Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-07-25
MUNICIPAL EDUCATION.

The National Municipal League has
Just received a report from commit
tee appointed to ascertain the extent to
which instruction In municipal govern
ment and its betterment Is offered by
American institutions Of learning. Cir
cular letters were sent to 357 univer-
stiles and colleges throughout the
States. The committee received COR
dial responses from 222 institutions
or GO per cent.
The committee finds that there is q
wide spread interest taken in the bet
ter understanding Of municipal gov
eminent in nearly all the educational
institutions of the country, though
there are comparatively few Offering
specific courses. Educators appreciate
the value of this line q; study but are
often handicapped through lack Of
funds to secure instructors. Nearly
all, however. offer courses In political
science and economics which bear in
directly on the municipal organization.
Referring to the work of the institu-
tons in different divisions Of the Union
the report says: "Of the twenty New
England colleges only five, or % per
cent, report courses in municipal gov.
eminent, and yet from supplementary
statements 1t is evident that many OF
this group of colleges treat Of the SUBJ
ject of municipal government to an
extent which entities them to credit
for instruction in this subject far be-
yond what the bald numerical state
ment would indicate. OF the forty-one
colleges in the second group of Middle
States, including Maryland and the
District of Columbia. eleven report
separate courses in municipal govern
ment, or nearly p per cent. Here
again seven colleges which have no
courses with that title say that much
instruction in municipal government
comes incidentally under other courses
OF the fifty-nine colleges in the South.
ern group. six only report courses In
municipal government, or ten per cent
and nine say that some attention IL
given to the subject incidentally. o.
the sixty-seven colleges in the Westerr
group mostly east of the Mississipp)
twelve report courses In municipal gov.
eminent, or IS per cent, and sixteen
say that the subject receives inciden
tai attention. or the tnirty-five col
leges in the group west of the Mississi
ppi. eight report courses in municiDa
government. or nearly % per cent, ant
eight indicate incidental treatment o.
the subject.
1T is. questionable whether 1t woulC
be profitable in the present discussio,
to make an ANALYSIS of the statements
reported with reference to the course!
in political science and American gov
eFument. In general I may be sale
that OF the 222 colleges responding t
the circular letter. la reported course.
in political science, Or over rs pei
cent; and 1870 in American government
or nearly 80 per cent. AS was befor,
said, many Of the college president.
and professors in replying said tina
they found 1t very difficult to arrang,
their courses under these heads"
1t will thus be seen that the enthu
. siasm for the study Of municipal gov
eminent is most marked in the north
ern and eastern States. The South ha
yet to wake up to the necessity for Ia
struction in the government of cities
its citizens apparently devoting thei
most serious endeavo:s to ways an
means to reduce the voting population
Taken as a whole. however, the educa
tors of the country are fully alive t,
the value Of furnishing instruction Il
the theories of municipal government
that young men may be better equippe,
TO successfully cope with the practic
, Of honest government that shall secur
|. the best results for all citizens.