The herald., 1894-11-16
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


children in New York are deprived OF
school accommodations brings forcibly
to mind the fact that the public school
facilities of Los Angeles are wofully de-
ficient both as regards buildings and
instructors. The upper grades are test
ing to the utmost the space and teachers
allowed them. while the pressure in the
primary departments has grown 80 great
that in many schools the classes receive
only O half days instruction each. and
1t has been found necessary to deny
even this iraementsry educational priv"
ilege to many. Now, then, on the prin-
ciple that what is worth doing at all
is worth doing WE'LL" il behooves the
American people either to support the
public school system in an adequate and
satisfactory manner or give it up en-.
tirely and allow the people in their
private capacity to undertake the educa-
ton of their offspring. We believe the
latter policy might accomplish just as
effective results, and then nobody could
mplain of unjust discrimination or
u
that 10 not open to all people upon
plane of equality is liable to abuse, is
provocative OF discomfort and is not in
accord With democratic principles. We
do not want public school for some OF
the children of school age. but for all in
that category. Then the kind OF peda-
Rogic grist that is ground out of short.
handed, ovsr-crowded educational mile
is not calculated to answer the require
ments of the future. The age to come
will be one of keen competition,
and tho people who know how to
do things we'll will succeed in the
contest for the prizes OF existence. The
men and women who etsrt out on life's
race handicapped with the half-baked
knowledge of fundamentals that is i'm
school system, will justly hold that sys-
tenn in contempt when they recall the
spending OF so much time to learn go
little. This delinquency in matters edu-
cational is not because OF our inability
to support the schools properly, nor to the
incapacity or indifference of our teach
ers. No country in the world is more
literally endowed with material wealth
than this union, and no state of the lat
ter has 80 large part of that wealth as
this one. And it is certainly doubtful
if any class of workers throw more abil-
ity, industry and enthusiasm into the
tasks allotted them than the tireless.
patient, uncomplaining band OF toilers
who till the field o! knowledge with the
implements at hand in our common
cause any considerable proportion of the
populace ia unfriendly or at heart in.
different to the public school. For W hat
ever may be said regarding the merits or
dement's OF government education,
whether it be socialietic or democratic
in theory, we believe it to be fact be.
yond dispute that practically nine-tenths
of the people of all shades of political
and religious thought are in favor, and
warmly go, of the public school system.
This neglect OF its needs can be chiefly
ascribed to popular ignorance regard
ing them, failure Of the peoples con-
ception of educational requirements to
expand sufficiently to understand the
calls of population and progress.
This is especially the case in
our city. The rapid growth of
Los Angelica has multiplied the school
demande far beyond the understanding
OF the average citizen. But it is sub.
feet that we cannot afford TO ignore-we
must awaken to it. One of the best
evidences OF city's progress and de-
STABILITY as place of residence is to
be found in the efficiency and excellence
OF those public utilities to which the
people have become accustomed and de.
mand. One OF the most important of
these utilities is the public school. The
advance in the latter, in the minds of
the people generally. measures the in
ielligence. morality and progressive
ness of community. If the people
who are lying awake nights and inviting
premature wrinkles worrying over the
possibility OF a religious denomination
destroying our public school system,
will direct some of their force and en-
.rgy to be.tering the condition and in
u