The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-06
At STATE CAPITAL


of resident taxables in each district. as
reported after each triennial assessment
by the county commissions to the depart
ment of public instruction. When we con-
slider that 1t Is the duty of the state to
provide at public expense equal common
school advantages for all its youths, the
present method is clearly at fault. AS the
superintendent of public instruction in
his last annual report has stated, 1T dis
eliminates against the districts which
lack Industries to hold their adult popu-
lation and in favor of districts toward
which the young people graVitate as soon
as their school days are ended" Most of
the states distribute their school money
upon the basis of the number of children
to be educated. This method discrmin-
aates against the sparsely settled districts.
The elements to be considered in the dis
tribution of the school fund should in
clude not only the number of taXables in
each district, but the number of children
of school age as well, and also the ever
dividual school. the cost of which Is
constant factor in all districts. regardless
of the population or the number of tax
payers. If one-third of the appropriation
number of taXables, and another third
upon the number of children of school age,
and the remaining third upon the basis of
the number of schools in each district, the
equity and fairness of the distribution
would be more nearly approximated.
ANOTHER and far more significant in
apparent with the growth of our popula-
tion and the necessity for better and high
er educational advantages in the rural
districts. The business prosperity of many
of our towns and smaller cities is de-
pendent upon the welfare of the people
in the surrounding country. The lack Of
school facilities in the country is causing
many of our citizens to move to the bor-
oughs and cities in order to educate their
| children. This tendency is harmful both
| to the CenterS of population and to the
Mast n "a
| communities in the state afford instruc-
ton only in the common branches, and
| those living therein who desire their chill
| dren to advance beyond the common
school limit are compelled to send them
| away from home to obtain such advant-
| age. This tendency to leave home for a
better education is depopulating the coun-
| try. and is leading to the towns and cities,
| to engage in other enterprises, many young
men who otherwise would live out their
| lives upon the farm. The agricultural in
| terest Is the largest and most important
| in the state and in all adjustments of leg
| islation should receive the consideration
| which its Importance deserves The time
| has now come, in my judgment, when the
| rural districts should be supplied with
| high school facilities equal to those en-
1oNed by the towns and smaller cities of
| the commonwealth.
The township high school is needed in
| our agricultural communities to provide
| equal opportunities ana advantages with
| those now in existence in the towns. If
| the population of one township, and other
| conditions, should not require a separate
| high school two or more townships could
| unite and Jointly share the expense and
| advantage, Ten acres of ground. partly
! wooded, a stream of water, a Commodous
| play ground, with facilities for an ar
| boretum, orchard, garden and flowers and
| park, surrounding a suitable building
| fully equipped, and with competent teach.
| ers conducting the scholars who have
| passed beyond the district school through
a three or four years high school course
| is cOnsummation which. besides beins
| pleasant to contemplate, is neither impos
sible nor unnecessarily expensive fh,
| state can make no better use of its reve
| nues than to employ them in this direc
| tion.
The township high school will place the
farmers boy on the same basis with tn,
town and city boy. The states of Maine
Wisconsin, Michigan and Massachusett!
have pointed the way to secondary ant
higher education worthy of our emulation
| The twentieth century system of FIRE,
education should make it possible fo
! every boy and girl, beginning with tn,
| common school to continue through til,
high school up to the end of the colleg,
course. large number might not avail
themselves of the advantages of the col
lege course, but the opportunity shoul,
be ever present for the deserving pa1rol
connecting link between the high schoo
and the college, as a part of a free eOiI
| catiOnal system, has been an accomplish ii
| ed fact for several years in at least one O
| our sister states.
PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The report of the board of commission
ers of public charities calls attention t.
the oVercrowded condition of our stat
penitentiaries. The following figures vii
show their population respectively on Sep
tember 80. 1896: