The Opelousas courier., 1892-06-18
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MAP.

lean educational system in a striking
form.
Thirteen million pupils are now en-
rolled in the public schools of the United
Ststes-that is, there are more than
three times as many pupils. as the entire
population of the United States in 1900.
Theentirepopulatpn in 1880 was 1885,
600; there is consequently a larger ma
ton Of children now in OUR free schools
than the whole nation of sixtyyears ago.
These $4,000, 900 public school pupils
are one-ffth of u present population
ofs65,0OQ 900. There are something over
a.milion more in private and parochlal
schools. But it is. this.nation of u free
school youth, this nation within the
nation, that will be controlling the re-
public. fifteen years from now. These
'Fchildren of the states" imbued with
our Characteristic American spirit, will
soon be the leaders. of the people who
areEto.s solve the problems of the opening
yearssofthe coming century.
One-ffth of our population in the pub
lie. schools means that the American idea
is that childhood and youth shall enjoy
a sacred immunity from labor while the
preparation for life is going on. In all
ourstates the age when children can be
employed for wages during the school
term is steadily creeping upward. The
timeis+not far off when one-fourth in
stead of one-ffth of its population will
be- enrolled in the schools. Here is the
pfacepfor state legislation to make rapid
and sure strokes. When the children of
o. poor family are hired out for wages
there comes an apparent relief to the
family; but child labor invariably re-
ducesthe labor of adults. Raising the
school age always operates to raise the
wages of the men and women to whom
labor belongs. In the states not yet
awake to this the children who ought to
be.in school are with their little hands
holding down the general rate of adult
wages. IF fifteen were made the uni
versal school age, with strict penalties
for hiring a child under fifteen during
school hours, millions of toiling chill
dren Wouldsbe added to the hopeful ma
ton of pupils now in the public schools.
Who arg the instructors of this vast
democracy of youth? Three hundred
and ffy-tWo thousand teachers are I'm
ployed. One-third of them are men,
tHo-thirds are women. The men are
usually well trained. The proportion of
trained female teachers is increasing
year by year, as the normal schools send
out their classes. Nevertheless, scores
of thousands Of these female teachers
are unframed. Forty per cent. of all the
female teachers teach for only one term!
Think what that means. In the rural
districts Of many states teaching is a
COB to which almost any girl may
turn. Careful examinations of teachers
are not to be expected when the school
fundis so penurious that the cheapest
teachers are the only applicants.
The faults of the American public
school system, however, are all on the
surface and a easily be remedied.
State superintendent and higher edu-
Gators generally are giving to all the
Weaknesses disternible in our system
their careful attention. They are de
fermined that the new century shall
openupon an educational plant as near
1Yawithout defects as progressive energy
casmmakeit.
The public school is our most distinc-
tive american Institution. It is this
same public school which, more than
race, has made the difference between
this republic andthe republics Of South
America. When the world gathers here
At our 4Ooth anniversary to scrutinize
our life this, u proudest institution.
WilIbepointed out as the clearest source
Of american greatness and enlighten-
ment.
Lisa very fitting thing that the eel
ebration. of Columbus Day, Oct. 12, be
placed il the hands Of the American
publ1eschool. Through.the school house
flag movement, and the education in
patriotism aroused by,it. the schools of
~therepublic have been grasping the sig
mifcance of their relation to the life of
thenatfon. As our $4,000, 900 Of public
s~ehoolpupils see committed to them the
Celebration of Americas greatest ami
Kersary they will receive a new and in
spring lesson: in the responsibilities of
pRb1in leadership which devolves upon
,the~educated American.