The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-25
SCRAkTON'S NIGHT SCHOOL
1t Is Free and Is Under the 7. ". {.
AS Management.
MANY BRANCHES OF STUDY
Young Men Who Labor During the Day
Arc Eager to Accept the Opportunity
for Mental Education-Thc Sub.
jcct Fully Discussed.

IN Dut Few cities are free nEnt
schools supported outside such large
cities as New York, Philadelphia and
Boston. However great the necessity,
there are but few cities of the third
and fourth class which contain these
free institutions where young men who
labor during the day can on a few even
ings, or every evening, each week store
their minds with useful knowledge.
Scranton, however. has not been back
ward in this respect, and at present
contains Il free night school which in
two years has in numbers and results
developed into a condition gratifying
to It's managers and consistent with
this progressive city.
Allusion is made to the Young Mems
Christian association, which has classes
and special instructorsin all the studies
included in the public schools. Stenog-
raphy and bookkeeping and other
studies useful in business life are also
taught. a gentleman particularly con-
versant with this feature of the asso-
citation work, discussed it as follows:
Features OF the Work.
Having adapted itself to religious,
work. the association has in more re-
cent days sought to provide for great
demand by giving instruction in the
evenings to those whose life has not
permitted the education needed for
doing their best work. Every one who
has examined this department of the
association is agreed that it contains
many Of the greatest possibilities yet
offered for growth and influence.
The limited opportunity for educa-
tion, enjoyed by large proportion OF
young men, is one of the serious factors
In Scranton today. SiX-sevenths of our
youth leave school at fourteen years OF
age, and only one in thirty-one of the
remainder continues till he is eighteen
| In most of our states but per cent.
| Of the youth are in the high schools, anC
| only l per cent. in the colleges and pro-
| fessional schools. In short, but littl,
| over per cent. of the youth of oul
nation have that rounded preparation
needed 70 meet the requirements of tht
best life. Ninety-iive per cent, there
fore, leave school before the age o
wise judgment and enter the trades
| factories and Offices of our cities.
Provides Means of Education
In the smaller cities no other insti
tuition than the Young Mems Christia,
association attempts to provide instruc
ton in leisure hours. There is abund
ant means for the young man who ha!
time and can give months of stud.
through the day, but for those who's
| education must come, if it come a
all, in the evenings there is no provi
sion. Few of our colleges have realized
the great possibilities of courses o
study mot lectures) provided for tn
| evenings. only our largest cities cai
have such institutions as the Pratt in
stitute of Brooklyn, the DreXel of Phil
adelphia, and the Armour of Chicago
Very few even offer the ordinary nigh
schools under the direction of our pub
bile school system, and fewer still pro
vide for the youth, to say nothing of tbs
young men, any opportunity for tht
training of the hand and eye in tn,
daily duty of earning a livelihood. Blu
the Young Mems Christian association
with its building open day and night, il
best equipped to meet this want.
There is in connection with all even
ing instruction certain social elemen
which should not be ignored. Afte
| working eight or ten hours a day, how
ever willing the young man may b.
to study at night he soon finds tn
need of some social relaxation. Tn
association offers him just what h
needs.