Factors Determining the per Pupil Cost of Instruction in High Schools

Abstract

The first fundamental purpose of the study here reported was to provide additional insight into the factors determining the per pupil cost of instruction in high schools. Costs of instruction were determined by salaries alone. The factors considered are entirely within administrative control, but the more obscure factors and the exact relations between factors are rather generally neglected. The second fundamental purpose of the study was to provide a useful method for the detailed analysis and exposition of factors affecting costs in particular schools. The method will also make it possible for the administrator to calculate definitely in advance what will be the effect on per pupil cost of any proposed variation in any of the factors. In order that these underlying purposes might be attained, the following immediate and specific objectives of the study were set up: (i) to determine and compare per pupil costs (based on salaries alone) in the school years 1925-26 and 1931-32 for (a) the teaching of regular subjects, (b) administrative and supervisory services, and (c) the teaching of music and physical education; (2) to evaluate the principal factors causing differences in the costs for the teaching of regular subjects for each of the two years. The particular factors evaluated were: (i) the salaries of teachers, (2) the size of classes, (3) the number of class meetings in the weekly programs of pupils, and (4) the number of class meetings in the weekly programs of teachers. Slightly less direct and specific factors evaluated were (i) the length of the class period and (2) the spread of the curriculum.