The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-11-03
STREhCT THENED BY
new SCHOOL CODE
Keystone States Advanced Pc"
sltlOn in Popular EduCaIIOHA
LIBERALITY OF LEGISLATURE
Removal of Limitations In Former
System and Higher Standards In
Scholarship.


Scholarship.
In popular education no other state
has taken a more advanced post. on
than Pennsylvania. The superiority OF
the Keystone States public school
system Is attracting the attention Of
leading educators throughout the
country. Recently New England
critic in magazine article called at
tention to the fact that Pennsylvania s
poorest paid country school teachers
receive larger salaries than thousands
of teachers in New England; that the
scholarship standards and professional
training in the normal schools of this
state have reached an exceptionally
high standard of excellence; that nor
NAL school principals in Pennsylvan'a
receive 60 per cent higher salaries
than those, for instance, in Massa
chusetts; that this state appropria es
more money for her common schools
Than all of the New England states
rombined and, what is of the highest
Importance, politics has played no part
in the administration of the states
schools for many years
The public school system of Penn
sylvania was further strengthened by
legislation at the recent session of
the legislature, which enacted a new
school code law and appropriated
$15,O0O,000 for the support of the pub
lie schools during the next two years.
This appropriation brings the total ap-
preparation during the past twenty
years in which the Republican party
has been supreme in the state to the
magnificent sum of 1921 100000. Dur
ing all the years that preceded the
total appropriation for that purpose
amounted to less than $40,000,000.
Development of Public School System.
The enactment of the new code law
marks an epoch in the development of
popular education in Pennsylvania. In
it the essential elements of the pub
lie school system as established dur
ing three quarters of century are
preserved, while many of the defects
and limitations of that system are re-
moved. Ii strengthens the department
of public instruction by giving the
state superintendent an increased
force of assistants and an intelligent
body of advisers in the state board Of
education. 1t seeks to prepare the
way for the gradual accumulation of a
state school fund, the revenues from
which can be used to assist the
weaker districts and to make school
facilities more nearly equal all over
the state. 1t provides medical inspec.
tion at state expense for rural dis.
tricts and for all communities whi b
have a population less than 5000
Many a child can be placed on an
equal footing with other children If
its eyes, ears, nose, teeth and throat
are examined by a skillful physician
and if existing defects are brought to
the attention of the parents and cor
rected by careful treatment. The pub
lie has come to believe in the conser.
Vation of our national resources. No
asset has greater possibilities than the
children who are now at school ard
who will shape the future destinies
of the republic.
Equal Opportunities For Pupils.
The care of the child's health is of
supreme Importance. Poorly construct
ed school houses are a menace to the
health of both teacher and pupil. The
code provides for suggestions and
criticisms by an experienced architect
whenever school houses are to be
erected. In heating, lighting, venti
lat+On and general comfort, the latest
school houses excel the average home,
and under the new plans for building
school houses, the child's health may
be expected to improve from the day
it enters the public schools.
The new code also reduces the size
of the school boards and confers upon
the school directors larger powers for
effective education. 1t permits the
voters to say whether the directors in
Office have given the children salts.
factory school privileges. If they have
not furnished adequate school facill-
ties, new men can be elected in their
places. In so far as the directors have
been faithful to their trust, the people
can continue them in Office Provision
is made for the Introduction of new
forms of agricultural and industrial
education. The law seeks to place
within reach of every child the ad-
vantages of a standard high school
course, thus opening the doors of en-
trance to the occupations which pay
best and which now aspire to be rank
ed as learned vocations. Under the
new code the public schools, more
than ever before, will mean equal op-
portunities for all the children Of the
commonwealth.
Retirement Fund For Teachers.
In the code care has been taken of
the teachers already in service. This
is in imitation of the laws governing
the practice of dentistry and medi.
cine. The state has always avoided in
reference with the sources of liveli-
hood upon which those in the profes-
sions were dependent, but the higher
standards OF entrance have been made
to apply to those who are preparing
to enter upon professional career