The Delta independent., 1897-12-31
WHAT OUGHT 70 De TAUGHT m PUBLIC
ScH00lS1
4 Plea Fer the Average Boy and Girl.


The Pueblo Sunday Opinion recently
contained the following communication
on the school question:
When We reflect upon the vastness OF
our free school system, and see the sp-
parent fixity Of its methods, and the
passive assent thereto by the public. to
PROFOUND the foregoing seems little short
Of audacity. An examination OF history.
however. will show that the question,
though old. 10 not dead.
II 10 intended that the present dis
cussion shall apply mainly to the primary
and grammar grades. including the period
Of the child's life from seven 70 fourteen
years- This 10 the p-riod during which
the states responsibility is greatest. and
sitter which n gradually diminishes- The
point n child life where the care of the
STATE sAosld bsgia might veil b the
ssbSss4 - essions iaQoisy.
The decay Of the home. - an institu-
ton. among our own people.
and the innux a Foreigners.
amongst whom the term 10 unknown.
has neccssitatcd the establishment Of
the kindergarten. and high authorities
nov agree that the children OF four to
six are - much entitled to state instruc.
ton as those from six to eight. But a.
the kindergarten might furnish the
thcme for another evenings discussion,
we pass it.
According TO the statistics Of the
Pueblo schools for ten years just passed
lees than 6 per cent OF those enrolled have
entered the high school. and. though
there are no figures at hand. 1t is quite
certain that lees than per cent OF the
total average enrolment have finished
the high school. What has become of the
- per cent! Oftbc three thousand child.
rcn enrolled in Isao. probably not thirty
are in school today. They have left the
portals Of the school room not TO return.
We zee how brief is the period Of school
life for the great mass OF children. But
when wc reflect that = majority do not
complete even the seventh year. the period
is narrower still. With its present popu.
l.tion. not lee. than 800 persons from the
school census rolls arc transferred yearly
10 the ranks oe citizenship.
II will be observed that the welfare Of
the mas Of the population-not of .
limited ciaas-is under consideration.
The latter. for evident reasons. 10 either
able to work out its own destiny. OF is be.
yond the imprcesionable age.
II would he interesting TO exhibit an
analysis showing the relative positions
and proportions Of the men and women
comprising the present population. We
can imagine that To every thousand
persons in this community the largest
number would be simply hewers OF wood
and drawers of water. very respectable
number would belong TO the average
clsrs something like the trades. agcod.
ly number would be Connected with mer-
camille pursuits ~ employees; followed
by the proscssscns. and last and least the
succcssfuI men, OF heads Of establish
ments.
And Il the successful men, you will
agree that few IL any would be able TO
say that they enjoyed the advantage cs
high school or college training. Not 10
argue against higher education. bst -
showing that pus only the body q the
vopuIatios y without u. but . majority
of the svceessful men. thne Who rank -
IesdesN. b oercantile. industrial end
even pruesssiopsl iines. were originally
without u.
Upoa shess eAildrea erva sin n four
tess. shsssssss. sAs eel k.iag q tks Rs-
psb,sc sls sAassiy ssss-
IL sAjsss ss.sAs ~ easessi~s -
hces dsased vsstsssay. Whsssssr -
psrvuss u We, is y - q Das sos Shas.