Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-08-28
IscHooIs oovnRN rHEMsnIvns.
Have Regular Laws and Are Conducted
Like City.

/
In some of the public schools Of Bos-
ton there is to be established this fall
the institution known as the school city
It is form of self government which
has been used in somo of the schools Of
New York City, Philadelphia and other
places II was originally founded by
Wilson L. Gin in 1897. The trial was
made in ddsorderly school Of 1000
pupils or more in the suburbs Of New
York. The students were so unruly as
to require the constant presence Of po-
licemen on the Fairgrounds. Within
week after the pupils were organized
as a city, with the right and RESPONSE
bility of governing themselves the
school became orderly and law-abidiug.
The boys were willing TO obey laws in
the making Of which they had a share.
In other places good results have have
been attained. In one school near Phil
adelphia the standard OF dress was so
low that IL any boy wore linen collar
to school il was sure 70 be torn off.
Twenty Of the boys had registered un-
der assumed names, so that in case of
arrest they would not appear in police
courts under their true names. Whom
the school city was organized the boys
came to the principal and confessed 60
the ruse, and asked to be registered in
their right names. Unruly conduct was
suppressed; nester dress, better man
ners and improved scholarship followed
Tho students maintained their higher
standards 10 tho end OF the school year
last spring. The almost immediate
transformation brought about in indi-
vidual boys and girls by the en-
dowment Of responsibility involved In
the plan has many Illustrations. One
boy from the slums, who was Careless
mischievous aud fond Of playing tru-
ant, was elected "member Of tho
council " The teacher felt that the
choice OF this little rascal rendered the
republic hopeless but the childrn in
this, as in many anothr case, reformed
bad boy by putting him in a position
Of trust, As this boy said whom praised
by his teacher for becoming a little
gentleman. "You know they expect so
much from a member Of the council"
Some Of the decisions of tho school
court are remarkably appropriate. One
pupil, guilty Of swearing in the court
yard and on the streets, was sentenced
TO ostracism for two days; he was not
to speak to any one at recess during
iha. time, and public opinion enforced
the order Of the court, Trial by their
peers on full evidence appeals TO the
children as just and fair, and they man
ifest n surprising aptitude for judicial
procedure. As Legislators, too, the chill
dren display some qualities that their
elders would do well to cultivate No
private bill or special legislation has
any chance in school city. There Is
no graft in the school city, no Doodle
in the council, no understandings be-
tween the police and wrong-doers. The
child citizens have passed and enforced
ordinances prohibiting the shooting Of
peas, tho Disagreement Of buildings,
the making Of any noise in the neigh
borhood OF libraries or other places
whore people may be disturbed by Il.
"Tattling" has been eliminated; but
pupils who would DEAN il a disgrace to
"peaeh" on fellow students come to
regard IL as a civic duty TO give evi-
denee to their fellow students concern
ing offenders against the laws Of the
republic.-The Outlook.