The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-27

''1hs lecture platform offers direct and practical form of education. \ majority of people absorb the spoken word more readily than the printed one, a survival, undoubtedly, of the time when education was communicat- ed orally, The ear has not yet lost the effects of this training. For this, and for other reasons, the lecturer has an advantage ov,: the writer of book, an advantage greatly enhanced if the lecture be illustrated by experiment or picture.
 Here in New Haven there is as yet scant understanding of the significant meaning and practical purport of our movement. The Associated Civic So- cieties, after careful study of the matter felt justified in the attempt to make an experimental beginning here on similar lines. A portion of the $l,5G0 raised to meet the current expenses Of the society for the season of l9Ol-S was accordingly set aside for this object, and an Educational Committed ap- pointed. The first step was to secure permission from the board of education to use such school assembly rooms as were available for this purpose. That body, with commendable spirit and clear sightedness, granted this permis- sion with the proyiso, that these lec- lures or entertainments if affiliated with educational work, should be under the control of the board through the superintendent of schools. This pro viso was necessary in order to protect the board from the claims of other so- cieties which might ask for the rooms for miscellaneous purposes. As one of the members of your committee re- marked in substance, to the board, this decision was entirely satisfactory, as the Associated Societies was looking for civic betterment and not for ad- vertisement, and it would not matter whether the lectures were given under their name or not. IL is interesting and significant in this connection to note | that incorporated in the vote of the board was the following sentence:
 With the closer relationship now springing up between the school and l the home, and with the growing ten | dencics to regard the school at the nat ural center of community life. the com mittee believes a larger use of school 1 buildings can properly be made" Let us hope that this sentiment, eoncurred I in by the boarl points the way in the
 future to further and broader use of l md i incorporation of assembly halls in all new school buildings. as has been done by many of the progressive cities of | this country
 The success of the experiment. thus inaueurated in New Haven this winter, has been marked. if the size of the
 audiences and the earnest attitude of
 the listeners be considered We have already given twenty lectures, with one or two more to follow, which will close l the season. The twenty lectures show an aggregate attendance of 4,995 peo- pie. By adding the estimated attend ance for the last two we shall have a total attendance for the entire sea l son of between 5,400 and $500, bringing
 the average attendance at each lecture
 to about 250 It is encouraging for us to recall that tue average attendance 1 in New York city during the first sea
 son for single lectures was but ll3. The cost of the twenty lectures to the As
 sociated Civic Societies, not reckoning
 in the salary of its secretary, was
 s205l5. averaging s1015 for each. Add
 s20 more for the last two lectures and
 we have as the total cost for the sea.
 son, say. s12i It should be understood
 that the only expenses attached tc
 these lectures were, for ianitor's fees
 for printing the show cards anu tickets
 necessary for advertising purposes, fol
 the carriage of chairs. for the renting
 of lanterns, and for some clerical and
 screen details in connection with th'
 lanterns For the use of the schoo
 rooms no charge whatsoever was mad,
 by the bosrd of education
 The most gratifying feature of thi'
 whole undertaking, and upon which ou
 success depended. was the splendid co
 operation of the many talented mel
 and women of this city who. freely
 enthusiastically, and with rare devotion
 offered their services as lecturers anC
 entertainers. some of them at no smal
 sacrifice Of life and labor. Let us ac
 cord 10 hem in behalf of the audiences
 whom they mquestionahly delightei
 and instructed our heartiest thank
 and praise
 Mention should be made with thank
 to the police department for the eff
 cient police detail provided at the lee ture halls, not to preserve order, fo
 there was no disorder. but to help in sure the safety of the audiences.
 It Is with pleasure that the commit tee recognizes the admirable cooper ation given by our general secretary F. l.. Warden. Through his keen in r sight and understanding of the need of the people in those districts wher s lectures were given, and hy his untir ; ing efforts, he has largely contribute { In practical ways to the success of ou s first lecture season.
 Permit us word or two, in conelu , sion, concerning the general aspects ( , this work. First. as related to broa . principles. It Is the duty of the cit l to offer every opportunity for bette 2 living to its inhabitants This Is nc . sentimentalism, or socialism. it is plai
 common-sense. Underlying it is tn principle of self-defense Intelligen Q assimilation of the vast conglomer at I of races in the country Is an issue fore q ed upon us by the clear dictates ( r public safety. The process must kee . pace with the amount of the inflow. Tn 0 reservoir may have capacity enoug . but perhaps it needs more bulwark n Once we relied entirely upon our publi 0 schools to make good citizens But s Q rapid has been the foreign influx ( V late years that the schools for the tim