New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-14
FELIX ADLER on SCHOOLS.
HIS ADDRESS BEFORE THE ETHICAL
SOCIETY.

IRRIGATION ESSENTIAL FOR THE YOrNG-ALL
CLASSES SHOULD ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Felix Adler spoke yesterday in Music Hall before
the Ethical Society subject Of his lecture being
The Public Schools" lie said in part;
The public school IS the child OF df mes i6Si
were far better in their appointments ihan are
ours. Education in Greece was ine ART: p1, ' nt
schools were for the few. The masses nad no Iaie
in the grand philosophical education that was gwen
IN the b great tbn o stands for an de
our schools unique In this: Ihey are 1 ess,ed
10 be- inclusive OF all branches Of human culture.
This was the idea in founding the pubic I,h s,
nrevails in certain Western States. and In parts OF
New England But the influence Of mat idea Is on
The Sne h Ms n ss 10 is be
back to old opinions. -. ,,,. .,,oo,a
are all well enough for the poor people put tnai
they Will not do FOR the wealthy classes II would
classes too we'll then they would not be sa'iS-
fled TO do the work for us 49,. .os,oo, ,h,, us
owe to the rights Of children There was tline
when fathers power over his children Sd,e WAS gS
treat the child Just he saw IT. and 1t vas r re,
garded as the % on no o She D o hoads There
fathers and mothers who treat eh itJ a,
do so for sne Children have fights and
these rights is the right to be developed ~ IL nv
world helpless, and remains 50 for a long time?
If 1t Is not given the proper i9od. ana ds Is a mp
viii finally die. And II the mind is not given the
proper mental and moral food, ana me proper
mental and moral treatment the mlnd VIII oeco"o
weak and the child will suffer moral death
few should be selected for fine education ana tns
many should be mentally starved. on the one hand
we have Dives at his feast and on the oner we nav
lazarus eating the crumbs Have We so mucn
talent and genius that we can afford to pass over
'n Not only should the higher education be within the
reach OF the mass. but the education OF all me
people should not be stopped at the three RS The
people should be taught 10 think what p9nderous
questions they called on 10 decide! HOW can
we hope that their decisions VIII De Wise "heh 'hey
have not received the proper education?
We need public schools because IL Is tne greatest
misfortune that befal nation TO have class
schools. The rich says: i owe IL TO my chI-
dren TO give them the best possible environments
When the public schools were founded me p2pulaloh
was homogeneous. and where the population Is homo
geneous the schools supported by all the peo-
ple But In New York the population IL hetero,
geneous II Is all very well for the Russian to seni
his children TO the pubic SCHOOLS IN 1nfr tn.tt
they may become Americanzed. but shan sacIl-
flee my chidren?' / have stated the adverse afsu-
menN as strongly possible. But l wou.d ask
those who urge this argument II they are positive
that the private school 70 when they sehd Ihe,r
children furnishes the best possible environment
Some time ago | visited a school, ana ! have yet
to find another that Will surpass IT in the founc's
OF speech and the vicious habits OF us students;
home counteract the bad influences of a pubic
school. the existence OF those influences being
granted? And where may ask. viii a boy learn
those lessons that go to make him believer In the
brotherhood OF mankind except IN the pupHc
The schools should be taken out OF politics The
power of appointing teachers should be taken away
from the ward trustees. We should have more ana
better schools. II. instead OF private mansions on
Fifth-ave we had public mansions for our children.
what a grand city this would be-