The Washington times., 1906-02-04
EARLY EDUCATION
EARNESTLY URGED
-Fsf. s'
William Henry White Ad-
yises Compulsory Methods.
CONDITIONS A CALAMITY
Strong Words Axe Needed to Describe
Conditions as They Exist in
District.
CONDITIONS A CALAMITY


committee on education, yesterday gave
some further light on the compulsory
education question which rs now being
agitated in different quarters of the city.
The annual report OF the committee
which was presented at the meeting
Thursday evening. included the recon-
mendations which the committee thought
advisable after a careful consideration
OF existing conditions. When asked what
the schools needed most. Mr.. White said.
''The fact that less than % per cent
of the children enrolled are TO be found
nbove the Attn grade has been termed
by our committee as a calamity, 70 Hly
mind strong words are needed to de
scribe this condition. AS pointed out IN
our report, 1900 In round numbers enter
the frst grade each year. while but 5000
finish the eighth grade-a loss Of 6000.
Certainly this eondition Is depIoTable.
There may be two sides to the ques-
tion as 10 whether or not the small
number graduating from the high
schools is a very serious matter, but
when it IS remembered that unless the
boy or girl has mastered the subjects as
taught in the grades, he on. she IS indeed
poorly equfppeC for lffes work. In this
day Of close competition, the seriousness
of this matter must be. conceded.
''Fhe teaching of children In the
schools is not a graruity on the part OF
the District Of Columbia, nor is it done
primarily for the benefit Of the individ-
nal child taught. No such reason as
this would justify the use Of one dollar
raised by taxation. certainly not the use
Of one-tliifd OF the whole revenues Of
the District. p. .-. -..s-
The children are taught for tho hene-
fit OF the who5s public and only on the
theory that the community receives the
benefit IS there Justification for the use
of public moneys in the support OF
schools. Certainly the schools are a
good thing or we would not be expend-
ing about two millions each year in their
support. To my mind it is ? matter OF
the most serious importance that two
thirds of the children who enter the first
grade do not reach the eighth. If this
loss Of the twO-thiTds is not Of the ut
most Importance. then why do we spend
the two million dollars each year for the
ether one-thirf we must remember also
that there are thousands of others who
never enter even the first grade"
For Compulsory Education.
The committee recommended conpul-
sory education and regulation Of child
labor. Did you consider The expense Of
providing for the largest number of
pupils?" This question was next asked
OF Mr.. White. He explained that this
matter had been taken up at length, and
that careful. consideration had been
given IT. lie. said:
In this connectipn my attention has
been called To an article in which the
Commissioners and the school board are
quoted as follows:
" Despite the strong manner IN which
these two questions are being advocated.
the Commissioners and the members Of
the school board. although favoring the
bill and cheTishing every hope that il
VIII become &. law. are not. agttated 10
such an extent as TO consider the present
conditions here as deplorable, and the
forcing Of eh{idren into the schools, as
particularly urgent or advisable, for the
present. sa
THE reasons Hor saying the Condi-
tions are not depIorahle are two. the
first OF which being. as enc official ex-
plained,-that= seldom. Il. eyer, is a child
denied the privilege OF going 70 school
and sent TO work Enisss his eaEnings
are really needed by his parents OF fam
lis. and in some. cases. to compel these
little wage sarners 70 give mp thelr en-
ployment and attend school would
mean direct and serious financial loss
10 the family. : s
Might schools answer THIS objection.
OF course a night school Is not as good
as a day school. but il is good. and I
don't believe any boy or girl should be
50 employed as 10 make attendance i'm
NJ Gff IA mia
"The second objection is as follows:
Another view taken by the official IS
that at the present time the minor
grades IN the public schools are so filed
that the number OF registered pupils
canGot be adequately accommodated.
I'm some.schools the half-hOlidag sys-
TEN is neeessafy in order toarrange for
the sch hsolifa Of ell the pupils.
Should the bill become a,lawI said
the Official s'aRd the 6teo0e children were
compelled To attend school, there would
be no room for them. ana a grave ques-
tion would have to be solved.
I'VE have an average attendance of
SEQ at a school. and the additional 5000
would require at least fifteen schools.
The latter average a cost OF s60,000
apiece. which would mean nearly 81
0G0.O00. and the necessary appropriation
TO maintain them
Use of School Houses.
Now. If there is any basis for the
first objection. a small proportion OF
these pupils would attend the day
schools. certainly not 6.O00, know of
no reason why a school building may
not be used az ashight school as well as
for a day school. This would eliminate
large part OF the million dollar item
for new buildings.
But suppose IL costs a million. That
is a large sum. but not very large for
a permanent Improvement for an insti-
tuition costing about Two millions a year
10 maintain. For the Construction OF
adequate school buildings il is the gen
eral practice OF municipalities to bor-
row money2 That fnasY o. p good or bad
policy. but Washington would not. in
such contingeneyl be lacjng an en-
tirely new problem.
Il think l would sum up the whole
situation something like this: Since
the good OF the community REQUIRES
children TO be taught in the schools, all
of them should he taught Since we are
Justified iTiS az flf.rf irlrr fili,, st,,7s g..