Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-10
HIGH SCHOOL TO
Be OPEN NIGHTS
HIGHER EDUCATION OFFERED
EVERY ONE
Board Plans First Institution Of the
Kind Offering a Full and Free
Course In All Branches
Of study

school at Monday nights meeting OF
the Los Angeles board of education
that body placed itself on record as
one of the most progressive educa-
tional boards of this country. The plan
as adopted by the board Monday night
embraces field as yet unapproacneo
hv any other city Of the country
Hitherto night schools in the large
cities of the United States have taken
IN one or two fields, such as CONNER
cial training. drawing, or some other
course But the Los Angeles boards
proposition is to give regular high
school training to anyone who desires
it without cost to the pupil. The idea
Is more universal In Germany, France
and the other European countries but
this is the first time 1t has been under
taken in America.
The need of such night schools Is
wide felt. Hundreds Of boys and girls
whose straitened circumstances de-
mand that they go to work at the close
of their grammar school course have
hitherto been unable to follow UP with
the higher studies of their more for
tunate companions. But with the night
school, an opportunity will be afforded
anyone desirous of obtaining an educa-
tion along any particular line.
Education for Workers
According to the report of the high
school committee, the school will offer
courses fitting for the requirements of
commercial life and enabling the clerk
and office man to increase his own USE
funess by taking Instructions in ac-
counting, commercial law, commercial
geography, business arithmetic, short
hand, typewriting, and the Language of
commerce. For the worker in the
shop OF factory the course includes me-
chanical drawing, woodshop work,
mathematics and elementary science.
Domestic science and chemistry will
open up a new world to the nurse and
housekeeper, while the teacher will
have an opportunity to learn more of
the theory of teaching. And for the
young men and women who desire to
reap some of the benefits of clas-
steal and scientific education, there will
be classes opened up in literature, his
tory economics, languages, science and
mathematics.
AS a summing up, the board states
that the principal object of the school
will be to provide instruction to men
and women supplemental to their par
ticular work, and to make them bet
ter workers. A. secondary object will
be to provide a general education for
anyone who cares to avail himself Of
the opportunity presented.
"Poly" to Be Used
Up to the present time, the lack of
suitable facilities has proved an in
surmountable barrier to the establish
ment of school of this character, but
the completion of Polytechnic high
school last year furnished just such a
plant as was needed for the work. The
building is centrally located, the equip
ment is of the most modern type, and
staff of teachers, second to none. The
chaotic condition of affairs last term
incidental to the opening of the new
high school rendered it impossible to
launch the design at that time. But
now affairs at Poly have become
more settled and conditions seem ripe
for the success of the new undertake
ing.
The new idea is to be put into oper-
alton at once. There will be no long
wait for bond issues, contractors bids,
the erection of building, and approp-
riations for teachers salaries. A mag
nificent building is ready for occu-
pancy, with the exception of less than
a hundred dollars for electric fixtures;
no money is required for furnishings,
and several of the teachers have vol
unteered their services, the others to
receive only two dollars a night If
the fixtures can be installed and the
classes formed, the school will open
some IlIn6 next week.
Expenses Trifling
The committee estimates that the en-
tire expenses for the term will not
amount to more than $500 month, a
trifling sum as compared to the i'm
mense benefits accorded to the young
people of this city. 1t is estimated
that more than this is being paid by
Industrious young men and women
throughout the city in fees to night
schools, business colleges, and cores
pondence schools.
The school will be free to all those
whose age and previous training fit
them for entrance to the classes. The
broad courses presented offer some
thing of interest for almost everyone
Pupils must, however, have reached the
age Of Is years, but beyond this, and
their fitness, nothing will debar them.
Classes will be formed when Is or more
students have enrolled for such work.
For the first term. the faculty will
be composed of Polytechnic teachers.
AS they are more familiar with their
own building than the teachers of the