Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-19

nave Deen Eeuuceu IN number. 1t Is not
quite possible to eliminate them entire-
ly IL a first-ciass piece of educational
work is to be done. Glass expenses
should be cut down. But unless these
things are concurred IN by the homes
represented In the school, reform in
these directions cannot be very effect
i've. Moreover, school authorities can
do nothing to remove the heartburn
ings due to the demand for fine clothes.
That Is a problem for the home alone.
In the elementary schools the chill
dren are allowed to contribute their
pennies to the purchase of an American
flag, the theory being not that the
board cannot afford to buy it, but that
1t will mean more to the children II 1t
Is their own. am inclined to believe
that the disadvantage to the parents Is
more than Offset by the advantage to
the children and to the country. Col
lections Of small sums have been taken
for some years past for the purpose OF
purchasing pictures and other works OF
art for the school rooms This enables
the pupils to develop a sense of pride
In the place where they attend school,
and at the same time 1t trains them In
good taste and in consideration Tor
artistic things. There is much to be
said In favor of their developing pro-
prietary interest In their school rooms
In this way. In a.-ltion, each school
provides its own equipment for athletic
games, etc. The board of education
might provide these things. But a
boys baseball team that looked to the
board of education to provide Its base
balls would be deprived of some of the
privileges of boyhood. There is danger
of making this sort of education SO Tree
that 1t will not be education.
The music department of the schools
has several times during the year ar
ranged with the management of the
great musical attractions which have
come to Los Angeles to give special
concerts for the school children at u
price of % cents. The great Damrosch
concert in the Shrine auditorium. which
$500 school children attended. was the
last one. Mr.. Damrosch declared that
he had never known a school depart
ment sufficiently interested In music TO
do that sort OF thing before. But the
tickets have been sent for by the
schools after the children had brought
their money from home to pay for
them. Children's concerts can still be
arranged and announced in the schools.
but 1t may be better to let the homes
look after purchasing the tickets and
taking the children to them. In the
manual training department boys i'll
the upper grades are allowed TO make
furniture, and IL they furnish the lum-
Der it becomes their own property. Ed
for the board of education to buy the
material and to claim and sell the I'M
ished product, as is done in some other
places. In the drawing department.
practical application of what Is learned
Ia made by stamping the designs that
have been made upon pillow covers,
curtains, towels, etc. The pupil sup
plies the material and the finished
product Is his to do with as he pleases.
In the sewing classes in the upper
grades the girls furnish material for
garments and make them up with the
help of the teacher. When finished
they are their own property. These are
the regular forms of expense which
parents of children in the public schools
may be invited to meet. Please note
that no pupil Is required or compelled
to do any of these things, and note fur.
Their that there is decided educational
advantage In the pupils providing for
himself in each case that could not by
any means be gotten by the educational
authorities providing the same things.
Possession is a virtue in the school
room as well as In life. This Is the case
for the schools. Books are not fur
nished In California. Paper. pens. ink,
pencils. ETC., are. and books are not
changed to humor the school book trust
but for the purpose solely of getting
better books.
What shall be done? This question
has been discussed for some months in
the superintendent's office. Clearly.
school expense is still too large. To re-
duire that no collections for any pur-
pose be taken hereafter in the schools.
that no paid entertainments be held
there, that no pupils be asked to pur-
chase any material for school use, ex-
cept the books required at the begin
ming of each term. would greatly impair
the work of the schools, and IL would
not result in peace from agitation.
Perhaps a saner way would be to do
away with all collections and ticket
selling in the schols, and require teach
ers not to receive money from pupils
for any reason whatever. but allow
such pupils as care TO furnish their own
lumber and cloth for any private work
they might be able to carry out in
school under the direction of the teach
er. 1t is not fair for the rich child to
set an impossible standard of ex-
penditure for the poor one. neither can
the poor say the rich shall not provide
himself with what he needs because
"I am not able to do So" The question
will not down so long as there are rich
and poor in the world, and the schools
will most likely continue to have their
share in II to the end of time