Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-09-10
OPENING OF THE SCHOOLS


Munro has said that the education
and training of children is the princi-
I I. pal occupation of every civilized com
81 munity.
The array of schools, the array OF
children and youth, the substantial
school buildings. and the character and
nsmher Of the teaching force in this
a. state. are such as to leave no doubt
{ that Utah is well in the front ranks
i OF civilization If schools and a regard
for education furnish any proof OF
such a condition. Probably nowhere
clseFin the world is q larger proportion
h Of the total income OF the state deNot-
ed to education thanln Utah; and prob
ably nowhere else are the private Or
denominational schools relatively more
numerous, active, and useful rs helps
toward the same great end,
IT is II satisfaction to know that
4. the various Latter-day Saints institu-
lions are in a state of high and we'll
deserved advancement; the Brigham
Young University at Provo, the Brig
Y ham Young college. at Logan, and lhe
I.atter-day Saints High school Of this
5Gil Sstsl tiiN'N
IN the matter Of additional and better
facilities FIR the work of education.
Wa note with pleasure the favorable
I. conditions under Which the University
OF Utah the head of the public school.
system of the state. will reopen next
week; the continued progress in the
affairs of the state Agricultural col
slege; aud tlle more general extension
z OF the movement for local high SCHOOLS
v throughout the state.
ts 'rhe local high schools of this city and
se!Sewhere uniformly show develop
mont and extension.
The common schools, however, are
tile clicf interest and reliance Of the
whole people, In general, these are
w;,ll appointed and ably conducted.
hut, as rs the case in most, If not all,
other places. they have not set come
TO near. Whist both the real educa-
tors OF the nation and tho progressive
I and alert portions or every commu-.
nifty desire them tobe.
The cor7m6n schools Is the poor
mans chief hope for his children. Many
8gof the children may not get beyond
4 eighth grades. They may begin work
Of some kind 1t is therefore import
t;Fant lthatathc common school shall pro-
wide as much as possible of all that IS
best most helpful. and most truly edu-
etttivc in the life of these future work
ers Of the commonwealth.
f That as much of reality Of life, of in
dlstrS, rs Is possible under present.
conditions, should be incorporated into
school training, has become an accept
4 ed and lmdisputetl maxim in the theo-
cries Of nearly all educators. The im-
#portant thing Is 10 supply the neces-
s;,ry facilities, apparatus, highly
trained teachers, and the cooperative
assistance of Mhe community as 4
4 whole and all this cannot be done
without the expenditure OF additional
means and the creation of such a pub
lie sentiment as will sustain these
modern ideals of tho function of COM
mon schools.
Vet NO believe the time is coming,
and is perhaps very near at hand,
when the public free schools, both OF tho
+ elementary branches and OF the high
spl;ool grades, will be the common
centers for Il training in which the
arts, The industries, and the culture Of
modern life shall constitute well
balanced whole and shall prepare the
future citizens in no uncertain way
] for tho important duties of life in this
land of opportunity and progress.