The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-05
MORE SCHOOL HOUSES REQUIRED.

The increase of school children In
Los Angeles from 1888 to 1889 uas on ly
"a; from 1889 to 1890 tho increase was
but 81; from 1890 to 1891 1t was 2l7
from 1891 to 1892 1t was 746 from 1892
to 1898 il was 1859, and from 1898 to
1894 1t was 1864. The census for this
year has not been taken, but judging
from the evident increase OF population
the increase of school children will be
considerably greater than 10 shown by
the census OF last year. Thsre are more
than 16, 900 school children in this city.
The census shows larger number OF
school children than the reportn OF at
tendance npon schools. and the differ.
snce is accounted for by the fact that
the city exteads over = oonsiders b le
area, aud there are sections spsrsely
settled and distant from any present
school buildings. The mum Der of child
rem eligible to attendance upon schools
has all the time bsen largely in excess
OF the capacity OF the school houses, and
many parents have rsfrsinsd from urg-
ing their children to 60 to school for the
reason that there ia not room for their
accom- mediation,
The present school buildings will &C.
commodats but $3.50 pupils, and a. will
readily be seen by reference to the
numbers embraced in the last census.
and considering the increase there
must have been during the last IL
months, more than 5000 children
cannot be accommodated in the present
structures. There is q contest between
the city council and the school board
over the number and capacity OF the
new school houses that shall be con-
structed. The proposition OF the coun-
Gil is to provide for tho construction Of
additional buildings containing 126 more
rooms, with seating capacity Tor 5040.
When these buildings are constructed
the entire capacity OF the school hous sea
will accommodate but 1880 pupils.
leaving two or three thousand unpro-
vided for, not to mention the immense
prospective increase in the future.
The first duty of government and =
people 10 to provide all necessary agsn.
cisa to preserve peace and order and to
protest against crime; the second is to
relieve the destitute and suffering, and
third to provide for the free education
OF all children. This city 10 distin-
guished for the good order that prevails
and the excellence of the police estab-
lishment. and for its unbounded char.
tiles. It has also been liberal thus far
in providing educational facilities. but
it is now confronted with the necessity
to make further and more liberal pro-
vision-a necessity thrust upon it by its
unparalleled growth and prosperity,
and q necessity that is destined to be
more pressing in future. No expendi.
ture ia rewarded with such good returns
as that for free public schools. They
are the very strength and suppors Of
our institutions. Economy 10 q virtue.
bat it is . mistake to apply II to an ex-
tent that will deny TO any the fullest
opportunity to acquire education. We
would have ell our children amply pro-
vided with facilities to acquire that
knowledge which will make them 60 cd
and patriotic citizens. We would have
the old flag float over every public school
building in the land. The public school
is whore socisbility, homogeneity and
equality are developed. 1t is in the
public school that children meet and
where arrangement on account OF relig-
ious and political differences disappear.