Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-29
p IA Man emptles hIs our.

- A MAN empties his purse into
his head, no man cap take It
E away from him. An invest
asz-k ment in knowledge always pays
TQGWx0H the best interest
$3.50 This bit of philosophy pro-
pounded by Benjamin Franklin over a cen
fury ago exemplifes today the value Of
education and the wisdom Of investing
money in the public schools, for the money
thus used is an investment and cannot be
charged to expense.
The Emperor Napoleon declared that
public instruction should be the first OBJ
ject Of government and Washington en-
Joined the people to promote, as an OBJ
ject OF primary Importance, institutions
for the general diffusion of knowledge; for
in proportion as the structure Of a govern
ment gives force to public opinion. It is
essential that public opinion should be en-
hehtened." Following this. injunction by
the father Of HIS country, the American
people declared the free school a public
Institution OF formation. not reformation;
a place for training boys and girls to be
men and women in the highest sense of
the words, not an institution of retention
or correction; an upbuilding and strength
ening establishment, not an object Of
charity.
From the foundation of the republic,
therefore, America has had its public
schools supported by common taxation.
These were small in the beginning, are
small now In the newer sections, where
the little red school house is but counter
parts Of the historical log school houses
of the forefathers and pioneers, but in
later years and in the larger places they
have grown from the mere rudimontary
stage to the high schools approaching in
scope OF work done Internationally the col
leges with their degrees. AS these schools
have grown from an educational stand
point they have also developed from Il
business standpoint, and today the high
school as a business proposition is on an
even plane with the large commercial en-
terprises, managed on a business basis and
administered as a business establishment.
omaha's high school can rightly be
placed in this category, that of a large
business proposition. 1t is an institution
OF by no means of small magnitude, either
In point Of work done. of customers" at
tended to or In the value of property ad-
ministered. Nearly 1900 boys and girls
attend the Omaha High school-1,SS9 to be
exact-and a property valued at nearly
$4,000, approaching In monetary worth that
Of many Of the large commercial enter
prises, is constantly overseen. Not a day
is allowed to lapse without interest being
collected on this investment, without a
profit being realized, and not a day is al
lowed TO pass without the giving of val
liable nstruction-their moneys worth-to
each Of the 1900 customers
But, while the Investment in the Omaha
High school may or may not appear to be
great, this investment has but kept pace
with the community and the communily's
demand, for, as Prof. Ellis u. Graft, prin-
cipal of the school. says:
1.-THE school but perpetrates the COM
munity's ideals on a broad plane, and In
this the community, not the school, takes
the lead. 1t is but right that the school
should endeavor to keep pace in physical
development with that which has gone on
In the outside world. 1t Is a part Of the
general trend Of the day, a trend to make
the business houses more complete and sys-
temat1c in regulation, a trend to make the
school more complete and systematic as
WELL"
While the employe in the factory, the
shops, or the wholesale house, is taken
care Of and provided for in the best way
possible to the end THAI he may be more
proficient In his work. the analogy does
not quite hold true in the school, but, as
pointed out by the Omaha principal. 1t
has come to he felt in every community
that the children are entitled to the best
that can be had in the school. TO enable
them to obtain the best results the bust
ness end OF the school has become an inn
portant factor, together with the Installing
Of more modern methods and appliances.
For, as in the case Of the commercial en-
terprtse where 1t is found that new APP
planes forward the ends of the business,
II IL true in the school that modern aids
are Of great II not greater importance.
This new spirit, a spirit of thoughtful-
ness and considerateness, which has en-
tered into the schools. has become cstab-
lished as much from an economic as a hu'
manitarian standpoint" said Principa
Graft. in speaking Of the commercial side
OF the high school.
''rhe modern business ~house-factory
shop, wholesale establishment and others
have Installed modern appliances and con
veniences, not through humanitarian mo
tives. but on account Of the opposite. OF
account OF getting more and better worl
from the employees who use these modern
methods and who have access to the mod
ern oonvenienees.
Take the large NJ. e. smith whoiesal
dry goods house as an instance In on
respect. In the basement OF this nam
moth establishment are found lunch rooms
WhgF fOf tno convenience Oh inc EN-
ployes, for the saving OF time. for the as
surance that the men win get a heart
MONDAY meal and be on time for wor
Afterwards.
'Go to South Omaha and visit any Q
the large packing houses there. You wi
find dressing rooms and bath rooms an
lunch rooms. Why2 For the reason tina
the clothes the worknren wear on tn
streets cannot be worn In their work. 10
the reason that the men cannot go TO thei
homes with the eYidsno OF thel
toll on them. for the reason that the me
must eat and have not the time to go HON
during the noon hour.
Any number OF instances could be citeG
hat ahaaa ara aufficient IN show that ,