Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-12
Public School Problems.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:


From the standpoint of a taxpayer the
writer desires to suggest for consideration
some radical reforms in the public schools
Of Washington. The entire school appro-
priation for the fiscal year, which will end
on the Both of next June, is 81, 137, GIG. The
test complete statistics at hand are for
1894 The cost per pupil for 1894 for all
expenses. except repairs and permanent
improvements, was S24.S3. In Massachu-
sets the average cost was s24.7O in 1888.
in New York, ST., and in the entire United
States about $3.50. Colorado and Nevada
are the only states which have a larger
appropriation in proportion to population
than we have. The cost per pupil in the
District of Columbia is about double that
of the average for the United States.
These interesting figures are based upon
statistice found in The Evening Star AL
manac and in the official reports.
No great increase of the school appro-
priation can be expected. The little red
school house" should not absorb any
larger proportion of our revenues as long
as our water supply is inadequate and so
many other things Gncluding garbage)
need more attention. The trustees COM
plain of great crowding of the school
houses. Many pupils in the lower grades
can attend for only half the day. There
is a remedy for this evil and the trustees
have the power to apply it without legis-
lation. The organizing and grading OF the
schools are not specially provided for by
law. The remedy is this: Abolish the high
schools and use the buildings and money
for the primary grades. In the high
etry, trigonometry. analytical geometry,
surveying, Latin, Greek, French, German,
physics, chemistry. botany, mineralogy,
etc, rather a formidable curriculum for a
free school The government is under no
obligations to give everybody an ornamen-
tai or professional education. This is pa
ternalism running into socialism. The line
should be drawn at the grammar schools.
and believe the majority of the taxpayers
would SO vote if they had an opportunity.
The government should give every child
a good English education, but nothing
more should be attempted. Education in
the primary branches should be compul-
sorry. The compulsory education law Of
the District of Columbia should be en-
forced. See Compiled Statutes D. c., page
49, which provides a fine of $40 for not
sending children to school.
In 1894 the cost per pupil in the high
schools was $39.43, while 1t was only
$11.66 in the primary grades and $1.06 for
manual training. The primary schools and
manual training are vastly more important
to the community at large. as the great
majority of children must become self-sup-
porting by manual labor or in business re-
quiring very little education. Those who
have the talent and ambition to go higher
will find the means.
The schools should be kept open on Sat
urdayS for the benefit OF halliday pupils.
This Is done in some countries. 1t could
not be considered hardship for the teach
ers, as all other classes of workers are
employed more hours in the day, more
days in the week and more months in the
year.
There are too many holidays in the public
schools. They are closed on the slightest
pretext. If holiday comes on Thursday
the schools do not open again. until the
following Monday. There Is also an alb
surd custom of sending the children home
when it rains. The school rooms are more
comfortable, better heated and better ven
tilated than the majority of homes
When the schools are closed on account
of contagious diseases the time should be
made up in the summer months.
By abolishing the high schools and using
the buildings for primary grades, and
using the money saved for the lower
grades and for manual training, much
more good would be accomplished with the
same money.
1t is especially important that all girls
should be taught cooking, sewing, ETC., in
stead of Latin, Greek and higher mathe-
mates. The rev woman" with her
higher education" her bicycle and her
boomers, will never have the same at
traction for mankind as the womanly wo-
man who loves children and who can keep
house, cook, and make her own gowns.
The latter will always be loved and hon
ored, while the new woman will only be
regarded as freak.
THOMAS w. GILMER.