Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-17
FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.
A Petition for the Benefit Of the Pupils
In the District Schools.

Senator Plumb today introduced in the Sem
ate petition prepared by a committee consist
ing of Paul I. Bowen. NJ. F. Hobbs and L. P.
Wild by direction of District Assembly, No. &C.
Knights of Labor, and in behalf of all labor
organizations of the District, requesting that
an amendment be inserted in the District ap-
preparation bill to provide an appropriation of
$4,000 for the issue of free books and school
materials to all the children attending the pub
lie schools of the District. The petitioners
state that the cost of starting the system wi II
be about q per scholar, after which the annual
cost will be much less, as it will be only neces-
sary to replace worn out books. In Philadel-
Phia, where this system is in operation, the
average annual expense is stated to be but
fifty cents per scholar The number CT scholars
the petitioners estimate in the schools next
year Will be about $1,000. and they consider
that the amount asked for will be sufficient if
the appropriation provides that scholars re-
eelvlng free books during the next school year
shali turn over to the school authorities for
public use such books as they may have and do
not need.
Books and materials are as essential" the
petltloners maintain. las school rooms and
teachers. and should no more be a charge upon
the parents of the children. The ex-
pense of books is an important matter when
several children IN one family must be supplied,
and 1t operates with vigor to exclude from the
free schools the very people for whom they are
especially intended, viz. the people whose
means are SO limited that without free instruc-
ton they would have no instruction at ALL In
the school trustees report, lSS7-83. pages SO and
81, the cost of books is mentioned as an i'm
portant cause of non-attendance.
DEPRIVATION TO THE POOR CHILDREN.
The incidental expenses of education practi-
cally bar the children of the mechanics and la
borers of the District of Columbia from the
benefits Of a full course of instruction. The
same inference-that the poorer children are
deprived OF full education-is shown by the
following statistics of the high school for
looo-S9 High school review, February '89.
page o. giving the occupation of the parents of
the pupils. Government employees, 515; law
yers, 81; merchants, As; real estate and insur-
ance, "a: physicians, 80; contractors and build
ers, 25; carpenters, 10; printers, 16; bookkeep-
ers, 10; grocers, Is; bookbinders, IL: commits
sion merchants, 10; machinists, 8; bricklayers.
3; plumbers, l.; 10 other Grades and profess
sions, 397. Total, 1000. The carpenters,
printers, bookbinders and machinists are no
doubt nearly all employers or business men
and not journeymen. The bricklayers are a
large and comparatively well paid trade (thcir
union here having more than 1000 members).
yet but three of their children were in the
high school.
This difficulty of maintaining children in
school is also seen from the rapidity with
which the high school classes are depleted. In
1888 the enrolment was: First year Glass; 314;
second year class, 1913; third year class, 100.
The ratio OF boys to girls for the whole
school was 3 to 5. We do not know how many
graduated. but We are confident that the num-
Der was much below 1870; that the girl graduates
were much more than hye-eighths of the
class, and that the children of mechanics and
labOrers were almost entirely eliminated from
the class.
THE STATISTICS F'THE SCHOOLS
show that the colored children drop out with
great rapidity after the primary grades are
passed, owing, undoubtedly. to the indulgence
OF their parents. and the issue Of free books
Is real necessity to the overworked and un-
derpaid class of people if they are to secure
free instruction TOR their children. Free books
are issued now, but in an inadequate and Of
fensive manner. The teachers are required to
make an impairment investigation of the pow
erty OF applicants. an irksome duty performed
with disgust or entirely evaded. In many in
stances parents withdraw their request for
free books rather than make a public exhibit
ton of their poverty, and either Withdraw
their children at the same time or purchase
books which they can i'll afford The books,
when issued under the present system, bear
the public property stamp, thus advertising
the Indulgence OF the children who use them.
Ii the books are furnished free to all none of
these objections will apply. very great
economy would be effected. because, instead of
new book being required for each child i'll
each grade, as at present, each book would
carry on an average three scholars successfully
through the grade to which it belongs. 1t
would also become the teachers duty to incul-
cate the respect for and care of books instead
of permitting their DETACHMENT and destruc-
ton by the children, as is now quite common.
We may add that the free book system prevails
throughout Massachusetts, and in the cities of
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Omaha. 1t was
the issue III recent vigorous municipal CAM
paign in St. Louis and prevailed by large
majority. 1t goes into effect in New Haven on
the LIST of May next. Wherever it prevails it
is satisfactory and no one proposes to return to
the system OF private purchase. The revenue
of the District Is amply able to stand this addi-
tional expense, anu among the propositions de-
signed to dispose of the Districts surplus we
know of none SO meIitorious as this