The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06


stitutions. of county poor houses, of State and
private benevolent institutions is caused by the
ignorant classes, representing only per cent. or
the population then you are prepared to consId-
err the difference in cost TO the community of
street education and thorough education in our
schools
Let US examine, and find what is the difference
in the cost and value of an education
our streets and in our homes and
schools and which of the methods turn
ont yearly the largest number of graduates
This city and county, during the year 1888.
through its various courts and officers exam
ined" and passed into the High-school of the
street system of education, the county jail. 2,IlS
OF whom about one hundred finally
graduated and were given diplomas that entitled
them to enter the State University of this class
of educaton-the States prison-there to DO
clothed. fed and supported by the tax payer.
The cost of this education may be sumed up as
follows:
Cost of buildings and grounds for court house,
JAIL station-house. work house, poor house, ETC.,
Is ST. 97237l 49, of which think ut least ST. O00,-
900 is properly chargeable to the system of
street education permanent plant.
The annual cost of maintenance of JAIL work
house, poor-h house, station house, Criminal Court
Mayors court, police expense, public and prl-
vate expenses for the poor, is over $500, 000 This
much is the direct tax on the people. The indi-
rect tax for the support of this system of edu-
cation the shape OF fees, fneS ETC., is at least
$58. 900 per annum.
For the other system Of education we have
1858 913 invested in school houses furniture, etc.
as permanent plant We paid for teachers in
1885 $240 900; for fuel and supplies of all kinds
about $50,00O from these figures, which are OBJ
tanned from the records as far as possible, and
from statistics collected by myself, and sum-
married. and put in shape by our assistant secre-
tary ard clerk, and which are here for your ex-
animation, l conclude that the total expense or
the two systems of education not materially
hr1f fho 70 NH tar
for street education, and from careful study
of these and other statistics / reach the con-
clusion that any undue or strained economy in
the management of the schools will add to the
expenses in the courts, prisons and poor-farm at
least two dollars for every dollar saved in the
schools In this matter of school expenditures
the old, old saying is eminentlv true and APP
plicable: There is that scattereth and yet
increaseth. and there is that withholdeth more
than is meet but it tendeth to poverty"
When l speak of undue or strained economy |
refer to that which opposes the building of nee
essary school-houses and forces the crowding of
too many children In room, and overoads the
teacher with too large classes and to those false
which would cut down our city
schools 10 the standard of the country school of
fifty years ago, entirely ignoring the changed
conditions of city life; and to that parsimony
that refuses to provide free books as well free
school houses for the children. and compeIs the
parent to pay four times as much for books as
the School Board These and similar false econ
omies are things that hope to see remedied in
the future.
The great problem with parents In city is,
how to keep their children BEAUTIFULLY and profit
ably occupied. Constant and healthful occupa
ton is much more important in a city than in
the country. How to furnish this is the per-
picking problem that confronts every thoughtful
parent, and how few, how very few, are able to
solve it in this or any other city,
while passing along the Streets he can come
TO no other conclusion than that the streets are
doing an undue share of educational work. Par
ents cannot individually help this; they see the
danger, and try with more or less persistence to
overcome it, but, sins demanded, they are power
less to ward it off, and they drift.
The demands of business. of professional life,
and of society are allowed to absorb more of the
strength and time of parents i'll the city than in
the country, hence home life is not SO healthful
for child growth in tie city as it is in the coun-
try. This is wrong that every good citizen
should try to remedy, but being fact, it must
be considered in solving the school problem for
cities, Children in cities are all highly educated
either IN virtue or in vice. and the education is
either virtuous or vicious in proportion as they
are educated in the homes and schools, or on the
streets; their intense nervous natures must and
will take on education of one sort or the other.
The problem, then, for school authorities is,
how to make our city schools more completely
fiji his life so full of pleasant, healthful and prof
liable occupation that there will be no room for
street education.
A large number of ladies are Voluntarily de-
voting their time and begging money to support
a system of free kindergartens in our city that
are doing much to assist in this important work
1t is shame that they are compelled to depend
on private aid in the prosecution of their impor
tant and noble work. Wherever they have es-
tablished kindergartens an Improvement has
been observed in the moral intellectual and
physical condition of the children entering the
public schools from their hands. The Froeble
system of child gardening is very valuable for
early childhood. The careful study of this sys-
tenn by our teachers and school authorities has
improved the instruction in the first and second
years of our schools. Teaching child through
its plays is proven to be feasible and very prac-
tical, as well as pleasant and healthful to both
mind and body. By gradual enlargement of
this system and adapting it to our school work.
and to the different ages of the children, school
life may be- made much pleasanter and more
healthful, and believe a greater proficiency at
tanned, and a much larger number of our
children kept in schools and off of the streets
The common and well-known desire of children
of all ages to initiate the work and doings of
their elders In all their amusements may be
utilized in the school-room in the form of rest
full diversion from their studies, during which
they may be taught all the most useful branches
of common life work, such as plain sewing and
some of the elements of cooking for theAgirls
and many of the elements of the mechanic arts
for the boys; in all of which the training of the
eye, the hand and the body to execute the will
and conception of the mind would be the central
thought. Professional men would be better
preachers, doctors and lawyers, as well as better
citizens with that early physical training that
would enable them to drive nail properly, or to
smooth and square board with plane
and saw; and every lady would make
q better wife and mother, as well as
more useful member of society if in this
way she acquired this useful knowledge and dex-
terity of hand that may be so readily and pleas
antly acquired as mere recreation in school
Then when the boy and girl reach the High
school, if a course Of elective studies are ar
ranged so that the boy can fit himself for Pur-
due or Rose Polytechnic, as we'll as for the State
University or Harvard, if such is his wish or the
wish of his parents; and the girl such proper
hand-training as will best develope and prepare
her for the active duties of life, both physical
and mental, then we shall have reached much
rearer perfect school system than we now