The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-26
THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL,
Paper Read by Walter Allen of Thi
 City Last Evening,

Paper Read by Walter Allen of This
 City Last Evening.
 Last evening at 8 o'clock Walter AL len read a paper upon ."The Public Highschool in Free State," in the hall ofthe RailroadY M. c. A. on Commerce street The paper was we'll written and held the close attention of a small audience. MT. Allen said in part: In a free state every child should have equipment which the public school sys- tenn is designed to give. An adequate system is matter of public concern. A system is necessary which is sufficient to provide for the children's education atthe pull expense. Some 7n.end that it is unnecessary to teach to the chill dren of the poor more than the common rudiments. There is an essential fallacy in such an argument for education is not gift The state is the chief bene- ficiary. The right reason for universal education with a high standard of education is the necessity that all citizens should have the power and ability of fulfilling theri politcial obligations. To Luther is due the greatest praise for Germany's high position in literature, philosophy and statesmanship.
 The Puritans insisted upon public education for the benefit of the com premacy of New England in education al lines. But the supremacy of school education is passing from New England to the central west. The west believes in the full development of all its citi- zens. It is satisfied only with schools good enough for the rich. The self-suf- | ficient class, which withdraws it's chill dren from the public schools and then protests against public taxes for public schools exists only in slight numbers in the west.
 It is assumed by some that it is a new function for the high schools to pre- pare youth for college at the public ex- pense. In fact that is the very first ! purpose of a high school. Moreover, it is worth while to educate those who do not complete the high school course i even. Education is a high end. It i means preparation for duty.
 1 Have we no shame when we see that other cities, of less size and less wealthy as we'll as those richer in population and resources, have provided more bountifully for their children than we have in New Haven? Of the num- Der of public school children in Massa- l chusetts 8 per cent. are in the High school, while there are only per cent in Connecticut. Tn 1S96 there were S7t scholars in Hillhouse and Boardman schools. If the proportion of the num- Der of scholars to the population had been the same as in Cambridge the { number would have been 1,270, and il the proportion had been the same as ir Dayton, O., there would have beer 2,660.
 I make no criticism of the quality oi the instruction in our schools, but only of the inadequacy of accommodations At moderate estimate between 800 ant 500 children are kept away from the high school by lack of provision fol their instruction. Such insufficient pro vision for proper education will cause New Haven to be discriminated agains as a residence center.
 There is need of widespread reviva of civil pride and of a new birth 0 public church. A consolidation of cit izens is more necessary than was tn
 consolidation of charters l woul' mention the fine enterprise of the la dies of the city who have undertaken to ornate bare walls of the schools.