The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-08-17
SCHOOL SOCIAL CENTER
Should be Used for Lectures, Enter
tainments, Clubs, and Gym
nasium for Whole
Community

More than half a million school
children were enrolled in the schools
of Indiana last year. Their educa-
ton cosos us about sixteen and half
million dollars. or about $33 per pu-
pill. 1t has taken 17.267 teachers
to teach the young idea to shoot in
this state. one teacher for each 81
pupils. on an average.
In Marshall county 5,515 scholars
attended school last year. 800 of
them graduated in the common
branches in the spring. Of those in
school about one tenth (570) were In
the high schools. Instruction was
dispensed in the county by 1913
teachers. twenty-nine of these being
in the high schools:
The teachers of the county re-
ceived in salaries. $S7. All
other expenses of the schools. includ-
inc improvements on huildings,
debts paid etc. amouitcd to SS2.-
6O01S making a total more than
$4,000. or about $50 per pupil. Tn
the townships there averaged 2S
weeks of school per year: Ia the
towns and cities. SO. When you con
slider how much more than the three
Rs is TAUGHT In even the poorest
school. and also that these figures
include the hest high schools as we'll
Won will feel that we have economy
down to fine point for the total ex-
pense of each child's schooling has
been only about 81 per week. How
MANY lessons could he get of private
teachers for that sum?
There is nothing the matter with
the quality of education dealt ont in
indiana either. The United States
is at the front among the nations of
the world. in the ranking of its
school system. and among all the
states there is no better schools to
Re found anywhere than in Indiana.
New York State and Indiana are
famed far and wide for the exeell-
enee of their public schools and they
are visited each year by educational
avperts who come from all lands to
learn the secret of our success in
this line.
Tn Plymouth our school population
is falling all the time. Last year
796 scholars were enrolled. One
hundred ninetv-two of these were in
the high school. Plymouth has twen-
tv-four teachers. all bnt eight of
them being in the grades.
Perhaps no town in Indiana. of
the size of Plymouth. can beast of
better schools than ere to be found
here. Tn all our school history we
have had but two superintendents
and these have been men Of unusual
ability and force. men who have
loved the school with an ardent de-
v"tion and have put into it many
things which money could not buy.
We have had lone succession OF
teachers above the AVERAGE and Plv-
mouth people have every reason to
feel grateful that their children are
receiving such advantages.
The cost has been moderate. if not
exceedingly low. considering value re
ceived. And yet we raise the ques-
ton, "Can not more be gotten out
of our investment?
Our Plymouth educational plant
has an estimated value of 1892.
We have this educational plant rum
ming almost six hours of Ave DAYS
Cor 36 weeks. In year there are
75l2 hours. not counting Sundays.
We lave our brains factory in one
~ation less than 1880 of these. This
is as if a manufacturer should util-
ize his plant costing $79.312 only
ahont three and cee half hours per
week day and not at all Sunday
Would he not feel that plant in
which so much was invested should
re PIT to a much laroer nse? But.
owe miaht ask. can the brains of
children stand tie strain of lcnoer
hours? IF one has given them all
that is good for them. no natter in
how short fine. whv shosA the
restitution Re kent omen lonoer?
In order to settle this question We
should have clear understanding Of
What the educational needs cf Ply
v~orth are. Educat;on is something
which is never ended All the com-
muuitv needs education and needs It
continuously. Even the man who has
received a college Diploma will be-