San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-07
MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1886.
STREET UNIVERSITY.

While San Antonio prides herself, and
not unju.tly ,Bpon the liberal provision
she is making for the education OF her
children and youth; while her people
are taking u just pride in the evidences
Of improved scholarship, noted In the
late examinations in the public schools;
and, while the demand Is still urged Tor
such continued improvement as will
place the schools of this city second to
none in any city Of her class In this
country-while these things are attract
ing attention, 1t will not be amiss to d.
rect public thought 10 another OF our
educs tional institutions, also public, In
which our youths are attaininga marked
proficiency, and developing an aptitude
for instruction that theatens TO discount
the progress made in the ward and high
schools. This educational Institution is
the street university. The number and
proficiency Of those who receive daily
and nightly instruction in its
free classes Is the subject OF
general comment. The liberal pro-
visions made for the education OF
these youths in the arts OF idleneSs,
loafing ,vulgarity slang, immodesty, dlsSi-
patton and vice, warrant the assertion
that the lessons given will not be with
eut due effect in the corruption OF the
minds and morals OF those who attend.
The punctuality Of the pupils In this
university is as remarkable as the at
tention they give to the lessons there
taught. These night schools Of the
street, including the class rooms of the
saloon and variety theatre, are thronged
every night by the children OF this city.
With the street as their common recita-
tion room and chapel they always find
welcome there when, as is sometimes
the case the doors Of the class rooms are
thrust in their face. The cheap eating
stands on the plazas afford them a sup
per for a nickel, or a dime, and thus
those Of them who run any danger Of
being detained at home by parental au-
thority, should they strive home to-
wards nightfall, secure immunity from
the law that should govern them and
swell the ranks Of the street gam
ins whose inevitable destiny is
q life of dissipation and vicious
ness, not to say Of crime. There
are two classes OF people actually
and prospectively responsible TOR this
thing. The parents and guardians Of
these street scholars, and the public
guardians OF this city, the municipal
council. The first may net know TO
what extent the evil OF such associations
as their children form on the street
reaches. They may not understand that
in these night schools of the streets are
sown the seeds OF all social uncleanness,
all forms u immortality, all vicious hab-
bitst aRd inclinations, all drunkenness
and debauchery; that In these night
schools are taken the lessons that lead
to the police court, the reform school,
the jail, the convict gang and the gal
lows. Iftbey do not know these things
they ought to. No parent is fit TO have
a child who does not know so much as
this. No parent has any right to sub
ject the child for which he is responsible
to such Influences. Ii Ia criminal to do
so. II the parants wont do their duty
and keep their children of the street,
the city authorized should DO it.
Stringent ordinances should be passed
against the habitual presence OF children
of q certain age loafing on the streets,
around and within the saloons and
theaters.
The ordinances already passed against
minors in saloons and variety theatres
are a dead letter. Fashion theatre en-
deavors to enforce 1t, but the street pave
ment Is free and the boys congregate
there. This city should allow no loaf
ing upon her streets after dark OF any
boy under sixteen or eighteen years Of
age. It is not healthy, morally, physi-
caIly, Intellectually, industrially or 80
cially. If parents won't take care OF
their boys the city should. The city
will have to take care OF them by and by
az criminals, many of them, and 1t would
be well to remember in this case the
benefit Of the ounce Of preventive. Ii
the boys must go to the devil give them