Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17
FREE BOOKS AND LUNCHES.

Public School Features which I'm Mrs.
StOwelfs Opinion Are Desirable.
Louise Reed Stowell in School Board Journal
The American people are more interest
&c today In having every child benefited
by Its schools than II Is in having the
character Of the schools improved. Not
now high shall We take our schools, nor
how broad shall we make our courses Of
Instruction; but, how may every child be
reached. and how may every child be
made a safer and better member of the
community. is the school problem of the
day. Amy movement reaching down and
uplifting gives strength to the school
system, and the taxpayer receives his COM
pensation.
The sooner we come to look upon the
intellectual and moral training OF every
child, or every human soul, as the highest
pontica. wisdom, and the imperative duty
or the state, the better will be the individ-
ual happiness and the public security.
A liberal education for every child should
be for ever the ideal OF the teacher, the
board OF education, and the legislator
Inc responsibility rests with the beard
or education to make our public schools
free. They should be free public schools IN
every respect. They should be free school
buildings. free furniture free apparatus.
free fuel. free ink, free copy books, free
states and pencils. free stationery, free in
struction. free text books, and aIso-what
WOulQ ike 10 Seo-free lunches
The public schools must give this free
education. Free public schools were ee-
tahlished for this very purpose. For this
every barrier excluding any deserving pu-
pii should be broken down and swept away
L he cost OF text books is such a barrier
IN many states. The cost Of oon lunches
Is such barrier in all of Cur large cities.
Inc american system of free schools was
eslaplshed over two hundred and fifty
years ago. When one of the states or
gained that every town of one hundred
householders should maintain a school in
winch youth could be fitted for the uni
nrst free high school, the first free nor
NAL school. the first free art school, and
trict.
aoopted the free text book system and pro-
Video every child within its limits with
schooi books. stationery. states and PEN
nis. materials Tor drawing, mechanical
work and all that the child leeds in the
school room are behind IN the onward
movement of progress.
Ihis system should be extended to every
nign school as well as to he grammar
schools This should inclrde every high
school whether business, mechanical or lit
erary. In the country. And every normal
school as well as high school.
Communities which have tried this free
tekt DOCK system are perfectly satisfied
win the results and would not be willing
to return to the old plan
hie poiicy OF furnishing free text books
TO the children is winning its way fast
ana is certain to be universal in America
Inc Following states have adopted free
text books, while many others have rarity
lone SO: Maine, New Hampshire. Vermont.
massachusetts,, Rhode Island, New Jersey.
fennsylv2nia. Delaware, Nebra Ska Idaho
ana the cities of Baltimore, BROOKLYN. De-
troit, New York and Philad .lphia
lhefe are two extremely proyrsssiye
movements which, could they be adopted
ana there Is no reason why they should
not would make our public school system
iGeal. The first of these is, an inv belief
OF very great Importance. The furnishing
OF Iree. wholesome. hot lunches to eyery
cniid IN school at the hour of the noon
meal; In those schools Of our large cities
which are SO situated as to be filled with
the children Of extremely poor families n
is as much duty to furnish 10 the chm.
ufen something to eat as il is a duty to
furnish them something to study. Still
whether in the rural districts or in the
crowded cities, 1 believe it Is the duty OF
me boards OF education to see that wher-
ever chlidren have to bring their lunch TO
school they should be supplied with some
tnlng warm and wholesome to ea. ard that
Tree Oh expense to the family. This move
ihent would fill our high and grammar
schools to OVERLOOKING
L would also like to see all school books
given TO each individual child to mold and
70 keep as his own property, not only so
long as ne comes to school, but ALWAYS In
would train this child in properly rights.
~ would De constant source of education
10 the chllds parents-and in MANY cases
they would be the only books the father
and mother can have TO read 1t wouIo he
an 6OucatlOn to the family