regarding the present district organization.

"The two largest items in the cost of a one-room school are the teacher’s salary and the building. A county board of education by rearranging thy districts could reduce the number of buildings necessary and cut down the number of teachers required. The larger classes resulting would be advantageous to the pupils and would permit better supervision."

"The beginning of a county system of education should be set up at once. This should be accompanied by a continuance of the present study of school finances, together with a study of county school district organization of administration."

The recommendation of this commission with respect to continuing the study of school finances, together with a study of school district government, was acted upon by the legislature of 1931 by including "School District Government" when it created the "State Commission of Inquiry into County, Township, and School District Government." This study and report has been prepared in cooperation with this last named commission.

It is the CRC policy to make all publications online. If a document you desire is not yet online, please let us know of your desire. It can be put online with little turn around time. Documents may be requested at crcmich@crcmich.org.

Adobe Format

Downloadable CRC publications are provided in Adobe Acrobat's Portable Document Format (pdf). Access to these files requires use of Acrobat Reader. This software is available at no cost from the Adobe.

Acrobat and the Acrobat logo are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated..

Last Updated July 25, 2006